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Japanese Tea Garden

• Learn more about Japanese tea gardens and how to create your own 

 
One of the most popular types of Japanese Gardens is the Japanese Tea Garden. The Japanese Tea Garden is place held in high regard within the Japanese culture. In the western part of America, there are tea gardens that have become huge tourist attractions. Tea houses are commonly found within Japanese Tea Gardens and are normally center of the tea ceremonies. In traditional Japanese culture, the Japanese Tea Garden has been used for tea ceremonies. The tea ceremony, also called the “Way of Tea,” is the preparation and distribution of “matcha,” or powdered green tea. Developed from Zen Buddhism, the tea ceremony is a performance of art in the Japanese Culture. The significance of the tea ceremony raises the cultural significance of the Japanese Tea Garden.

There are two forms of ceremonies that usually take place within the Japanese Tea Garden. The first type of ceremony is Chakai which is a form of hospitality that serves thin tea, confections, and in some cases, a light meal. The other ceremony performed in the Japanese Tea Garden is a more formal gathering called chaji. The chaji ceremony lasts nearly four hours and includes a full course meal, confections, along with thick and thin tea.

The Japanese Tea Garden is a popular attraction in two major cities in the United States. The main Japanese Tea Garden that attracts tourists is located in San Francisco, California. This tea garden is arguably the main attraction to the Golden Gate Park and was built in 1894. The five acre Japanese Tea Garden is the oldest Japanese Garden in the United States and consists of the traditional Japanese Garden features: ponds, paths, tea houses to go with native Japanese and Chinese plants. The garden was built as a part of the World’s Fair in 1894 and is still used as an attraction where tours are given that present the long history of the Japanese Garden. In this San Francisco Japanese Tea Garden, fortune cookies were introduced to the United States.

In San Antonio, Texas, there are two tea gardens that attract tourists. The first Japanese Tea Garden in San Antonio is a registered historical landmark. This Japanese Tea Garden is known as Sunken Gardens and was built in a limestone quarry in the early 20th century. Many buildings in the city of San Antonio have been built from the limestone found in this quarry including the Menger Hotel. The second, less popular Japanese Tea Garden is located in the San Antonio Botanical Garden and is called Kumamoto En. The Japanese Tea Garden, constructed in 1989, is patterned after the famous 300 year old Suizenji Park located in Kumamoto City, Japan. The small version of the famous Japanese park consists of many of the same path, bamboo and stone structures found in traditional Japanese Gardens. When entering this Japanese Tea Garden, it is a safe and peaceful place where all anger and problems are left at the door.
The Japanese Tea Garden is a significant cultural and spiritual place whether it is located in the United States or Japan.

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