Visitors walking through the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park will discover a tranquil environment of both natural beauty and artifice. Every turn of the stone pathway unveils a splendid surprise: the 9,000-pound Lantern of Peace, a large bronze Buddha and a clipped hedge in the shape of Mount Fuji. Enhancing the garden’s large collection of sculpture and stone are the plants, shrubs and trees that have been carefully selected and arranged within the landscape. Another treasure developed in the garden when native mosses began to grow and spread throughout various sections. These mosses occur naturally and thrive with little support.
The Japanese Tea Garden is the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States. It has undergone much change and development since its beginnings in 1894. The garden spans 3 1/2 acres, and visitors should allow about an hour for a complete tour. japaneseteagardensf.com
