The Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park will officially re-open its doors to the public Wednesday, July 22 with modifications to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced today.

The Tea Garden, the oldest public Japanese garden in the U.S., closed March 17 due to the shelter-in-place order. To re-open safely, the Tea Garden will limit guests to 100 and set up one-way pathways to avoid congestion. Bathrooms and certain high-touch areas such as steep bridges will remain closed and masks are required for everyone. Staff  members will monitor queues, entrances and exits to prevent crowding and ensure social distancing.

People are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance online here.

Formerly open seven days a week, the Japanese Tea Garden will now be open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m.-5:45 p.m.

“We are thrilled to be able to welcome visitors back to Golden Gate Park’s beloved Japanese Tea Garden,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Our top priority is the health of our visitors and employees. We are working closely with health officials to ensure safe enjoyment of the Garden’s history and serenity.”

Originally built as a Japanese village exhibit at California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894, the Japanese Tea Garden was later moved to Golden Gate Park.  A project to restore the historic pagoda brought to the Tea Garden from the Panama-Pacific Exposition in 1915 is currently underway, along improvements to the Temple Gate and surrounding areas.

Photos by Michael Durand.