Reviews of Japanese Tea Garden (Park)

Slade Isdale

Such a beautiful attraction! It’s free and the parking isn’t terrible! It’s a great little stop for when the zoo is overflowing since it’s right down the road.They offer free yoga workshops every now and then as well! Lastly, this is also a fantastic photo op for all sorts of occasions. If I recall correctly, it does have disability access but not all the way throughout the property.

edith andrade

Peaceful and enjoyable always a relaxing view away from the choas of busy work life

pablo ramirez

The Japanese Tea Garden is a peaceful place to visit it has plenty of trails to walk and places to to sit and contemplate life and it's right next to the San Antonio zoo so get two places to visit..

Lenzi Causey

Love this place, must visit every time I visit San Antonio. Pretty crowded now on weekends but still as relaxing and beautiful as ever.

Gisell Rodriguez

Beautiful place to take pictures! I wish i would have hired a professional as its not the same with iPhone but they wore still pretty pictures. There wore a lot of maternity and wedding and quinceañeras shoots. There is no park entrence fee or anything like that and there is a lot of parking as well. only thing i wish they had wore like the story of the place because it seemed to be a landmark and i heard various stories unable to verify.

Kelsey Sparkman

What an amazing stunning place!!!! Came here with my family and we had several small kiddos running around and exploring. Beautiful landscaping, plants, trees, flowers. Tons of birds and butterflies. Would definitely recommend to anyone coming to San Antonio!! Love love love!!

Myron Dennis

This place is worth the visit without a doubt. If you're looking for a change from the River Walk and the Mission Trail, head to the Japanese Tea Gardens. The footpaths throughout the gardens meander and there are many different ways you can walk around the area - nothing feels repetitive. The fish are massive and plentiful, and kids will love watching them up close. The visual interest and the way the stones are stacked to create beautiful, lively structures that integrate into the thoughtful landscaped gardens will keep your eye wandering and keep you visually engaged.

Felisha Hernandez

Beautiful place to visit in San Antonio. I go to work out with the nature. I do always watch who's around. Pretty crazy people and stuff you'll see sometimes. Not all the time. Just be safe as if you were visiting a walking trail

Ariel

Hands down, favorite attraction in San Antonio! The scenery here is gorgeous! The landscape is densely planted with the most beautiful plants. You can take stairs to multiple points in the garden for a better view and glorious pictures. This garden is small but every photo angle is magazine worthy. Definitely worth the energy. And it's free to boot!

Richard McMillin

Very beautiful place to visit. Trails are everywhere and going up and down. Flowers, shrubs, ponds, waterfalls, trees, this place has it all, and they put a tea house on top.

Ashley Honeycutt

Sooo beautiful. This was my favorite part of my San Antonio trip. It is great for pictures and could be a romantic experience. It opens early at 0700 which is nice to beat the heat and people. Its also free to visit!

Jay Duhon

Not sure why the sign above the entrance reads "Chinese Tea Garden" when everything else refers to a Japanese Tea Garden, but it is a beautiful place nonetheless. The word garden also does it no justice, even though it is technically so. I consider it more of a hidden paradise or a zen oasis. You can sit beneath the rock pagoda, close your eyes, and listen to the gentle murmur of moving water as the fragrance of a thousand delicate blossoms are carried to you on a cool, gentle breeze. I could sit here forever, without a care in the world. And if you can believe it, there is no charge to visit this pristine place; it is free. Free as the open air and the sights and sounds of nature. DO NOT pass up an opportunity to visit this beautiful place. You will be glad you did.

Hasib Hassan Khan Chowdhury

Good place but I wasn't that impressed to visit the tea garden. Occasionally good but the weather was not impressive. The place is green, tea tastes good, has a good fountain into the middle of the garden, good space for walk and deep forest for good breathe. Entire package is good but not something I'd say eye-catching. Entry is free and can avail free parking. Have good restroom facilities. So not that bad for budget tourists.

Robert Cummings

What a great little find. Lots to look at and it was free. Wish there were more koi in ponds. Best to visit in early morning or early fall

Rachael Iden

Very neat decorative and chill spot to walk around. It wasn't busy during the afternoon because people do not spend a lot of time here. Plenty of places to take nice pictures and portraits. The trail to the waterfall might be challenging to some people.

Sandra Sil

Beautiful place my nephew had his wedding there and it was amazing.

Adrianna Hernandez

it is beautiful. The only downside about it is if you're getting married or having a sweet 15 or graduation or any type of event. They charge you $20 to take pictures.

Adalinne Mae

Love this place. So pretty and clean. GREAT FOR PHOTOGRAPHY SESSIONS!!! Wear shoes you can walk in!!!! I didnt know. But.. Now I do! Dress comfortably! Over very pretty. Has fish. A little waterfall. Bridges. Its amazing!!

Alex Navarro

Very nice scenic place. Lots of uphill steps. Not over crowded but there were a lot of people there so you can't really stop to take pictures or just enjoy the scenery. The paths are too narrow for a lot of foot traffic. Still enjoyed

Thu Michaela Frank

It's a bit small but it's so beautiful and peaceful here. If I brought a book or something, I could stay here all day. There are a lot of trails to just walk around. If you got an hour to relax before or after the zoo, I definitely recommend.

Chynna Patchell

Beautiful place to take photos with your little fam, open at all hours we came here at night and just loved the beauty and stillness at night. You can even watch a wedding in the summer! Love the little cafe, a little pricey but to be expected. A great place to take the kids

Brenda Robertson

We have been living in San Antonio for 6 years and we finally made a special trip to the Japanese Tea Gardens for my birthday. Starting with early morning and except for construction workers fixing the entrance, my husband and I were the only ones there. It was so very nice and serene. When we have visitors, we will certainly take them to visit there. The best time of course would be Spring and Summer. The reason we did it early morning, was because we then wanted to have breakfast at La Madeleine which was a few minutes away from it. It was a perfect birthday morning!

Mike Last name

This place is awesome. On a beautiful spring day, you can capture some really great photos. The layout of the tea garden is somewhat of a maze with visually appealing points of view. The ponds are filled with an assortment of fish along with other wildlife. It has a great deal of charm and is just a refreshing place to spend 30 minutes. They have a kiosk that serves drinks and small snacks. They lack in variety, but it’s still a nice touch. I wish they served ramen here though. Something like that would kill in this place. But overall, this place is great for a date or a place to get some fun pictures. I’ve lived in San Antonio for about 5 years and today was my first time coming here. I’m a fool for waiting this long to discover this little treasure.

Nancy Ortiz

We went here on Jazz night which is once a month and the music as well as the scenery was great.

Carlotta Moreland

Peaceful very nice place to take out of town guests also great place to have a hard conversation with someone

Eric G

Nice place to go hang out with family but fountains inside ponds not working also take your own drinks there is no vending machines at location.

Craig Reilly

Pretty! Very up and down steps. Not as big as I thought. Done in 20 minutes but still worth a visit. It is free.

Lillyish life

The most beautiful place in the city. A stones throw away from downtown San Antonio, and the historic river walk. It is a perfect get away for a little peace away from the city noise. Parking is free, but make sure to check and see if any events are occurring at the tea garden.

Random Dan

Absolutely Beautiful! This would be a place where you can get birthday photos graduation photos and even wedding photos and it will turn out absolutely amazing! It's also just a good way to get rid of stress after a long day's work.

Anahi Soto

So beautiful. Absolutely Free, they have a snack shop. They provide free parking but on busy days it might not work for the best. Great place to take awesome pictures, so relaxing...

Alla D

What a marvelous place and it's free! I wish I knew how to build this myself. I might have missed this, but it would be great if a place like this included some information for the visiting gardeners. It would be interesting to know how the water is purified, if they use water collected through rain, what plants are here, are they using zero scaping.

David and Ruthie Wu

My husband first brought me here 10 years ago. His family has a special connection to this place. His grandmother used to help at the convenient store that was once in the Jingu House so he grew up hanging out by the gardens. This was also where he proposed to me and where we had our engagement photos taken. It was great to be back during Memorial Day and seeing many people visiting. We hadn't been to the bridge to one of the lookout areas so we had to take a picture there. We saw graduates in their cap and gown getting their pictures taken. Definitely a great place for photos! Glad that they've maintained it very well over the years.

Sasha

Great place for family pics! So Beautiful! Be prepared for a hike, try not to go on a weekend very busy

Divine Reality

So beautiful I love it here! I can shoot photos of this place all day.

Raul Abarca

It was great. Even if you were to go by yourself. Gorgeous scenery. Even if it was hot the day I went.

kirk peters

Awesome gem of a place to stop, right off the freeway heading from the airport to downtown San Antonio! Beautiful natural setting within the concrete of the city is this Chinese (mistakenly labeled Japanese) garden, complete with an amazing rock gazebo overlooking a huge, striking koi pond surrounded by eye-popping foliage and floral displays on multiple levels and pathways...even a place-setting waterfall that you can walk beneath and see from most vantage points in the large garden terraces. Must-visit, and just as good -- it doesn't cost a penny to see!

britany schwoch

Free! Would bring my daughters here and they would climb the stairs for hours, watch the fish, and chase the birds across the street. The views are beautiful. Waterfalls, foliage everywhere, and lovely tea at the restaurant on top of the hill. A very peaceful place to just be. Or get an amazing exercise up and down those stairs!!

Ralph Martinez

I like the way it looks, it has beautiful plants n fish. It's very relaxing n soothing for the soul. It looks awesone

Michelle hendrix

Beautiful place to enjoy the coy fish serene waterfall lovely atmosphere. Its way too hot in the midday summer best bet is evening. Probably only takes about 20-30min to walk and truly enjot the scene.

Drew Bybel

The few time Ive been here, so great!Love going here to take beautiful shots for my photography class!(:

TinaEck

Very pretty Gardens! They are free to get in and very popular to visit. There isn't a lot of parking though so you may have to park in the theater lot right next to the gardens. There's a little cafe there that serves a couple of different light foods and multiple drinks. Be aware that the prices are a little higher than a normal Cafe because it goes to maintaining the gardens. They have multiple kinds of tea, little Japanese cakes, and a lot of American snacks too. They also have sake and a few other alcoholic beverages

James Byers

Nice place, free entry. Really pretty waterfall. Kinda small and easily crowded.

Julie Rivera

Such a wonderful peaceful place. You MUST visit if you have never been there. A real gem of San Antonio.

Matt Gurecky

On January 16, 2016 I was in town for a concert. That morning I decided to go the the Japanese Tea Gardens. I was so glad I did! Not only was the place beautiful, serene, and a photographers dream...it also hosted a very large feral cat colony. At any time you could see a cat of every color and breed. Being a cat lover, it only heightened my experience. Whenever I'm back in SA, I will definitely visit again!

john ulbrich

A beautiful hidden garden, if you have never visited then you must, its FREE and walking distance from the Zoo..!!!

PhotographybyEstefana

This location is just the bee’s knees! It’s such a romantic spot for your engagement session that you’ll have a hard time picking where to go first! It’s not only a gorgeous location, but it’s also so peaceful! We really enjoyed spending our afternoon here, and we can’t wait to come back again for our next photo shoot!

Sam Lawrence

Its truly beautiful and a lovely place to explore wander and walk. Its tranquil even when crowded. And the little restaurant is quite charming too.

Rex Carrillo

Really beautiful place but my most recent visit the water was dirty and the fountains weren't working

Liam Briick

Absolutely stunning place. Spent about 20 minutes there (rushed) and would have loved to spend more time here. Family friendly and such a pretty garden!

Bruce Lee Hurt

Very enjoyable to be outside & walking this little place. Was able to take some great pictures. Go early when its not to hot.

Adrian Marlow

I took my family here and it was a beautiful productive and fun place to visit.

Donna Mills

The Japanese Tea Garden is breathtaking. The stone columns, vegetation, and waterfall make for a stunning aura and presentation. I would suggest to go early and step carefully..

Eric Garcia

Beautiful! Really cool to experience Japanese culture in our diverse city. Love the stairs and the strolling up and down and around the garden. Tea is authentic and very enjoyable in this tranquil environment. Love riding a bike to the Garden taking a stroll on a nice spring day, bluebonnets to Texans are like cherry blossoms to the Japanese and both are a special annual beauty that I love to cherish each year.

Bertha torres

Super peace full breath taking view from anywhere you look. Great scenery for pictures, could be for party theme, 15, sweet 16 etc love the feeling u get once u get there the view is awesome. And the staff is great

Nicholas Gangloff

Very beautiful and a unique spot to visit. It feels nothing like the rest of San Antonio, and it is nice to sometimes get away from the common "super touristy" attractions. Even in August, there are many flowers and lushess greenery. Highly recommend visiting if you are a tourist, or even a local.

Tony Violante

Always a great, relaxing location; and especially pleasant when there is a jazz concert (Jazz in the Garden).

Annette Martell

Amazing view you can go to take pictures or just relax! One of my favorites places in San Antonio!

Fernanda Leon

The garden was beautiful. It even had a waterfall, the Japanese tea garden was a great place to take pictures. The garden had a part that had bubble tea, I don't have any though but people there said it was delicious.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars

Janet Hargraves

Too steep for me to walk. But beautiful what I did see.

Paola Guerra

Loved this place! It is beautiful, and breathtaking. Nice place for a quick visit and beautiful place to take pictures !

Arac M.

It was always a lovely place to visit as a child. Even when it went into disrepair, it still felt very separate from this world. The plants and ponds are very well maintained and the koi and turtlea very well cared for. The cafe is open more consistently as well. Down side? The amount of foot traffic. 4 photo shoots were going on...was asked multiple times to move because I was "blocking their shot". This is a public place. I tried to be reapectful but it ruined some of the tranquil experience. Also..on a path, my companion and I stopped briefly and were watching turtles and fish swim about when someone asked us to move so they could take photos and were inexplicably rude about it. This was after only standing there for 2-3 minutes. It was really disappointing to be continually pushed and ushered if not flat out talked down to by people when I just wanted to enjoy a nice environment. The point of the garden is lost with all the racket and shuffling. Also, please, the graffiti in the gazebo area near the quarry ruins is baffling to me. Why do people still write and carbw their names? Please be respectful of this beautiful place and of each other.

Chris Jolly

Definitely in my top five places to visit in San Antonio. I went in March and the flowers were beautiful. Perfect place for photos. Free admission is nice as well.

April Snively

Lovely Japanese tea garden with plenty of walkways and mini gardens to saunter through. There are plenty of benches to rest your feet and a small waterfall to take pictures next to. There is a small tea shop too that you can check out and some historical plaques that explain different buildings and the history of the gardens.

Amber Ilyas

Relaxing place one of our must stay from Houston. It would be great if they open tea shop till 6:30 6 atleast especially in this hot season water wasn't clean this time :(

Trae Thompson

Gorgeous just wish people respected the land and didnt leave trash behind

Claudia Prieto

A place to relax the mind. It is always nice to be in such places. Liked it a lot

René Ibarra

Brought my nieces and nephew here. They loved it and even wanted to explore more! There's some fun side paths to climb into if you're able enough. That said most of the garden is actually very wheelchair friendly. The Boba tea house is also a nice touch although it can be a bit pricy.

Elle Cee

It's a nice place to take out of town guests but I would only go if you go super early before the crowds and before it gets super hot! I wouldn't buy the boba drinks available there because we ordered two different kinds and it was just like regular tea with very tough tapicoa.

Epicless GanJa

I love this place its great for a good run or walk around in. Good natural enviorment and always clean and welcoming

sachin krishna

It's a one time visit only..! Nothing exciting to see.. but the plants are well maintained.. and the fishes gives a different feel to the garden...! If it's the first time you are visiting a Japanese garden then you can give it a shot.. but it's not a must see place..

D R

A very well curated garden very close to downtown. The place was very quiet, is hard to believe it's in the city. The garden had a large pool, and there are a lot of koi in it.

Bethani Hendrickson

Great place for a scenic walk for the entire family. It's free which is a bonus! They have delicious tea at the little shop also. Highly reccomend!

John Murray

Great place to get away. Love this place.i come here alot

Izabel Alvarenga

The view from the Japanese pavilion to the waterfall is amazing. The koi carp in the lake are beautiful. It’s a serene place and kind of quiet even with all the visitors. There is a cafe where you can get a cold bubble tea (not sparkling) to take to your walk. There weren’t much flowers in bloom though. It is a nice place to visit. I would again in other season.

Christina S.

Very beautiful location! Easy to access as well. Some spots are absolutely breathtaking. Highly recommend for photography. We ended up buying a photo pass online before we arrived, but once we got there we were never asked and we noticed many other people casually taking pictures without having to have a permit either. I would say that if it’s on a weekend, don’t bother to buy one; save your $25. The cafe is mediocre and that’s part of why I am giving 3 stars instead of 5. It is also very clearly not authentic Japanese food (Americanized/American cooks) and it is also way overpriced. The staff, especially the old woman who brought the food out to our table, was also very overbearing - and frankly, annoying. I wouldn’t order from the cafe again. Go eat at an actual Japanese restaurant if you want authentic Japanese food and don’t waste your time at the cafe. I would rate the cafe 1 Star. The location and area, without the cafe, I would rate 5.

Josie Josie

This tea garden was very pretty. They do have a little restaurant. Very cute walkways to see but not really a place for small children or people who have trouble with balance. The steps are very uneven and there's a lot of steps and no rails. The view from the top is gorgeous but nothing to prevent children from falling.

Matthew Nimesheim

Great little date place! has a little restaurant inside it that serves boba tea, which was sorely needed on a hot day! The full gounds are not too big and can be explored within about 15 - 20 minutes if you move non-stop, but it is still a very nice relaxing walk.

Fred Hardwell

This place was awesome. Beautiful spot....and free! Definitely some place to stop and browse. Wasn't too crowded when we went.

Sandra Mccool

I was recommended this place due to it being free to the public. It is the most beautiful place ever, I however recommend to go when the heat is not as bad I almost melted through out the walk. Highly recommend this place if you are in town visiting

Inesa St

Beautiful setting for perfect family pictures while surrounded with green Japanese trees, bridges, and water falls.

Rob Widdoss

What a gem in SA. Free to public and beautiful. Really glad we found it!

Jinx S

Short walk but very pretty. Fish and turtles are adorable. Read the plaques to learn the history of the place along with the name change from Chinese tea garden back to Japanese tea garden.

April Alva

It's a beautiful place. Tons of flowers and plants. Coy fish in the water my daughter and I saw little turtles. We took awesome pics. There are a lot of stairs so strollers are not easy and it was hot but we went at the hottest time of the day. Worth it for the views.

Veronica S

Very nice, the tranquility is so nice. I wish they had tables so that you could sit and enjoy it better. The only tables they have are for the little eatery there, but you aren't allowed to have your own items which to me is a bummer.

Daniel Flores

Love it here very romantic free but make sure to get here early for good parking. Also be weary of weddings that take place here overall some that I accidentally walk by didn't mind my presence but overall a great place to sightsee and enjoy.

Grace

This place is so beautiful. Lots of people came for the specific purpose of taking pictures. The parking and entrance are free.

Warren Jordan

The Japanese Tea Gardens in San Antonio feature lush gardens, floral displays, Stone walkways, a waterfall, Koi ponds and a Japanese pagoda. It was once an old rock quarry and the land was donated to the city for a public park. What was once dubbed The Lily Pond in the early 1900’s is now designated as a Texas Civil Engineering Landmark, a Registered Texas Historic Landmark, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Definitely a must see Best of all... FREE!

Robert Dils

This was a delightful getaway and very peaceful as you would expect. A little crowded at times but there is also a nice walk on the outer trails looking down at the gardens. And there's a cat off the trails who seems well accommodated (which makes me happy).

Ryan Maldonado

Best in spring with cherry blossoms, Summer is lush and green Fall and winter are cool and serene. It can get humid and steamy at times so bring water or a hand fan. Great view and the stone pavilion is a site to see, there is also some old historic building on the outside with plaques explaining the history. No food allowed but bring water. There are plenty of restaurants near by and a bus stop that will take you right downtown and back.

Alli Rushing

Easy to find by google maps gps (near the zoo). Free to visit. It was fairly crowded when we arrived on Saturday about 2pm. There's a tea/small-bites food shop on site; We did not get anything as it was so jammed packed inside. The views are amazing. There are koi fish in the waters, and if you walk down to the water and look closely, you can find some baby fish swimming along as well. The walk is easy and the flowers are pretty.

Larissa Palacios

Went really quick but it was so beautiful . Awesome place to go take wedding ,quinceñera ,sweet 16 etc... pics. Good place to go get some walking in .

Giuliano Federico

Beautiful place that seems to be kept clean. Absolutely worth the time to come see this very peaceful, beautiful place. The koi are quite a sight as well.

Deaf Emily

What a fantastic place to go and see the Japanese architecture! The gardens were truly lovely! There’s only a small section where wheelchair folks can use. Everything else has odds/end steps and it’s all over. I do highly recommend their bento box lunches and their tiny gift shop. I was surprised to see that there was no admission fee. That’s good news!

Alisa Jackson

The Japanese Tea Garden was so pretty! The flowers and the waterfall were my favorite part. I wish I could have stayed a little longer, but it was hot the day that I went.

zavalaev

Beautiful scene. Lots of little trails that go down to the water koi pond and back up. One trail even leads to the Zoo entrance. Very scenic and pretty waterfall area.

Natalee Ziegler

Love this place. Very relaxing and a nice place to walk around on several different paths. Beautiful koi fish

Sandra Castaneda

Beautiful garden, it’s a bit small but good enough. A great place to take pictures and relax. It’s located next to a Zoo. I recommend bringing your children, they will be full of joy.

Frank Ruiz

Was approached by a rude unknown employee that a photo permit was required to take pictures. The website states "professional photo shoots" must be scheduled. First of all it's a public park, Second we all pay taxes, Third I was with my family and not profiting from the family photos we were taking.

Alejandra Suliman

One of the most beautiful gardens you can visit, it is a must if you go to San Antonio, small but enough to take your breath away

Andrew Hovenden

Absolutely gorgeous. Old Limestone Quarry cut into the Earth creating a sunken Japanese garden. We were there when the water was getting refilled. Lots of old large koi and tiny baby koi. Great bamboo, waterfalls, and beautiful flowers. It is nice to see what could have just been bulldozed turned into something so functional. There is a wedding going on when we were there and it was creating a really pretty backdrop for their pictures.

Wendy Cordero

This place is fantastic, we love it! we visited several times a year and is always magical. The food is incredibly good and they're teas are amazing, even the bee's are friendly!

DeJuan Jackson

It is a nice place to come for some relaxation and/or some photo's with friends and family. I'd recommend showing up early in the summer to avoid the heat and some of the crowd.

Denise Baumert

I was astounded by the beauty! So glad we went here. Lots of good photo ops!

alma salinas

I have a lot fond memories here with Incarnate Word being across the street. One of my favorite places to visit while in San Antonio. The environment is peaceful and beautiful. It definitely takes you into a little world within San Antonio.

K Denise

Very beautiful and serene. Lots of walking paths. Free to the public.

Erick Rodriguez

Very relaxing place. My kids loved it. Very family oriented.

Leigh Ryan

Beautiful gardens with great views. Spent a few hours there and the kids enjoyed walking the paths and seeing all the fish. We went after the zoo and could easily walk to it from there. Parking across the way as there isn't much on site parking.

Michael C

Amazing place to spend some time with family. The scenery inside the garden is absolutely beautiful. The best part is it is free to get in, there is a little restaurant/cafe just inside the entry, and it doesn't but a couple of hours to walk through... and that's walking slow. This is a great Sunday morning place tp visit. The Koi fish are huge and relaxing to watch. I highly recommend other to visit the Japanese Tea Garden at least once while in San Antonio.

heidi andrews

Love it here such a beautiful place. It's free to go as well which us so cool. Enjoyed it.

Jazzma Burgess

Beautiful scenery and pretty fish. I took my dog here for a walk. It was a nice little hike for him. There are a lot of stairs. Not handicap accessible. Depending on the time of day this place is not crowded. Which is perfect for a photoshoot I took my graduation pictures here. The best part is its free.

Steve Mecham

Beautiful!! Good amount of flowers today. It's not that long of a walk, but lots of steps up&down - good for us! 1st time we could come on a weekday, so not very crowded. Wheelchair access is limited but has great overlook views of the garden.

Vincent Terreri

Very beautiful and extremely peaceful. Wonderful place to practice mindfulness or meditate.

Pete Cee

Incredibly well kept garden. Really nice place to visit and do some light hiking with lots of serene photo opportunities. The waterfall although small is very nicely put together. If planning on going in the summer months, definitely go early in the morning when it opens, less people and you won't melt.

Rik Cruz

I Hadn't been here in a while, and it was wife's first time visiting. I loved how well maintained the site is, and the kids loved exploring and looking at the koi.

Barnabas Kneill

December 2008- My husband and I visited San Antonio and we enjoyed many of the tourist activities in the city. We visited the Japanese Tea Gardens and we were glad that we did. The area is an old quarry. The story goes that a Japanese family owned the property in the 1930's- 40's and had a Tea Garden there. Which would have been so "exotic" in that time. The family was "displaced" during the WW2 and the property was taken over by the city. There was a plaque at the gardens, that described the family's story.The property had been recently renovated after being in disrepair. There is no admission charged to wander the property. There are pathways that are built on the sides of the quarry. On the edges of these paths, so many rocks must have been hand placed and that is what makes the Japanese Gardens unusual. Another feature is large ponds that hold large koi.There is not much to do here except walk the paths and enjoy the scenery but it was peaceful. We enjoyed it. We traveled to the Japanese gardens after our trip to the San Antonio Botanical Gardens. It was easy to get from the place to place by using the city bus system called "VIA".

morgan Lewis

Such a unique nature filled area.. If you're looking for a great place to take some neat pictures and walk some nature trails, this is the place. There's designed rock structures, beautiful walking paths accompanied by foliage, a waterfall, and a huge pond nestled at the bottom full of Koi. It's a free attraction and a great way to get some steps in. Wear your comfortable shoes.

Brenda Treviño

Beautiful place that can be enjoyed by all members of the family. Free entrance is icing on the cake!

Michael Torbert

This place is amazing. You could easily spend a couple hours here with your family or significant other. It’s not huge, but you’ll want to walk slowly and stop frequently. Photogenic and selfie spots are everywhere you turn.

Gabriela Rivera

I love coming here with my mom to see the plants and the fishes it’s our favorite place to be

Shreyas Macwan

What an exceptional experience. First I thought that this would be just a usual garden but when we reached there, I was like WOW.. it's really beautiful and worth a visit.Only issue was to get some more time for parking..

Gerome Q. Banks

Beautiful park with water, fish, lush greenery, a waterfall, and elevation. Highly recommend but if you're trying to get pictures, recommend a weekday in the morning when it opens.

Sean Lewis

Cool place to be, maybe when its cooler weather. I went when it was basically the hottest part of the summer. It was really nice though with all the Koi fish, and the nice waterfall. I would recommend it as a date spot. The little shop there is really pricey for drinks, so bring your own. Good luck with parking as well.

Niranjan Desai

This is beautiful place. I am glad I visited. It was not in my list but we were little early for the Zoo. My son said lets go to Japanese Garden. I was expecting to spend 15-30 minutes but spend hour. You will need about 2-3 hours to really enjoy this place.

nadine braunfeld

FREE beautiful section of a larger regional park system. If you have a spare 30-60 minutes, visit this peaceful, zen, Japanese garden. It is beautiful, well laid out and a well deserved break from constant sightseeing. Only gave 4 stars because we visited in summer. The 100-109 degree weather dried up & killed plants all over Houston. Try to visit Japanese Tea Garden anytime Except Summer.

Mohammad Ahrari

Very beautiful and relaxing place. We had so much fun there

Jeff Contreras

Serene place. The garden is very beautiful. It's free and definitely worth a look if you're in the area. If you're a Pokemon hunter there are lots of stops in and around the garden. Lots of people come on weekends and especially on Pokemon community day, but it's never really overcrowded.

The Solution!4Kickz

This is clearly in the top 10 places to visit in San Antonio. It's flat out beautiful and perfect for photos. The other part is it's free! I was shock there's no entry fee. They do make it up with sales at the little shop but don't mind spending a few bucks after the experience. What's mind blowing is people have lived here their entire lives and never knew about this amazing place.

Dale Smith

Beautiful flowers and garden setting. Worth a visit

Aurora Dordan

Pictures do this place more justice than words - the Japanese Tea Garden is a beautiful place to spend time with family and friends marveling at the beautifully landscaped, multilevel garden filled with flowers, winding paths, a waterfall, and koi pond with bridges and floating flower-islands.

Bryan Kelly

I recommend coming early in the morning before anyone arrives. This is when you’ll get the best view of this place. Beautiful.

Corando Guerra

The coy fish are amazing, feels the place could use a bit more love. If youre coming on a hot day bring your beverages to keep you hydrated. Nice spot for some pictures

Dhruv Kaushal

Fantastic place to visit. Pro tip - skip the 'famous' iced tea in the garden shop, it's a gimmick!

Jessica Baker

Beautiful. Great place to take pictures of kids or engagements or senior photos. Please don't graffiti it, people work hard to keep this place beautiful but clearly in shone areas people disrespect it and mark it up. I love taking the kids here so they can look at the flowers plants and architecture. Parking isn't aweful but because it's on a hill area it's not very handicap friendly.

Carlos Solano

Great place to go take photos, lots of people but still spacey enough for everyone to walk through the paths around the garden.

GodFirst Akbar

Beautiful place. I enjoyed walking around with my family. The best part it's free. However, it is tough to go up the stairs if you have a big stroller.

Christopher Cecy Uriegas

Beautiful and peaceful scenery. Great place for family pictures. Be careful of bees.

hoss hernandez

Very inviting and not too crowded even on weekends!! Places for shade and great picture spots as there was 2019 graduates doing senior pics. Close to zoo and train rides. Must see if you want a few quit minutes away from the city and San Antonio's annoying drivers!!!!

Jordyn Boyd

A beautiful and peaceful place. Even with a good amount of people. The flowers and stream are beautiful. I I've lived here my entire life and just now went. Well worth a trip to look at the lovely area, stray kitties (taken care of by Sunken Gardens) and the beautiful Koi. So happy to see this. Some things say Japanese, some say Chinese, but the look is straight Japan-inspired. Very pretty either way. 5/5.

Wayward 00x0

Nice place to take the family. Super hot on account of being outdoors.

Lisa E

It was an AWESOME experience! Loved the views! I would recommend taking your own bottle water. Very over priced

Tariro Trish Dzangare

This place is a little haven for nature lovers. I love every detail about the garden. It's so serene and peaceful. Totally enjoyed the herbal iced tea and icecream. Very refreshing and tasty.

Stacy Musial

Beautiful experience. A wonderful family friendly place with a koi pond. A little gem on the way to the airport and close to the zoo. Very serene and beautiful.

Jo Ann Kalinin

Most go very beautiful. Lots of steps wear good walking shoes

Tierra Blanca

I love it, i Will back soon.

Leah Vulpitta

This place is gorgeous!! If you’re in town, you must visit! My coworkers and I were visiting from NC and we started our San Antonio scavenger hunt out here and wish we would have had more time to explore this beautiful place.

Michael Mendoza

Amazing walking and picture taking location. Free admission but I do highly recommend supporting the on site shop.

John Sovocool

A meticulously maintained oasis of natural beauty. Well worth the visit!

Quentin Klein

A beautiful and tranquil walking spot that is great to bring pets and family. If you're looking for a relaxing outdoor spot, this is a fun and unique place to see!

Yogy D'Amour

Beautiful place to visit.. very impressed. Worth the stop

Andy Derksen

Views were nice, interesting san antonio history of this old quarry. Nice atmosphere.

Tariro Chimutsa

Totally loved the icecream from the shop. I would go for it any day. The garden is stunning

Honey Earnest

A good place to reflect think relax.its a good walk hike and can be steep not ideal for small children or people with poor balance. Awesome place for picnic and photos Very romantic

Lindsey Passenger Wieck

A hidden gem (literally). The amazing water, flowers, and ambience of this space makes for a fun stop. A small shop with tea and treats, albeit overpriced, is on site. A great spot to take photos!

Brenda Mark

Omg this is the most beautiful place!!! I love coming here!!! Such a gorgeous setting... even year round. Highly recommended aaa

Tristan Garcia

It's a beautiful place to visit. It's amazing to find such a tranquil place in the middle of large city. The arrangements of local plants and flowers, ponds of koi fish, small bridges even a waterfall all come together to create a serene place for meditation or yoga.

Junaid Channa

Gorgeous Japanese park. Very well organized and plenty of places to follow the garden trail. Lots of different plants... very unique. There is a koi pond and floating islands..: the park is well maintained. plenty of places to take pics... so take a selfie stick with you and remember to wear sunglasses and sunblock! There is a coffee shop and a seating area... would I come here again yes. Loved the staff. It does get hot so you have been warned.

Shay Berry

The scenery there is amazing. The prices on food and drinks are a little to expensive which is why it's a 4 star not a 5 star. Definitely a good place to take photos.

Mary Johnson

Wow! This is a must see during your visit to San Antonio. One of the most beautiful botanical gardens I've ever seen. Get your camera ready, so many pictures to take around every corner.