This form needs Javascript to display, which your browser doesn't support. Sign up here instead
Greenbelt Alliance In the News
March 3, 2011
Urban Outing: Japanese Tea Garden, San Mateo: Haven amid hubbub
Gail Todd
Step away from the hubbub of downtown San Mateo into the Japanese Tea Garden, a quiet oasis of serenity in the midst of urban bustle. Unlike the hot spot in San Francisco, San Mateo's garden is free to the public. Designed by Nagao Sakurai of the Imperial Palace of Tokyo, the garden is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.
The tea garden is in aptly named Central Park, which is smack in the middle of downtown. The park's 16 acres were once the estate of William Kohl, engineer, sea captain and fur trader. San Mateo purchased the land in 1922 for $80,000.
What you'll find
At the Laurel Avenue entrance, you will see a sign and a path leading into the Japanese Tea Garden. Inside you will be transported into a tranquil landscape. Wander the quiet pathways past blossoming cherry trees, Japanese maples and bonsai. The highlight of the garden is the kidney-shaped pond, crossed by wooden bridges and alive with koi. During spring and summer months, the koi are fed at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Stand on the bridge for the best view.
Don't miss these tea garden attractions: Walk up the rock and concrete steps to the azumaya, a delicate gazebo. Here you can view a map that lists all the plants in the garden. The wooden chashitsu, or teahouse, offers a bench where you can relax and view the pond and gardens. The shinden, a small shrine behind a bamboo fence, was given to San Mateo by its Japanese sister city, Toyonaka, to celebrate the garden's 25th anniversary in 1991. Most hidden of all is a diminutive five-level granite pagoda, which you come upon near a waterfall. It's a perfect place to sit on the large boulders and meditate.
The park
When you leave the tea garden, take time to explore Central Park. Although tiny (compared with its New York namesake), Central Park is packed with attractions. The gazebo with its lush rose garden is a popular wedding site. There is a big playground, picnic areas, tennis courts and a baseball diamond. A miniature diesel train usually runs on the weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on weekdays from 10:30 a.m. to noon except on Thursdays. Rides cost $1.50. The San Mateo Arboretum Society has plant sales in the park on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon.
Don't miss the park's popular statues. Near East Fifth Avenue and South San Mateo Drive is Leon, a life-size giraffe made of braised copper plates. The sculptor, Albert Guibara, named the giraffe after his father in honor of his 80th birthday and presented it to San Mateo in 1978. Near the Ninth Avenue entrance is a cast-iron dog statue from Italy. The dog has been standing guard since the days when William Kohl owned the land.
Downtown
When you leave the park, you will have myriad opportunities for dining and browsing in downtown San Mateo. Along South B Street, east of the park, are Italian, Chinese, Mexican and Japanese restaurants. Ramen Dojo (805 S. B St.) is a popular spot for noodles, if you don't mind waiting in a long line. For a fancier meal, try Espetus Churrascaria, a Brazilian steak house (710 S. B St.).
Explore the shops and restaurants along Third and Fourth avenues, making sure to go into Draeger's Market (222 E. Fourth Ave.), where you can get pastries, sandwiches and also picnic supplies if you're ready for another turn around Central Park.
Getting there
By public transportation, take Caltrain to the San Mateo station. Walk south on South B Street to East Fifth Avenue and turn right. Turn left at Laurel Avenue and then continue a short distance to the entrance to Central Park and the Japanese Tea Garden.
By car from San Francisco, take Highway 101 south and exit at Third Avenue (exit 416), keeping right at the fork to stay on Third Avenue. Turn left at South San Mateo Drive to East Fifth Avenue. At East Fifth Avenue, turn right and then an immediate left to park underneath the tennis courts in Central Park. You can also turn left on East Fifth Avenue and right on Laurel Avenue and park in a metered spot near the entrance to the Japanese Tea Garden.
Urban Outings are presented by Greenbelt Alliance, the Bay Area's advocate for protecting open spaces and creating vibrant places. To suggest an Urban Outing, contact Gail Todd, tour leader for S.F. City Guides and author of "Lunchtime Walks in Downtown San Francisco." To find out more about Greenbelt Alliance's work, visit www.greenbelt.org.
