By Phyllis Domingo, REALTOR® · San Antonio Relocation Specialist · 5 min read The Japanese Tea Garden in Brackenridge Park has been free to visit since it opened in 1919, and its 60-foot waterfall is one of the most photographed spots in San Antonio. Here is the story behind the garden, what you will actually see, and how to make a visit work with kids.
The numbers first
The Japanese Tea Garden opened in 1919, sits inside Brackenridge Park at 3853 N. St. Mary's Street, and is free to visit daily, with the San Antonio Parks Foundation listing hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. visitsanantonio.com saparks.org
The headline feature is the 60-foot waterfall, which drops into a koi pond at the garden's center and is the reason most first-time visitors show up.
A century-old story
The garden was conceived by Parks Commissioner Ray Lambert in 1916-17, built between July 1917 and May 1918 using prison labor, and completed and christened in 1919, according to the Texas historical marker at the site. hmdb.org
For decades the Jingu family ran a tea garden here, and the site fell into disrepair before a restoration brought the waterfall, ponds, and pavilion back to life. Today it is one of the few remaining municipal Japanese tea gardens in the country.
What you will actually see
The garden packs a lot into a small space:
- The 60-foot waterfall and the koi pond at its base, with the garden's stone footbridges crossing the water.
- The historic pavilion and the stone pagoda that anchor the garden's center.
- Lush plantings that mix tropicals, palms, and shade-loving greenery, kept green year-round by the spring-fed ponds.
- The garden is compact, so it is a 30-to-60-minute visit, not a half-day.
Visiting with kids, and without
Free admission makes it an easy add-on: the garden sits inside Brackenridge Park, a few minutes from the San Antonio Zoo and the Witte Museum, so a morning at the garden pairs naturally with a park day.
Paths are paved and stroller-friendly, and the waterfall is the kind of thing kids will talk about for the rest of the day. Go early on a weekday if you want the place nearly to yourself.
Why locals love it
It is quiet, free, and beautiful, which is a rare combination in any city. For newcomers it is also a great first-weekend stop: easy to reach, easy to park near, and a genuine piece of San Antonio history.
If you love the city's green spaces, add the San Antonio Botanical Garden and the greenway trails to the list.
When you are ready to talk about where to live near all of it, call or text me at 210-744-5478, or use the contact page.
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Sources
The numbers in this post were checked against these sources on October 9, 2026.
