One of San Antonio’s most scenic places is set to transform into a free festival celebrating its cafe and tea house’s 100th birthday. Here’s what to know.
Jingu House at the Japanese Tea Garden opened as the Bamboo Room in 1926, not long after the garden was transformed from an abandoned limestone quarry in 1917. The city has artist and tea importer Eizo “Kimi” Jingu, his wife Miyoshi and their family, to thank for the restaurant, in which they sold food, tea and novelties to visitors.
However, the family endured harsh, anti-Japanese sentiment during World War II that saw Miyoshi and her children (Eizo had died in 1938) evicted in 1942 and the garden renamed. The gateway reading “Chinese Tea Garden” still stands at the entrance today as a reminder, although a ceremony was held in 1984 to commemorate returning the gardens to their original name. Members of the Jingu family and the Japanese government attended.
According to a release from the SA Parks Foundation, Jingu House “served as tourist destination and hub of hospitality, cultural exchange, and community. Today, the Japanese Tea Garden continues to draw visitors from around the world.”
A massive, $2 million renovation of the gardens took place from 2007 to 2015, and Jingu House reopened in 2011. These days, Jingu House is run by the Lawton family of La Fonda on Main, Cappy’s, Cappyccino’s and Mama’s Cafe. It serves a blend of Japanese and San Antonio-inspired light fare as a respite from hot days spent wandering the gardens.
In honor of Jingu Houses’s 100th birthday, the SA Parks Foundation is throwing a bash at the gardens. It kicks off on Saturday, October 10, with an anime festival running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can browse “anime-inspired art, unique vendors, collectibles, and creative finds,” according to the SA Parks Foundation. Japanese street food will also be available for purchase. From 5 to 9 p.m., the festivities continue with Taiko drummers, a film screening and Q&A, Japanese street food and more. The event includes free admission and parking and will bring 40 descendents of the Jingu family to San Antonio.
There’s more in the line-up. The Jingu Centennial Gala will take place at The Ralston on the evening of Friday, October 16. A ticketed event, the gala is billed as “an elegant evening featuring live entertainment, dinner, special tributes, and opportunities to celebrate the past while supporting the future of the Japanese Tea Garden.” It begins with a cocktail hour and live Taiko drum performance, and throughout the night guests will enjoy dinner, live music and a video tribute from the daughter of the founding Jingu family, as well as remarks from city leaders. The event also includes a raffle, music and dancing.
Find it: Japanese Tea Garden, 3853 N. St. Mary’s St., San Antonio, TX 78212