New Long Bridge Opens at Japanese Tea Garden

The new Long Bridge in the Japanese Tea Garden is now open! This bridge and the views from it’s walkway have been admired by many over the decades. Crossing the Long Bridge gives visitors sweeping views of the Japanese Tea Garden’s peaceful koi ponds, graceful trees, winding pathways, iconic Drum Bridge, and more, from above. In the spring, the bridge is popular spot for viewing cherry blossoms and wisteria and in the fall it’s a favorite viewpoint for admiring fall foliage.

Over the years, we’ve seen multiple iterations of the Long Bridge. The first version of the Long Bridge was built in 1912 using eucalyptus trees that were felled in the Japanese Tea Garden. It connected the older part of the Garden (near the Tea House) to the newly expanded area on the hill that included the Shinto Shrine and Torii gate (now the Pagoda Plaza).

The image below shows Goro Hagiwara (leading this group) on the Long Bridge with Chichibu (walking second in this image). Chichibu was the second son of Emperor Taishō and Empress Teimei, and the younger brother of Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito). This picture was taken on January 3, 1927 at the Japanese Tea Garden, just a month after Chichibu’s brother Hirohito had ascended to the throne.

In the 1970s, the Long Bridge was painted in red and gold. In this photo you can see the wisteria blooming across the structure of the bridge. We made sure to provide the wisteria space to continue growing on our new Long Bridge too.

The most recent version of the Long Bridge was built in 1988. This iteration of the bridge is the one most recent visitors recognize. After many great decades of connecting areas of the Garden and providing beautiful views, it was time to completely replace it.

In October 2026, we opened a new Long Bridge, completely rebuilt and upgraded to be safer, accessible. and even more aesthetically pleasing. The Alaskan Yellow Cedar that was used for the bridge will take on a beautiful patina over time. When you visit, notice the lovely transitions between stones, copper, and wood between the paths and bridge and enjoy new perspectives on your favorite parts of the Garden.

We hope you enjoy the bridge soon! Plan your visit at gggp.org/japanese-tea-garden

Photos by multiple photographers including Saxon Holt, Steven Pitsenbarger