Newly renovated teahouse revealed in San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- On Friday, San Jose city leaders showed off their newly renovated teahouse located inside the city's Japanese Friendship Garden.

The building had been left empty in recent years, but in 2012 the San Jose Parks Department began an effort to renovate and update the teahouse. Now the building features new granite counters, a new kitchen, and tables and chairs.

Vice Mayor Madison Nguyen said the city is happy to reintroduce another place for people to enjoy inside Kelley Park. "I just hope more residents and visitors and tourists who come to our city enjoy these wonderful cultural gems we have here in the city of San Jose," Nguyen said.

The teahouse was built in 1972 and is modeled after the world-renowned teahouse in Okayama, Japan, which is San Jose's sister city.