For those who enjoy strolling through World Showcase at EPCOT, the Japan Pavilion offers a serene and beautifully detailed environment. A popular stop for a refreshing beverage has always been the Garden House, a small kiosk offering sake and other Japanese drinks.
After a closure spanning nearly six months, this location has now reopened with a refurbished look and a significantly updated menu, bringing a fresh experience to a familiar spot. The updated kiosk reopened today, revealing structural changes and a new menu that introduces new cocktails while removing some previous offerings.
A New Look and Guest Flow
While the core structure of the Garden House remains, its layout has been reconfigured to improve the guest experience and ordering process. The most noticeable change is the shift in how guests interact with the building.
The former front doors have been replaced with windows, which now feature subtle cherry blossom designs behind the glass. The windows on the sides of the kiosk have been converted into doors. This new configuration creates a specific flow for guests:
- Ordering: Guests now place their orders at an exterior side window where the cash registers are located.
- Pickup: After ordering, guests enter through one of the new side doors to a small interior space to pick up their drinks.
This change helps manage the queue by separating the ordering and pickup points, which can reduce crowding at the main window. Inside the pickup area, a new shelf above the registers displays the available beers and cocktails, giving guests a visual preview of the offerings.
Updated Beverage Menu
The most significant change for returning guests is the completely revamped menu. Several familiar drinks have been replaced with new creations, and prices have been adjusted.
Cocktails
The cocktail list has been refreshed with several new options, including a flight that allows guests to sample multiple drinks. The new offerings include:
- Green Grace: A mix of honeydew, lemon, and sake.
- Sora Sky: A cocktail featuring peach syrup and yuzu.
- Haru Pink: A blend of watermelon and lemon juice.
- Cocktail Flight: Includes samples of the new Green Grace, the popular Violet Sake, and the Tokyo Sunset.
These new drinks replace former menu items like the Cucumber Cooler, Blood Orange Lemonade, and the Strawberry Rose Spring Cocktail. The popular Violet Sake remains on the menu.
Sake, Plum Wine, and Beer
The core offerings of sake, plum wine, and Japanese beer are still available, though some specific options have changed. The menu now features:
- Sake & Plum Wine: Options include Hot or Cold Junmai Sake, Daiginjo, and Nigori (a cloudy sake).
- Beer: Kirin Frozen Draft, Kirin Draft, Sapporo Draft, and Kirin Light are all available. A beer flight is also offered, featuring the Kirin Frozen Draft, a seasonal draft, and the Sapporo Draft.
Notably, sparkling sake is no longer on the menu. Soft drinks and green tea, which were previously sold at this location, have also been removed, focusing the kiosk’s offerings entirely on alcoholic beverages and bottled water.
Conclusion
The reopening of the Garden House in the Japan Pavilion is a welcome update for guests looking to enjoy a drink while exploring World Showcase. The refurbished design introduces a more efficient ordering process, and the updated menu provides a fresh slate of cocktails and flights to try.
While some may miss old favorites, the new additions offer interesting flavor combinations that align with the pavilion’s theme. On your next visit to EPCOT, a stop at the refreshed Garden House provides a chance to experience these changes firsthand and perhaps find a new favorite drink.
Written by
Rachel Van Norman
Contributing Writer
Rachel fell deeply in love with all things Disney as a little girl. Now as a wife and a mother herself, she shares this Disney obsession with her son and everyone around her. From her love of princesses to eating all the Disney food, Rachel spends her time radiating Disney magic and keeping everyone up to date on Disney news.
