Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden: Festival of Tea | Pasadena

I’ve been to the Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden Festival of Tea in Pasadena twice. Once was right before the pandemic and again in May 2024. It’s an exquisitely designed and serene hidden garden off Arlington Drive in Old Pasadena.

Watch my short video tour of the Festival and garden

Find more things to do and where to stay in Pasadena, here.

A hidden Pasadena gem

Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden was created in the late 1930s when Japanese art and gardens were fashionable by Charles and Ellamae Storrier Stearns near their mansion on Arlington Drive.

Ellamae was enamored by Japanese gardens and wanted one for herself so she hired Kinzuchi Fujii, who was a Japanese American landscape designer. It replaced the tennis courts that were on the grounds of the mansion. Work had to stop for a time in 1941 when Fujii was sent to an internment camp during WWII. The completed garden became an idyllic strolling environment with koi ponds and a 12-mat teahouse.

When the Storrier Stearns passed away, the estate and garden were auctioned off in 1950 to an art dealer named Gamelia Haddad. She passed away in 1985 and the property was handed over to her son Jim and his wife Connie but it had fallen into disrepair and the mansion razed.

The Haddads proceeded to restore the garden from 2000 – 2013 with the help of landscape architect Takeo Uesugi. They also rebuilt the teahouse that had been damaged by a fire. Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden was officially placed on the National Register of Historic Places and listed as a California Historical Landmark in 2005.

It is now a non-profit organization that hosts various cultural and educational events including the Pasadena Festival of Tea.

The Japanese Garden

The gardens are exquisite and I was told there were around 26 perfect spots for photography.

It has been used for weddings and other events and was recently used as a place of solace for war veterans experiencing PTSD to heal them from their trauma.

There are many contemplative places to walk and sit, small waterfalls, a koi pond, arched bridges, rooms for lectures, and a gift shop.

The Storrier Stearns Festival of Tea

The Pasadena Festival of Tea is an annual event that takes place at Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden in May. Vendors are set up to provide exotic tea tastings for guests throughout the day.

Visitors may also purchase a ticket to participate in an authentic tea ceremony at the teahouse.

Tea Ceremony

I attended the tea ceremony the first time I attended the festival. It was sold out the second time, so it’s best to purchase tickets as soon as they become available. Japanese women dress as Geisha and wear authentic kimonos that are sold at a shop in the Burlington Arcade on Lake Ave. 

Before we walked into the teahouse we were taken to the water spout where guests traditionally wash their hands.

We left our shoes at the door before entering, put on socks, and sat on the floor.

The geishas performed the tea ceremony. They gave us bowls of Matcha Tea and treats called Wagashi. It’s made with sweet azuki bean paste mixed with sugar. At first, I thought they were gemstones.

We learned how matcha tea is prepared. Proper tools must be used to serve it. Matcha is powdered green tea filled with powerful antioxidants that will boost your immunity and cleanse your system. It’s been recommended for patients undergoing chemotherapy.

The matcha must be sifted through a sieve before serving to make it as fine as possible. A small amount of it is placed in a tea bowl and steaming (not boiling) water is poured over it. Then, it’s carefully mixed with a special bristle brush.

As we were being served, each geisha bowed and we bowed back. We held the bowl with one hand underneath to steady it. Before we sipped, we turned the bowl counterclockwise 180 degrees. When we were finished we turned it back 180 degrees. After the bowls were retrieved we repeated our exchange of bowls.

Matcha Tea can also be served cold. Put ½ teaspoon of powder into a bottle and shake it. You can mix it with foods as well like yogurt or ice cream.

Purchase a Ceremonial Matcha Gift Set from Art of Tea by clicking here.

Visit Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden

To visit the garden, visit its event page to find out what days it is open. There’s usually a small admission charge that contributes to the maintenance of the garden and its events.

Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden is located at 270 Arlington Dr, Pasadena, CA 91105

Visit the website here.

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