Tea House at Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden in Pasadena (Photo – japanesegardenpasadena.com).
Tea ceremony, meet Japanese garden—a rare and beautiful pairing in Southern California.
By Melanie Hooks
On Sunday, September 27, 2026, at 11:00 am and 12:30 pm, the public will have the perfect opportunity to experience a Japanese tea ceremony in the setting of the Niko-an Teahouse at Pasadena’s Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden, a traditional teahouse and strolling garden.
Tea History
The traditional Japanese tea ceremony, or chanoyu (literally, “hot water for tea”), uses powdered, high-quality green tea known as matcha, which was first brought from China to Japan by Buddhist monks in the late 12th century.
From its roots in Japan’s Zen Buddhist temples, tea drinking spread to the residences of the nation’s warrior elite. By the 16th century, it had crystallized into an elegant cultural pursuit that influenced almost every aspect of Japanese culture.
Storrier Stearns Ceremonies
Storrier Stearns has recently begun offering seasonal tea ceremony demonstrations with tea practitioner Yuki Wakino, who has been practicing the tea ceremony since she was twelve years old and has studied with the Mushanokoji Senke school of tea for seven years. Ms. Wakino will give two 45-minute demonstrations of the matcha tea ceremony.
Each session includes a guided introduction to the tea ceremony and Japanese etiquette (otemae), traditional Japanese sweets (wagashi), and a bowl of freshly whisked matcha.
Reserve tickets online for $40 each, including garden admission.
Autumn Tea Ceremony September 27, 2026 11:00 am, 12:30 pm Location Storrier Stearns Garden 270 Arlington Drive Pasadena 91105 Reserve tickets online ($40).
Storrier Stearns Garden Tea Ceremony (Photo – japanesepasadenagarden.com)
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