Storrier-Stearns Japanese Garden, Japanese garden in Pasadena, California, United States
The Storrier-Stearns Japanese Garden is a 1.45-acre (0.59 hectare) garden in Pasadena featuring stone paths that wind through ponds and waterfalls. The landscape is shaped by gentle hills and traditional design, with a central teahouse serving as the focal point.
The garden was commissioned in 1935 by Charles and Ellamae Storrier Stearns, with Japanese landscape designer Kinzuchi Fujii overseeing its creation. The original teahouse burned down in 1981 but was later reconstructed following the original 1930s drawings.
The garden follows the chisen kaiyu shiki design principle, where water and walking paths are arranged according to Japanese landscaping traditions. The central teahouse displays traditional Japanese architecture and invites visitors to experience the space in the classical way.
The garden welcomes visitors on select dates each month and offers guided tours through its stone bridges, hills, and water features. Wearing comfortable shoes is recommended since the paths can be uneven and steep.
The teahouse was completely rebuilt following original construction plans from the 1930s after the first building burned in 1981. This Twelve Tatami Mat teahouse preserves an authentic construction method that is rarely seen today.
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