6/10 June Second Sunday and Tea Ceremonies
Summary
Admission with online reservation $7.50. At the gate $10
Members receive free admission for two. Children 12 and under free. No pets allowed
Reservation required for Tea Ceremonies $15 (Not appropriate for very young children)
Reservations close the day before at 5pm
The garden is wheelchair accessible
OPEN RAIN OR SHINE. We are not able to issue refunds.
Description
Second Sunday Open Days
Even though the Storrier Stearns garden is a perfect backdrop for cultural events, festivals and celebrations, Japanese gardens are designed primarily for quiet contemplation and introspection. Our Second Sundays will offer visitors the serenity that has characterized Japanese gardens for centuries, a respite from a hectic world. Chairs and benches will be scattered around the garden and tables will be available for picnics and conversation. Highlighting the day will be tea ceremonies in the Niko-an Teahouse (reserved separately.)
Tea Ceremony Demonstrations
The Japanese tea ceremony is a sacred practice that embodies harmony, respect and tranquility. Experience the Way of Tea in the exquisite Niko-an Teahouse. Mikko Nakatomi will perform two matcha tea ceremony demonstrations, and will explain the meanings behind the time-honored rituals of the ceremonial preparation and presentation of Japanese tea.
Ceremonies are $15 and held at 1pm and 2pm. Pillows and chairs will be provided. Space is limited to 15 participants and reservations are necessary.
The traditional Japanese tea ceremony, or chanoyu (literally, “Hot Water for Tea”), uses powdered high-quality green tea known as matcha that 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 and by the 16th century crystallized into an elegant cultural pursuit that influenced almost every aspect of Japanese culture.
The Niko-an Teahouse at the Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden is one of the few places in Southern California where an authentic Japanese-style tea ceremony can be experienced in the setting of a traditional teahouse and stroll garden.