Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden

Walking up the long driveway at 270 Arlington Drive, there’s no sign telling you what to expect. The neighbors’ houses are close. The residential street is quiet. Then the path opens up, and the garden is just there: two koi ponds, a hillside with water coming down it, stone bridges, old oaks, and a hush that takes a few seconds to register.

This is a hill-and-pond stroll garden, a style of Japanese garden design built to be experienced while moving. The paths curve through 1.45 acres, leading from the lower pond up toward the waterfall and across four original bridges that offer different vantage points with each crossing. There’s no central open space to take it all in at once. The layout requires walking.

What You’ll Find

The two koi ponds are irregularly shaped and large enough that the reflections of the surrounding trees change completely depending on where you’re standing. The water is still except where the 25-foot waterfall feeds into the lower pond. From there, stone lanterns, boulders, and granite statuary appear at intervals along the paths, some placed prominently and others easy to walk past.

A 15-foot granite bridge, referred to as the “devil’s bridge,” connects two sections over the lower pond. It’s one of four original crossings and one of the better spots for looking back across the water. The plantings are intentionally green year-round, built around trees rather than seasonal blooms, so visits in any month have roughly the same feel.

The Teahouse

The Niko-an Teahouse stands near the upper garden. The original was built in Japan according to Kinzuchi Fujii’s precise specifications, shipped to Pasadena, and reassembled on-site. It served as a gathering place for the local Japanese community for decades before burning down in 1981. The rebuilt version follows Fujii’s original drawings, photographs, and architectural plans closely, down to the 12 tatami mats covering the floor.

For general visits, the teahouse is closed. It opens for tea ceremonies and special events, which are scheduled a few times per year. Worth checking the events calendar before visiting.

Evening vs. Daytime

Sunday visits run from 10am to 4pm. Select Friday and Saturday evenings open from 4pm to 8pm. The two experiences are noticeably different. Morning Sunday visits are good for photography, and the garden tends to be quieter early in the day. Evening visits in warmer months bring softer light and cooler air, and the ponds catch colors that don’t show up the same way in full sun.

The garden also hosts cultural programming throughout the year: tea ceremony demonstrations, live music performances, the annual Pasadena Festival of Tea in May, and occasional events tied to Japanese cultural traditions. These add to a visit but aren’t required.

A Few Things to Know

Parking on-site is limited to a couple of driveway spaces. Street parking in the neighborhood handles the overflow, but arriving early on busy Sundays helps. The self-guided visit uses informational brochures and storyboards at key points. Plan for 45 minutes to an hour at an easy pace, longer during special programming.

Directly across the street is Arlington Garden, a free public garden maintained by the City of Pasadena. Many visitors walk through both in the same trip.