Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden — Attraction in Pasadena

I have lived in the SGV practically my whole life and had no idea this place existed until recently! They are open on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday during the day. Normally Sunday admission here is $12/person, but I bought a Groupon for admission for 2 so it came out to be $9/person. Definitely worth buying the Groupon because this place is pretty small so I don't think it's really worth paying full price... They do provide a parking area but it's more of a corridor than anything. You drive into the driveway, turn around, and then park on the side in a row with other cars. Street parking is also available so I would probably recommend doing that if you have a larger car.

Once we parked we walked into the entrance and then checked in on the terrace of the house. I showed the lady my Groupon and marked it as redeemed and then she gave us stickers to show that we were registered paid visitors. They say that they are wheelchair accessible but my experience today involved quite a few stairs so I question whether they are fully accessible or not... I'm glad that I came here with my ankle braces on and without my rollator because I didn't see a continual accessible path. We walked around two large ponds and went inside their teahouse. It was really nice in there and there are also multiple benches/chairs around the garden for people to sit and relax in.

My friend was getting bit by bugs though so we didn't really sit and relax much. In the end we spent a little over 30 minutes there and then left. I would recommend using bug spray when you come to avoid getting bit...

Stearns Japanese Garden is a charming, peaceful spot, though smaller than most Japanese gardens in Southern California. It still offers plenty of beauty — mature trees line the paths, koi swim actively through the pond, and there are a few turtles lounging near the water’s edge. You’ll also find a couple of quaint bridges and a traditional tea ceremony house, which also serves as a lovely venue for intimate weddings.

The trail loops around the garden and includes a hillside portion, so keep in mind that roughly half the path has an incline. It’s not ideal for wheelchairs or strollers. There’s a small waterfall that adds to the ambiance, along with a modest gift shop and large, accessible restrooms.

Overall, it’s a quick but pleasant visit — great for a quiet stroll, photos, or a relaxing break in nature. If you enjoy Japanese gardens, it’s worth a stop, just expect a more compact layout compared to places like Huntington...

My wife and I were disappointed on our recent visit. Perhaps it's in part due to the restrictions imposed by COVID, but the garden struck me as shabby and overgrown. Stone lanterns were some kind of composite material and looked like they came from Home Depot. The recently reconstructed tea house doesn't use the traditional dark wood it would have originally been constructed in, and again looks very "reproduction." Overall the garden felt slapdash and poorly maintained.

The garden is also much smaller than I expected. With the poor state of the ponds and surrounding planted areas we weren't inspired to stop and contemplate, and with a single short path around the ponds our two-hour window for visiting was far more than needed.

I accept that COVID has curtailed activities and events, and closed the teahouse, but I really didn't feel the experience was worth the $7.50...