Day 7 in 365 Things To Do in Glendale brings us to the Whispering Pines Tea House in Brand Park- Otherwise known as the Japanese Tea House.
Open 10AM – 3PM Monday through Thursday, you’d think I’d have made time to see this Glendale City Treasure. Today, however, I got in the half moon gates and strolled the verdant grounds. Today, as you kow, was a perfect early summer day. Blue sky, gentle breeze, warm sun – perfect. I strolled along gently curving paths lined with carved stone lanterns and saw a small waterfall, a few lazy ducks and a pond full of huge koi and snapping turtles sunning themselves on the rocks.
The Tea House is a lovely structure with deep, wrap around verandas and a large open interior with a tatami section toward the back. This structure and it’s surrounding grounds can be reserved for private parties and is often the venue for weddings.
Here is part of a post I wrote on the History of Brand Park:
Whispering Pine Tea House
The traditional teahouse was built in 1974 through the combined efforts of the Sister Cities of Glendale and Higashi-Osaka, Japan. It is one of the few traditional Japanese Teahouses open to the public in the United States. Given the name “Shoseian” or “Whispering Pine Teahouse” by the Fifteenth Grand Tea Master of the Urasenke School of Tea in Japan, the Teahouse is designated an official Tearoom. Dr.Yamazaki of Higashi-Osaka provided initial support for the Teahouse and Gardens. The Teahouse, which was designed by architect Hayahiko Takase, is a unique blending of western and eastern design and an apt expression of the spirit of cross-cultural community.
The garden and koi pond are open Monday – Thursday, 10am – 3 pm and the teahouse is open by reservation every 3rd Sunday for events related to Asian arts and culture. Click here for a to see a video tour of the Friendship Garden and Teahouse.
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