Canon Creator VIP Experience
Let’s Create with Canon! We’re so excited — Canon is bringing 80 camera and lens combos for people to use during the workshop! It’s the perfect chance to explore new gear, […]
Let’s Create with Canon! We’re so excited — Canon is bringing 80 camera and lens combos for people to use during the workshop! It’s the perfect chance to explore new gear, […]
Let’s Create with Canon! FREE EVENT WITH PAID GARDEN ADMISSION We’re so excited — Canon is bringing 80 camera and lens combos for people to use during the workshop! It’s the […]
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER. NEW DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON Seasons of Verse is a curated poetry reading series held inside the peaceful landscape of Shinzen Garden, […]
We invite you to experience the breathtaking beauty of Shinzen Garden’s fall colors. Enjoy a peaceful stroll among the Japanese maples with a warm cup of tea and a traditional […]
Where Culture Meet in Nature: The Story of Japanese Gardens in the West REGISTER FOR THIS WEBINAR HERE Why have Japanese gardens captured the imagination of Western audiences for centuries? […]
JANUARY 2026 BOOK SELECTION The Traveling Cat Chronicles by: Hiro Arikawa We take journeys to explore exotic new places and to return to the comforts of home, to visit old […]
Ume Bloom Viewing Saturday, January 24, 2026 | 10am - 1pm Enjoy a cup of hot tea and a Japanese rice cracker while you view the beauty of the Ume […]
VIRTUAL EVENT Japan is a country of museums. There are more than 1,200 art museums yet this fact is often little known outside its borders. They are sprinkled throughout Japan […]
FEBRUARY 2026 BOOK SELECTION The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea by: Hiro Arikawa Thirteen-year-old Noboru is a member of a gang of highly philosophical teenage boys who […]
Experience a Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony at Shinzen Garden Immerse yourself in the tranquil beauty of Shinzen Garden as we present a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony on Sunday, March 8, 2026 […]
Experience a Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony at Shinzen Garden Immerse yourself in the tranquil beauty of Shinzen Garden as we present a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony on Sunday, March 8, 2026 […]
Explore the art of haiku and nature-inspired poetry while learning traditional Japanese forms. Through guided exercises and observation of the seasonal beauty of Shinzen Garden, attendees will craft their own […]
Unwind beneath the open sky with a deeply restorative Sound Bath set within the tranquil beauty of Shinzen Garden. Surrounded by nature, you’ll be guided through a meditative experience using […]
MARCH 2026 BOOK SELECTION Ms. Ice Sandwich by: Mieko Kawakami In her English language debut, “ceaselessly growing and evolving”novelist Mieko Kawakami renders an adolsecent voice with laser precision (Haruki […]
APRIL 2026 BOOK SELECTION The Setting Sun by: Osamu Dazai Set in the early postwar years, it probes the destructive effects of war and the transition from a feudal Japan to an industrial society. Ozamu Dazai died, a suicide, in 1948. But the influence of his book has made "people of the setting sun" a […]
Join us for a free docent-led tour on select Sundays, providing visitors with an in-depth exploration of its serene landscapes and cultural significance. During the tour, our knowledgeable docents guide guests through the garden’s features, including the Clark Bonsai Collection, stroll gardens, traditional architecture, and tea houses, offering insights into Japanese culture and garden […]
MAY 2026 BOOK SELECTION Heaven by: Mieko Kawakami With profound tenderness and sensitivity, Japanese literary superstar Mieko Kawakami turns her unique gaze onto the causes and effects of violence. Raw but revelatory, this novel stands as a dazzling confirmation of Kawakami's standing as one of her country's most insightful and compelling novelists. In Heaven, […]
Experience a Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony at Shinzen Garden Immerse yourself in the tranquil beauty of Shinzen Garden as we present a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony on Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 11:00 am. This unique cultural experience offers guests an opportunity to witness the graceful art of tea preparation and savor matcha in a serene […]
Join us for a free docent-led tour on select Sundays, providing visitors with an in-depth exploration of its serene landscapes and cultural significance. During the tour, our knowledgeable docents guide guests through the garden’s features, including the Clark Bonsai Collection, stroll gardens, traditional architecture, and tea houses, offering insights into Japanese culture and garden […]
Japan’s Metalcraft Superstars: Ten Master Artists Presented by Japan Society of Northern California *Online Program Drawn from 2,300 years of Japan’s rich metalworking heritage, today’s leading metal artists are redefining tradition for the 21st century. Join us for an online Zoom presentation by Steve Beimel of JapanCraft21, which will explore remarkable casting and forging techniques […]
Seikichi Izumi X, the sole inheritor of the 370 years of Urushi Lacquer brushi making ONLINE PRESENTATION This online lecture centers on the craft of urushi brush making, presented by Seikichi Izumi X, a lacquer brush artisan from a lineage dating back to the 17th century. For over 370 years since Seki Izumi I, he […]
Step into the rich cultural world of the kimono in this engaging and educational workshop exploring the history, symbolism, and artistry of Japan’s most iconic garment. The Art of the Kimono: Tradition, Symbolism & Style will guide attendees through the evolution of the kimono from traditional court attire to a lasting symbol of Japanese culture […]
JUNE 2026 BOOK SELECTION The Guest Cat by: Takashi Hiraide A bestseller in France and winner of Japan's Kiyama Shohei Literary Award, The Guest Cat, by the acclaimed poet Takashi Hiraide, is a subtly moving and exceptionally beautiful novel about the transient nature of life and idiosyncratic but deeply felt ways of living. A […]
Join us for a free docent-led tour on select Sundays, providing visitors with an in-depth exploration of its serene landscapes and cultural significance. During the tour, our knowledgeable docents guide guests through the garden’s features, including the Clark Bonsai Collection, stroll gardens, traditional architecture, and tea houses, offering insights into Japanese culture and garden […]
JULY 2026 BOOK SELECTION Kitchen by: Banana Yoshimoto With the publication of Kitchen, the dazzling English-language debut that is still her best-loved book, the literary world realized that Yoshimoto was a young writer of enduring talent whose work has quickly earned a place among the best of contemporary Japanese literature. Kitchen is an enchantingly […]