Japanese Tea Garden Rededication

Please join us as we rededicate the Japanese Tea Garden at Napa Valley College, a gift from Napa's sister city of Iwanuma, Japan.

September 15, 2025

10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Napa Valley College (2277 Napa-Vallejo Highway, Napa, CA 94558)

The Japanese Tea Garden is located near the flagpoles at the center of the campus, in front of the 900 Building.

Please click here for the NVC campus map.

Background

In 1973, the Mayors of Napa, California and Iwanuma, Japan signed a document that officially linked the two cities in a bond of friendship. in 1981, funding for the Japanese Tea Garden was gifted to Napa by the sister city of Iwanuma, Japan. The Napa-Iwanuma Sister City committee determined that the garden would be installed on the campus of Napa Valley College, and the garden was completed in 1982. As noted in the Napa Valley Register (6/19/81), "the whole intent of the garden is to cleanse the spirit of worldly stain and to enter the teahouse (which would be the college) in a spirit of true friendship." The Japanese Tea Garden was therefore located at the formal entrance to the campus, next to the flagpoles.

As part of the Cultural Spaces Initiative at Napa Valley College which is designed to create more spaces that reflect the diversity of the students that we serve, the Japanese Tea Garden has undergone a rehabilitation under the expert guidance and design of landscape designer, John Hayes. Mr. Hayes is a former student of Napa Valley College and approached the college two years ago to volunteer his time and expertise to bring the garden back to a healthy and beautiful state. Another valued community member, Mr. Bill Imada, also contacted the college (independent of Mr. Hayes) to volunteer to work on reviving the Japanese Tea Garden. Our work on this garden, therefore, is a wonderful example of college and community synergy focused around culture and inclusion.

The restoration and rededication of the garden has been made possible by generous gifts from Mr. Bill Imada and Mr. John Hayes, and is part of the Cultural Spaces Initiative at Napa Valley College.

We look forward to celebrating with you and honoring cultural engagement, education, and exchange.

Host or Publisher Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Napa Valley College