The Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden symbolizes the lasting friendship between Saint Paul and its sister city, Nagasaki. Designed by Nagasaki landscape artist Masami Matsuda, it follows traditional Japanese principles using Minnesota-hardy plants. Open year-round, weather permitting, the garden offers a peaceful, sensory experience.
A Bit of History
In a country as densely populated as Japan, a garden provides a source of relief and serenity in crowded, urban areas. That peace can be found just north of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park, in the Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden. Like any garden, it is alive with beautiful things, making it a feast for the senses. On another level, it can be viewed as a metaphor for life’s journey, a place conducive to entering a meditative state, which calms and renews the spirit.
The garden’s design was a gift from the people of Nagasaki, St. Paul’s sister city, to the people of St. Paul. It was designed by Masami Matsuda, landscape architect from Nagasaki, as a peaceful retreat. Mr. Matsuda, however, gives credit to nature for the garden’s creation. Funds were donated by the family of Mrs. John G. Ordway. It was opened to the public in 1979, and completely renovated in 1990-1991 under Mr. Matsuda’s direct supervision. In the 2001 Como Friends launches an $8.5 million capital campaign to improve the garden. In November 2008, a City of St. Paul Landscape Architect presents the Ordway Gardens plan to Masami Matsuda in Nagasaki. In the spring of 2012 is renovated under the direction of a renowned Japanese Garden specialist, John Powell. In 2013 the Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Gardens reopens.
Click HERE for more information about the elements in the Garden.
Elements of the Garden
- The Garden Passage connects to the Conservatory and extend out to the Bonsai Pavilion. It fully opens to the Huss Foundation Terrace and Huelsmann Foundation Meditative Garden via a series of sliding glass doors or provides a closed walkway during inclement weather.
- The Bonsai Pavilion is located at the end of the Garden Passage near the Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden. This glittering glass box displays Bonsai trees year-round in a climate controlled space. It provides lovely views into the Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden and serves as a destination during the winter months.
- Huelsmann Foundation Meditative Garden extends the length of the Bonsai Pavilion and provides an outdoor gallery for displaying Bonsai trees. Many of the trees in the Conservatory’s collection must be held outside during the summer months for their optimal health. The Huelsmann Foundation Meditative Garden provides visitors a serene space and stunning gallery to display the Conservatory’s horticultural works of art.
- A realigned Jo and Gordon Bailey Pine Grove Walk curves through a grove of trees providing visitors a picturesque view around every bend. It leads to a traditional Japanese Garden gate that provides a glimpse of the beauty inside before visitors cross the threshold.
- The Bonsai Pavilion and Huss Foundation Terrace provide opportunities to experience the Japanese Garden year-round. Traditional Japanese gardens are intended to provide a new opportunity to celebrate nature in quiet and subtle ways during all four seasons. Visitors are able to view into the “resting” garden from the comfort of the Bonsai Pavilion or venture out to the garden along the Jo and Gordon Bailey Pine Grove Walk.
- The installation of an ornamental fence around the south perimeter of the garden replaces the former chain link fence that served as the perimeter wall.
Tea Ceremonies
Tea Ceremony Info and Registration
The objective of a Japanese tea ceremony is relaxed communion between host and guests. It is based not only on the etiquette of serving tea, but on the precise performance and aesthetics of the centuries-old ritual, the beauty of the utensils, the simplicity of the surroundings, and the social aspects of experiencing the ceremony with others. All of these elements coexist in a harmonious relationship with the ceremony.
The ultimate aim is the attainment of deep satisfaction through silent contemplation and the drinking of tea. An authentic Japanese tea ceremony can last many hours.
Built in the style of a traditional Japanese teahouse, Como’s teahouse is made primarily of materials indigenous to Minnesota, and expresses pure Japanese taste. Its aesthetic intent addresses not a spirit of deficiency but of poverty freedom from external concern and awareness of essential inward values. Equally important is the spirit of tranquility. Together they reveal beauty in imperfection and insufficiency.
For the Japanese people, a teahouse and garden represent a mountain sanctuary within the city. The teahouse and gardens are our mountain sanctuary. Through participation, guests set themselves apart from the cares of the world.
One approaches the teahouse and its gardens by way of a gate, leaving the outside world behind. Only participants of the tea ceremony enter the inner secluded garden. This is not a large landscape scene. Dramatic views or unusually fragrant plants are not included. Simple, natural arrangements of trees and green leafy plants are desirable, as is foliage that makes a sound in the breeze.
Preparation for the Ceremony
Guests experience the details of the garden before entering the tearoom. Carefully placed stepping stones form a short path in the garden. They encourage introspection, bringing attention downward as you prepare to enter the tearoom.
Final preparation involves the washing of hands and touching the mouth at a special small stone basin called a tsukubai, which means ‘to crouch.’ While washing, one crouches on the flat smooth stone or mai ishi, which is one of the many stones placed around the stone basin.
Inside the Teahouse
After meditative preparation, you enter the tearoom by crawling through a small, low entrance, which brings you to an area that is in every way another world. Subdued lighting and the fragrance of incense greet you. The room is free of decoration except for the alcove, or tokanoma, set aside as a place of honor. A simple flower arrangement and a hanging scroll establish a tone of quiet, transient beauty for the gathering.
The Ceremony Host
All the hosts of the tea ceremony volunteer their special skills. At least one certified tea instructor is present with a staff of other volunteers, who have studied tea for many years. The tea ceremony they perform has been taught in Japan from generation to generation by the Urasenke branch of the Sen family. We are most fortunate to have the support of these devoted individuals.
The tea ceremony at the Charlotte Patridge Ordway Japanese Garden lasts 45 minutes, and includes an explanation of the ceremony itself.
The Cost
The cost of a tea ceremony is $60, of which, a $5 donation is being made to Chado Urasenke Tankokai Minnesota Association (Yukimakai) to help in the recruiting and training of new tea students so they may continue their long tradition of presenting the Japanese Tea Ceremony (Chanoyu) to the public at The Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden. If you would like more information about opportunities to study and learn about the Chanoyu you can contact Yukimakai at YukimakaiMN@gmail.com. Thank you and we hope you enjoy your experience.
2025 Dates
2025 dates are now full. 2026 will be added by late April or early May. Cancellations or any added dates will be added back to this page.
There is a $10 service fee to cancel. No refunds are given within two weeks of the event. Create an account for our reservation system HERE. To register multiple people for the same tea ceremony, please add a second person to your household.
Como Park Japanese Obon Festival
***We will be selling ONLY ADVANCED TICKETS again in 2025***
Click HERE for a printable program from 2024 (2025 program coming soon, with more food vendors!)
Music, martial arts, singing, dancing, drumming, delicious food, vendors, games, and other aspects of Japanese culture will be featured at the annual Como Park Japanese Obon Festival on the grounds of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory from 3:00pm – 9:00pm on Sunday, August 17. At the end of the Obon festival, lanterns are released onto the water so that the spirits can return to the other world.
Click HERE to purchase tickets
We will not be able to take cash at the gate for admission.
Experience the Magic of the Como Park Japanese Obon Festival – Sunday, August 17
Tickets On Sale Now – Advance Purchase Only!
Join us for a beautiful and vibrant celebration of Japanese culture at the Como Park Japanese Obon Festival on Sunday, August 17, 2025, from 3:00pm–9:00pm on the scenic grounds of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory.
This family-friendly event, inspired by Japan’s traditional Obon holiday, features:
🎶 Live Music & Performances
🥋 Martial Arts Demonstrations
🎤 Singing & Dancing
🥁 Taiko Drumming
🍜 Delicious Japanese Cuisine
🛍️ Cultural Vendors
🎯 Games & Activities for All Ages
🌸 Immersive Japanese Cultural Exhibits
The evening ends in breathtaking fashion as hundreds of paper lanterns are floated across the garden’s ponds, symbolically guiding ancestral spirits back to the other world—a serene and unforgettable experience.
🎟 TICKETS
- $8.00 per adult (ages 13+)
- $5.00 per child (ages 3–12) and senior (65+)
- Children under 3 are free
- No cash admission at the gate
- No refunds
👉 Tickets must be purchased in advance.
If you arrive without a ticket, scan a QR code at the gate to purchase one with your phone (credit card required).
[Click HERE to purchase your tickets now]
🚐 Shuttle Information
A free shuttle will run between the SPPS District Service Facility (1930 Como Ave) and the festival grounds.
Last drop-off at Como is at 10:00pm.
🎎 About the Obon Festival
Obon is a deeply meaningful Japanese holiday, honoring the spirits of ancestors with rituals, music, offerings, and light. Families gather to pay their respects and welcome the spirits of loved ones, then send them off again with lanterns at dusk.
At Como’s Obon Festival, you’ll experience:
- Traditional instruments like the koto and shakuhachi
- Japanese and contemporary dance
- Cultural displays, martial arts, and food booths
- And the stunning lantern lighting ceremony across the Japanese Garden and Frog Pond
This beloved annual event is produced in partnership with the Japan America Society of Minnesota and the Saint Paul Nagasaki Sister City Committee.
📅 Don’t miss this unforgettable celebration of tradition, remembrance, and community.
Click Here for More Information
Obon is an important Japanese cultural and family holiday, at which ancestral spirits are said to revisit their families for three days. Families pay their respects at grave sites and put out offerings of food and drink on a tray before household altars. They also light lanterns or small fires outside the house to symbolically guide the souls to the home. On the last evening of Obon, lanterns again guide the spirits back to their resting places.
The Obon Festival encompasses Japanese tradition—through music, dance, crafts, martial arts and lanterns. Entertainment on the main stage will include several taiko drumming groups, koto (Japanese zither), shakuhachis (bamboo flutes), traditional and contemporary dance and singing. Martial arts and a host of other cultural exhibits and demonstrations will line several paths through the grounds. Japanese food and culturally-related items will be for sale.
The day will culminate at dusk with the main event—the lantern lighting. Six stone lanterns and floating (on the water, not in the air) paper lanterns throughout the Japanese garden pond and the Frog Pond will create a vision of peacefulness and harmony to commemorate the dead.
The Como Park Japanese Obon Festival, produced by Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, Japan America Society of Minnesota, and Saint Paul Nagasaki Sister City Committee will be held on Sunday, August 17, 2023 from 3:00pm-9:00pm. Admission is $8.00 per adult (13+), $5.00 per child (ages 3-12) and Seniors (ages 65+), free for children under 3.
Click here for our Lantern Guide!
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the Festival all about?
The Japanese Obon Festival is reminiscent of Japan’s annual Obon holiday, an important cultural and family event. During this holiday it is said that ancestral spirits revisit their families for three days. Many people will return home to pay their respects at grave-sites, and often small paper lanterns are lit and floated down the river to guide ancestor’s spirits.
So, it’s all about Lanterns?
The Festival encompasses Japanese tradition—through food, music, dance, crafts, martial arts and yes, lanterns. Eat Japanese food, watch children play games while the parents learn more about Japan at the various booths, view traditional Japanese entertainment on the main stage, and lose of few calories by dancing the Bon Odori, the finale of the program. Then, at dusk, stroll over to the pond and view the lanterns floating on the water.
Can I launch or buy a Lantern?
The Saint Paul-Nagasaki Sister City Committee will be selling Obon Lanterns at their booth location this year – visitors who purchase them are welcome to either take them home OR bring them to the Lily Pond for a Como Volunteer to launch into the Lily Pond any time during the festival. If a lantern is launched by one of our volunteers, guests will not get them back. Only Como volunteers are permitted to launch lanterns.
Do the lanterns fly in the air?
No, they float on the water.
Can I buy tickets ahead of time?
YES! You will need to in 2025! We will not be accepting payment at the gates. You must show you receipt at the gate.
What time do the gates open?
3pm.
Where do I park?
We recommend that you take Metro Transit, Uber/Lyft, bike, or carpool. Como Park lots and street parking will be available. We will also have a shuttle running to and from a parking lot at 1930 Como Ave. Last drop off is 10PM
Can I use my credit card?
Yes, for entrance to the festival. Some vendors may also accept credit card.
Can I bring my dog?
Sorry, except for service animals, no pets will be allowed on the grounds.
What time do they light the Lanterns?
Lantern Lighting will begin at approximately 8pm in both the Japanese Garden and Frog Pond. Lanterns will be in the Lily Pond all day.
What time does it end?
The day culminates with the lantern launching at 8pm. Vendors also close at 8pm.
Are Wheelchairs or Strollers Available?
The Garden Safari Gifts booth near the conservatory entrance will have a few wheelchairs to rent, but no strollers.
Why is the Japanese Garden Closed?
The Japanese Garden can be accessed from inside the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory from 10 – 6pm. Then, from 6:00pm-8:00pm it is closed to prepare for the lighting of the lanterns in that area. The gate to the Japanese Garden will open around 8:00pm. Please, no flash photography in the garden when it reopens.
I want to become a vendor in 2026. Who should I contact?
All new vendors have to be vetted through our planning committee. You can start the process by emailing our Events Coordinator at comomarketing@ci.stpaul.mn.us with a synopsis of your group and what your booth will be promoting at the festival.
