Saginaw is home to a Japanese Cultural Center, Tea House and Garden, as a result of its 52-year Sister-City relationship with Tokushima, Japan. The Garden was completed in 1971. The Tea House, known as Saginaw Awa An, completed in 1986, is considered to be one of the ten most authentic Tea Houses outside the country of Japan. The site is open from April through October and offers traditional tea ceremonies by appointment, and on the second Saturday of each month. Each year in September a Japan Festival is held in the garden, featuring authentic Japanese singers, dancers, and performers, and offering demonstrations of Japanese Culture to those in attendance, including flower arranging, calligraphy, origami, and authentic Japanese cuisine, such as sushi and other dishes.
sAgInaw is HomE tO a JapanESE cultUrAL CentER, Tea hOuSE and Garden, aS A resuLt Of its 52-year SisTeR-ciTY RElAtIONship with tOkuShiMa, japan. thE Garden was CompleteD iN 1971. thE tea hOuse, KnowN aS saginaW awa aN, cOmpLeted in 1986, is CoNsidEred to be one of The teN mOSt authEntic Tea HoUses oUTsiDE the CoUnTrY OF jAPan. THe siTE Is oPEn from aprIl thRouGH octoBer anD OFFers Traditional TEa cereMoniEs By APPointmeNt, and On ThE second SAturday of eacH monTH. each Year iN SEPTember A japan fEstival IS held In the gaRDEn, Featuring aUThenTic JApaneSe siNgerS, DAnCers, and perfOrMerS, aND offerIng demOnStrAtioNs oF jAPanEse cultUre to thosE iN aTteNdanCe, INclUdiNg flowEr ArRanGinG, CAllIgrAphy, orIgAmI, ANd authentic JaPaNeSE cuisinE, such As susHi and OtHer diShes.