Day 3 The Big Day "Centennial Celebration for the Jingu House"

 The big day is here! We relaxed and then made our way to the river walk to the family luncheon also planned by Aria. We met at noon at "Casa Rio" for a buffet lunch with the family. This lasted until 3:00.  Aria and her family left around 2:30 for a river boat cruise.  We left shortly before 3:00 to go to the gardens.  Once there we found parking and walked to the pavilion.  Lots of activity and people as it was an all day festival with "animae" and vendors at the Mexican village below the gardens.  At 4:00 there were photo opportunities and a reserved room with air conditioning for the family in the Jingu House.  It was a hot hot day.  The room also had iced drinks for us which were very welcomed. 

At 5:00 there were Taiko drummers from Corpus Cristi and then the program began at 5:30 and lasted til about 7:00.

After the program we had a chance to talk with visitors and then finally relax and eat and enjoy the company of family. I was relieved to have my speech over and now could enjoy the night with everyone.  

Day 2 Friday October 9th Family Reunion

 We had a leisure morning at he airbnb.  Aria and family arrived last night close to midnight. This morning the kids entertained us.  We got ready to leave the house around 9:15 for the Maverick-Carter House tour at 10:00 downtown. Mike took the Sofia and Rocco for an adventure while Joce and Vicente, Aria, Daniele, Michael and myself went to the tour. 

 We had a good time at the tour which lasted 1 1/2 hours.  David Pesche' was there and brought his collection of Tea garden memorabilia.  We took pictures with two members of the Carter family. It was a very interesting tour with many overlapping connections between the Maverick, Carter and Jingu families. 

 

 At 2:00-4:30 Aria, Pati and I headed to the gardens to meet up with Jack Morgan for an interview. At 3:00 we met up with the garden ceo Mary Jane Verette and her team along with the cousins on the planning committee to do a walk through of the event on Saturday. 

at 5:00 we all headed to "Elsewhere" the gathering outdoor venue Aria had arranged for the family friday drinks and dinner. 

 

Day 1 Arrival San Antonio

 The flight went smoothly from Long Beach to San Antonio. We had a stop over in Dallas and then arrived in San Antonio where we picked up the rental car. From there Mike surprised me with a trip to the Cemetery where Granpa Jingu is buried. San Fernando Cemetery 3

1735 Cupples Rd. San Antonio.

 

 

 

 

 We stopped at the information booth to get directions to his gravesite.

After that we went to the Tea Gardens at 4:00. It was a brief visit as they close at 5 PM.  The gardens looked beautiful.

 Went to check into our Airbnb and soon after Jocelyn and Vicente arrived.  Mike and Joce and Vicente went to the market.

 

Around 6:30 Pati and Stuart arrived and we spent several hours catching up, laughing and eating and drinking. Stuart made us laugh with his Icelandic impressions and his funny video.

  

 

Jingu House Festival October 10, 2026

 

 

The Jingu House c. 1919

 

This is just a heads up to all friends of my family. My grandparents Kimi Eizo and Miyoshi Jingu’s home at the historic San Antonio Japanese Tea gardens in Texas will be celebrated on Saturday October 10, 2026. It is the 100 year anniversary of the Jingu house celebrating opening of “ the Bamboo room “ and when the family first began to serve tea, and light snacks to the public. There is going to be special events on the garden grounds. 35 Jingu family descendants will be in attendance coming from New York, Vermont,Idaho ,California, Florida , Texas and across the country. If you can join us please do! Family members will be sharing oral histories, and poignant family memories of living in the gardens. Additionally a short film “Tea for Texas” by film maker and grand daughter Lisa Onodera will be shown. There will be a “Q and A” following the film and slide show. If you have never been to the gardens you are in for a magical experience. The city of San Antonio is lovely. Please consider joining us October 10th. I will repeat this again closer to the event date. Please consider joining us.

The Japanese Tea Garden in San Antonio is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the historic Jingu House with a series of public events and a gala in October 2026.

 

Jingu Festival: October 10, 2026, from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM at the Japanese Tea Garden. Features live entertainment, cultural experiences, and street food. (Free admission and parking

honoring a century of legacy

The Japanese Tea Garden began in 1917 when the City of San Antonio transformed an abandoned limestone quarry into one of the city’s most treasured public spaces. In 1926, Kimi Eizo Jingu and his family opened the Bamboo Room, now known as the Jingu House, creating a place of hospitality, cultural exchange, and community.

Today, the Japanese Tea Garden continues to inspire visitors from near and far. As we celebrate this centennial milestone, the San Antonio Parks Foundation is looking ahead to the next century with plans to preserve and enhance this historic space.

Join us for this unforgettable celebration and be part of honoring the legacy, beauty, and future of the Japanese Tea Garden.

Quote Written on a Plaque of the New York Library

 "The Universe is not made up of atoms.

It's made up of stories."  

Malabar, Belvedere Jr. High, Roosevelt High School

 

Happiness

 

 

 "Happiness in not something ready made. It comes from your own actions."-Dalai LamaXIV