This Japanese Tea Garden In South Carolina Is A Peaceful Escape

South Carolina is brimming with hidden gems scattered all over the state. From hidden parks to waterfalls, archaeological treasures, and more, there is a wealth of beautiful and exciting places to explore right here in our own back yard. To that end, not many people know about the Japanese Tea Garden in South Carolina tucked away on a side street in the City of Newberry.

Located on Lindsay Street and only a few steps behind Newberry City Hall, the Wells Japanese Garden is a small, but lovely place to escape. The Japanese garden was built in 1930, in the height of the depression by Newberry native and architect, W. Fulmer Wells.

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At that point, the garden was part of the Wells estate, which spanned the length of the next city block all the way to Harrington Street.

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In 1970, the Wells family donated the garden to the city and, whereas the entrance to the formerly private garden has been via the Wells’ house and other gardens, the city made a new entrance and named the garden for its creator.

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The small, triangular-shaped garden that remains contains a series of walking paths and focal points. Wells created two ponds that now have concrete bridges, including a Japanese Moon Bridge.

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The garden also contains a traditional Japanese Torii that serves as a gate to the sacred garden. It stands at what is now a cornerstone entrance from the street.

Google/Jason Perrone

And no Japanese garden would be complete without a teahouse. The structure in the Wells garden has a traditional tile roof. The posts that support the heavy roof were reclaimed from the Newberry Opera House which was under renovation at the same time as Wells built his Japanese garden.

Google/Rachel Sloan

The Wells Japanese Garden makes perfect use of the small space it occupies in downtown Newberry and offers a quiet respite for a cup of tea of the bring-your-own variety, or just to take a break from your usual routine.

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You’ll easily find it tucked away on the road right behind Newberry City Hall.

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From hidden beaches to other hidden gems only the locals know about, this Japanese Tea Garden in South Carolina belongs on your bucket list of places to discover in the Palmetto State.