Representative image, AI-generated

The Japanese Garden

4.5$· Inexpensive

Serene 6.5-acre traditional Japanese garden oasis in Lake Balboa

Located in the San Fernando Valley, The Japanese Garden (SuihoEn) offers a tranquil sanctuary designed by Dr. Koichi Kawana. The grounds feature a dry Zen meditation garden, scenic bridges spanning a koi-filled pond, stone lanterns, and an authentic tea house setting. Uniquely irrigated with reclaimed water from the adjacent Tillman Water Reclamation Plant, it seamlessly blends traditional Japanese landscape design with sustainable modern water engineering.

History

The Japanese Garden, also known as Suiho En (the garden of water and fragrance), was designed by Dr. Koichi Kawana and opened to the public in 1984. It is designed to present an authentically crafted traditional Japanese garden. The site is a water reclamation plant, and the garden was created to demonstrate a positive use of reclaimed water in a beautiful setting.

Quick tip: Advance online reservations are required to enter, as drop-in visitors without a booking are not permitted.

Expert notes

Features

Special occasion reservations

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