The Japanese Garden - Suiho-En

08/31/2026

We humbly invite you to join us at The Japanese Garden for a day of reflection and artistry. On Sunday, September 13, 2026, from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, the Sansui-Kai Bonsai Club will be hosting a Bonsai Show. We hope you will find serenity in the exhibition and live demonstrations, and perhaps discover a bonsai to bring the harmony of nature into your home. It would be our great pleasure to welcome you.

📍 6100 Woodley Ave, Van Nuys, CA

💻 More info: thejapanesegarden.com

08/28/2026

You've been to the garden, but have you been to one of our workshops?

Join us this Saturday from 9am to 11am for a special treat! LA Sanitation & Environment | Public Works's free Home Composting and Urban Gardening Workshop is coming to The Japanese Garden - Suiho En this Saturday 8/29 from 9-11am..

Parking is free, and we'll be meeting on the patio out front. Be sure to bring a hat, water, and sunscreen if you need it... it's going to be hot!

Please register:
sanitation.lacity.gov/events

08/18/2026

Step by step, with quiet intention (shoujin / 精進), our garden’s paths are being thoughtfully restored.

Every paver stone is carefully set, leveled, and hand-chamfered by skilled hands to ensure safety, durability, and a smooth journey for all who visit. Even the anchors hidden beneath the surface are measured to exact precision preparing a sturdy foundation so we may gather together once again under our event canopy.

Like the timeless gardens of Japan, true beauty requires patience, care, and silent dedication behind the scenes. We humbly look forward to welcoming you back to Lake Balboa this Summer 2026 to walk these newly crafted paths together. 🌸 🍃

07/27/2026

Traditionally, the Chaniwa (Tea Garden) and Chash*tsu (Tea House) are serene spaces where one steps away from the bustling world. Before entering, guests pause at the Tsukubai (crouching basin) to gently cleanse their hands and minds… a ritual of humility, purity, and respect.

We hope you have an opportunity to visit us soon and step into this tranquil moment. 🍃✨

07/08/2026

✨ Celebrate Tanabata (七夕) with us this Sunday ✨

As the summer sky brightens, we look forward to welcoming you back to one of our most cherished annual traditions: the Tanabata Star Festival.

Rooted in a beautiful, centuries-old legend, Tanabata celebrates the annual celestial reunion of two lovers—Orihime (the weaver star) and Hikoboshi (the cowherd star)—separated by the Milky Way and permitted to meet just once a year. To honor their journey, it is tradition to write heartfelt wishes on colorful paper strips called tanzaku (短冊) and hang them toward the heavens.

Please join us in our serene oasis in Lake Balboa to share in this moment of hope, culture, and community harmony.

Event Details:

📅 Sunday, July 12

⏰ 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM (Last entry at 3:15 PM)

🎟️ Standard entry fees apply | All are welcome

Gathering Experiences:

Wishes on Pine: Write your own tanzaku wishes and tie them to stylized black pine trees on our patio.

Kamishibai ( #紙芝居): Enjoy traditional Japanese paper theater storytelling, bringing old folklore to life.

Bonsai Club Demonstrations: Witness the living art, dedication, and patience behind cultivating bonsai.

Lotus and Lily Blossoms: Our water garden thrives in the heat and this year's colorful blooms are stunning.

We look forward to sharing this beautiful, peaceful day with you. 🎋

thejapanesegarden.com/events

06/19/2026

「父の恩は山よりも高く」 (A father’s devotion is higher than a mountain)

In the tradition of Japanese gardening, the majesty of mountains is expressed through our most enduring stones - timeless, grounded, and serving as quiet pillars of protection. This , we see that same steadfast strength reflected in the fathers and father figures who guide our lives.

To celebrate them, we are overjoyed to host our very first event since our recent reopening! We warmly invite you and your family to join us in the garden for a special presentation of Ikebana (生け花).

Often translated as “living flowers,” ikebana is the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement. Far more than just a decorative bouquet, it is a mindful practice of balance and form. By using elegant lines, open space, and deep intention, the artist creates a living sculpture that finds perfect harmony between nature and the human spirit - a beautiful reflection of the quiet harmony our fathers so often bring to our families.

Come share a peaceful stroll along our newly restored pathways here in Lake Balboa and experience this living art together.

Sunday, June 21 from 9:30am to 3:30pm
🔗 thejapanesegarden.com/events

We would be profoundly honored to welcome you and your loved ones back to . ✨

生け花

06/16/2026

父の日 — Father’s Day. 🌸

This Father’s Day, we invite you to share a quiet, meaningful moment together at the Garden. Join us for a special Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) exhibition, where the delicate balance of nature reflects the harmony of family.

We welcome you to experience this beautiful tradition right here in the Japanese Garden and would be happy to see you and your loved ones.

📅 Sunday, June 21 | 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM

📍 6100 Woodley Ave, Lake Balboa

🎫 General: $5 | Seniors: $3 | Children: $2

We look forward to welcoming you. どうぞお越しください (Please come visit).

🔗 thejapanesegarden.com

06/10/2026

Shhhh… it’s an LA secret! See you soon?

(どうもありがとうございます Secret Los Angeles!)

Tickets are just $5 to explore this newly restored 6.5-acre traditional Japanese sanctuary hidden inside L.A. County.

06/08/2026

果報は寝て待て
(​Good things come to those who wait)

We are deeply grateful for your profound patience and understanding during our extended restoration. The last paver is now in place. It is with great humility and joy that we welcome you back to our serene grounds in Van Nuys, officially reopening tomorrow, June 8th.

Much like the early Japanese residents of Los Angeles who carefully cultivated harmony and beauty in new soil, we have spent this quiet season tending to the garden so it may once again serve as a peaceful retreat for our community. We invite you to walk the paths, reflect by the water, and reconnect with nature's gentle rhythm.

To help us preserve and respectfully maintain the tranquility of the grounds, please be advised that standard admission fees will resume upon reopening:

Adults: $5
Children (3 and younger): $3
Seniors (62+): $3

We eagerly await your return.

Plan your visit: http://thejapanesegarden.com/

05/29/2026

Today, we invite you behind the scenes to witness the final piece of the restoration of our Karesansui (枯山水), or Dry Garden.

The Making of a Dry Sea:
To recreate the vastness of the ocean, our dedicated crew carefully placed over 150 tons of gravel.

Protective tarps were first laid down to respectfully prevent weeds from disrupting the space.

Tractors and wheelbarrows were utilized to meticulously move and place the gravel into every corner of the dry garden.

Cultural Harmony in Los Angeles
For hundreds of years in Japan, small stones and gravel have been used to symbolize water in the karesansui tradition. Here in Southern California, this ancient practice beautifully inspires drought-resistant landscaping that respects our local environment and climate.

Sustained by Innovation
Our garden thrives in a deeply harmonious partnership with the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant. Conceived by Donald C. Tillman, this space was created to demonstrate the positive use of reclaimed water in a delicate, serene environment. Each day, the plant graciously provides 2.5 million gallons of recycled wastewater to sustain the Japanese Garden, local wildlife lake, and LA River.

We are deeply honored to preserve and share this blend of Japanese tradition and Los Angeles innovation with you.

🔗 thejapanesegarden.com

# 枯山水