Kaisuka Meditation Garden

The Kaizuka Meditation Garden is located in front of the Julian Dixon Library in Culver City, California. A gift from the sister city of Kaizuka, Japan, the garden was constructed in 1974.

The hardscape features—including the rocks, lanterns, water wheel, and bridges—were crafted in Japan, shipped to California, and installed in front of the library. The plantings were all locally grown but were selected to reflect those commonly found in Japanese gardens. 

The garden was renovated in 2024 to commemorate its 50th anniversary, with improvements that included the construction of a new water wheel.

The garden contains many features associated with a traditional Japanese garden, all of which contribute to its authenticity.

It is a pleasant garden to behold. However, as a meditation garden, it is somewhat disappointing. Visitors can view the garden only from the sidewalk, separated by a metal fence. Ironically, there are stepping stones within the garden, but no opportunity for visitors to stroll along them or otherwise experience the garden from within.

As a visual representation of Japanese garden design—almost like a museum exhibit—it succeeds. However, as a meditative environment intended to be experienced through movement and contemplation, it falls short. It is an attractive display, but not a particularly engaging garden.

Shinwa-En Tea Garden at CSUDH

The Shinwa-En Tea Garden at California State University, Dominguez Hills is located within the inner courtyard of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Building. Designed in 1978, the garden is unusual in its setting while simultaneously reflecting authentic elements of a traditional Japanese tea garden and tea house.

Without a doubt, this was one of the most unusual Japanese gardens I have visited. The garden seemed strikingly out of place, seemingly crammed into a three-level courtyard. At first glance, the structure appears to be an authentic tea house surrounded by carefully arranged plantings and traditional garden features such as stones, a tsukubai water basin, a small pond, stone lanterns, and a variety of ornamental plants. There is also a traditional-style veranda along the front of the structure where visitors can stand and view the garden.

However, one quickly discovers that the structure is an illusion. It is not an actual tea house but a realistic façade concealing a large concrete stairwell leading down into the courtyard.

I was impressed with both the design and the layout of the garden. I was also surprised to find the plantings thriving in such a confined space where natural light is limited. The garden successfully softened the harsh modern architecture and surrounding concrete, creating a tranquil and remarkably natural setting.

Although the garden appeared somewhat toy-like when viewed from above, it reflected the principles of traditional Japanese garden design better than many larger, more open gardens I have visited. As an educational introduction to the study of Japanese gardens, it serves as a successful model for students to examine and experience.

The Doris Japanese Garden

The Doris Japanese Garden is a small Japanese-inspired garden located within the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area in Los Angeles, California. The garden was created in the 1980s during an expansion of the larger recreation area.

The garden has several features that reflect Japanese garden design, including a large gated entryway, two arched red bridges, a large metal torii gate, two small interconnected lotus ponds, and a variety of turtles and koi.

Unfortunately, the design lacks authenticity. Although technically a stroll garden, the pond appeared poorly maintained, and the bridges were in such a state of disrepair that metal fencing had been installed to prevent pedestrian access.

Several of the lanterns throughout the garden were also damaged.

Overall, the garden is in a serious state of disrepair and is in need of maintenance. Steps have recently been taken to address the garden's condition, perhaps even a comprehensive redesign. The foundation for a good stroll garden exists, but many of the existing elements feel inauthentic and are in need of restoration. Most importantly, the garden would benefit from additional planting to make the walk around the pond a more engaging and rewarding experience.

Descanso Gardens - Japanese Garden

Descanso Gardens is a botanic garden that had previously been a private estate/ranch owned by the newspaperman Elias Manchester Boddy. Located in La Cañada Flintridge, California, it has a long history, including the disenfranchisement of F.M. Uyematsu of Star Nursery and F.W. Yoshimura of the San Gabriel nursery during the period of Japanese internment of World War II, whose inventory made up the bulk of many of the plantings. It was also once considered as a possible site for Disneyland. By 1953, it was sold to the state and became the botanic garden that exists today.

Website: https://www.descansogardens.org/gardens-and-collections/explore-the-gardens/japanese-garden/

Descanso Gardens is a botanic garden that was previously a private estate and ranch owned by newspaperman Elias Manchester Boddy. It has a long history, including the dispossession of F.M. Uyematsu of Star Nursery and F.W. Yoshimura of the San Gabriel Nursery during the Japanese American internment of World War II. Their nursery stock made up the bulk of many of the garden's plantings. It was also once considered as a possible site for Disneyland. In 1953, the property was sold to the state and became the botanic garden that exists today.

I found the "tea house" unconventional. It was more like a raised deck or platform than a traditional tea house. There was also a significant amount of decking and several ramps surrounding the structure, all of which seemed to accommodate dining. Apparently, the nearby minka (farmhouse) had served as the botanic garden's concession stand for many years before the 1980s.

Overall, the garden was a pleasant mid-sized Japanese garden with many authentic features. It is clearly a North American interpretation of a Japanese garden that has evolved over more than 60 years, but it is still a good place to begin one's exploration of Japanese garden design.