The Japanese Garden

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A view of the Japanese Garden

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The tea house

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Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant Japanese Garden in Van Nuys, Los Angeles

The Japanese Garden 6.5 acres (26,000 m²) is located on the grounds of the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in Woodley Park, at 6100 Woodley Avenue, Van Nuys, California, USA, in the midst of the San Fernando Valley. It was designed by Dr. Koichi Kawana and constructed between 1980 and 1983, with formal dedication on June 18, 1984. The Garden has been ranked tenth out of 300 public Japanese gardens in the United States by the Journal of Japanese Gardening.

As one first enters the Garden, one walks through a dry Zen meditation garden (Karesansui) containing a large grass-covered mound, representing Tortoise Island, a symbol of longevity, and a Three Buddhas arrangement of stones. Next comes an expansive chisen, or "wet strolling" garden with waterfalls, lakes, greenery, and stone lanterns. At path's end is the Shoin Building with an authentic 4-1/2 tatami (7 m²) tea house and adjacent tea garden.

The garden is a popular spot that can be rented for wedding ceremonies and has also been rented to Hollywood projects such as Star Trek: The Next Generation where it stood for various planets and Starfleet locations on Earth, such as Starfleet Academy.

See also

• List of botanical gardens in the United States

External links

• Media related to at Wikimedia Commons
• Japanese Garden web site
• Tillman Water Reclamation Plant