The Japanese Garden - Lake Balboa, California

Address: 6100 Woodley Ave, Lake Balboa, CA 91406.
Phone: 87568166.
Website: thejapanesegarden.com
Specialties: Garden, Tourist attraction.
Other points of interest: Onsite services, Wheelchair accessible entrance, Wheelchair accessible parking lot, Public restroom, Good for kids.
Opinions: This company has 1393 reviews on Google My Business.
Average opinion: 4.5/5.

📌 Location of The Japanese Garden

The Japanese Garden 6100 Woodley Ave, Lake Balboa, CA 91406

⏰ Open Hours of The Japanese Garden

  • Monday: 9:30 AM–12 PM, 1–3:30 PM
  • Tuesday: 9:30 AM–12 PM, 1–3:30 PM
  • Wednesday: 9:30 AM–12 PM, 1–3:30 PM
  • Thursday: 9:30 AM–12 PM, 1–3:30 PM
  • Friday: Closed
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: Closed

The Japanese Garden, located at 6100 Woodley Ave, Lake Balboa, CA 91406, is a picturesque and serene attraction that offers visitors a unique glimpse into Japanese culture and landscaping. With a phone number of 87568166 and a website at thejapanesegarden.com, this garden is a must-visit destination for both locals and tourists alike. The garden specializes in showcasing a wide variety of beautifully maintained plants, water features, and traditional Japanese structures, making it a tourist attraction not to be missed.

One of the key points of interest at The Japanese Garden is the range of onsite services available, such as wheelchair accessible entrances and parking lots, ensuring that all visitors can enjoy the beauty of the garden. Additionally, there are public restrooms and facilities that are suitable for children, making it a family-friendly destination.

Reviews of The Japanese Garden are overwhelmingly positive, with the company boasting an impressive 1393 reviews on Google My Business, and an impressive average opinion rating of 4.5/5. Visitors frequently praise the tranquil atmosphere, the well-maintained gardens, and the knowledgeable staff who provide informative tours and insights into Japanese culture.

Characteristics of The Japanese Garden include its stunning water features, rock gardens, and traditional tea houses, all of which are meticulously designed to create a unique and authentic Japanese experience. The garden also hosts regular events and workshops, showcasing traditional Japanese arts and crafts, such as ikebana (flower arranging) and calligraphy.

👍 Reviews of The Japanese Garden

The Japanese Garden - Lake Balboa, California
Travel B. S. (.
5/5

I always enjoy visiting this hidden gem in the valley! The garden is beautifully maintained and super clean. It’s such a peaceful spot to walk around, relax, and even spot different types of birds, turtles, and koi fish that call this place home.

Currently, admission is free, but I’ve heard there might be a small fee coming soon (not sure when, so now’s the perfect time to visit!).

A little tip — the garden is only open Monday through Thursday and they close for a lunch break midday, so make sure to plan ahead!

If you're looking for a quiet little escape without leaving the city, this is definitely worth a visit!

The Japanese Garden - Lake Balboa, California
Laura
5/5

Beautiful gardens. Places to stop and sit throughout and really worth a visit.
Visited on such a sunny day and they had access to water taps to top up water bottles which was great. We were allowed up to 2hours in the garden given the time we went. We got free access due to renovations taking place.

The Japanese Garden - Lake Balboa, California
Gordon V.
5/5

Beautiful gardens on a beautiful day. Great photo opportunities and awesome to be able to view the Donald C Tillman Water Reclamation Plant which is the second largest in LA that treats the wastewater from all of the valley for reuse. Incredible.
Parking was full at about 2pm so had to park on the main road and walk through the park. I guess you have to get there for opening if you want a spot inside. It was a very hot and nice day though.

The Japanese Garden - Lake Balboa, California
Michelle D. M.
5/5

Beautiful park. Free parking and Admission.
No snacks allowed. Bathroom has diaper changing option and its clean.

The Japanese Garden - Lake Balboa, California
Chris H.
5/5

Very nice Japanese Garden. You can walk through the entire garden in 30 to 35 minutes. We found parking when we arrived. You can also view the wastewater plant that feeds this Garden.

The Japanese Garden - Lake Balboa, California
Hung D.
5/5

Free entrance due to 1 part being closed to access for renovation. Free parking as well & no reservation is required. You do have to check in at the entrance gate. At the parking gate, there’s a security guard. Just tell him you’re visiting the garden. Nice garden & a large pond with lots of fishes but not colorful koi fishes. There was a blue heron hiding on a small island in the pond. Very nice tea house that you can enter & sit.

The Japanese Garden - Lake Balboa, California
Josh B.
5/5

Beautiful, peaceful gardens! I cannot believe this place is free! The hours are little limited though. Only open Monday thru Thursday and closed before 3pm or 3:30pm.
There is a slight smell of sewage in the air at certain parts because it’s next to the sanitation plant.

The Japanese Garden - Lake Balboa, California
Michael H.
5/5

Overall Zen Experience - 5⭐!

One of the many things I love about living in LA, are the countless hidden gems all over the city. I have lived here over 20 years and I still find new and interesting things to do all the time. A great example of a hidden gem that I wish more people would discover is the completely free The Japanese Garden in the Lake Balboa area of the valley.

While my recent visit was not my first time here, it was the first time I've been back since I left Sherman Oaks. A fact I find interesting about the site is that it uses reclaimed water from the nearby water treatment facility. You may even notice an interesting odor while entering.

The Japanese Garden is part of the really large Lake Balboa park area. While it doesn't have the hills of Griffith Park or other areas, it is a nice place to explore. There are areas for sports and in the spring and summer, on the weekend, the fields are full of all kinds of players. I've even seen cricket players out there doing their thing.

Even with everything going on around it, The Japanese Garden is a lovely place. It is not a large garden and you can explore the entire area within about 15 minutes. It is thoughtfully designed and has some unique elements where they were able to combine traditional Japanese garden elements with some unique architecture. There is a tea house but I do not think they serve tea there. There are lots of places to sit and relax. There is an abundance of birds.

There is a check in booth, I'm assuming so they don't let too many people in at once. Everyone who works with the park is friendly and helpful. The grounds are very well maintained, not just from a garden perspective and they even have their own parking lot so you don't need to hike all the way over from the main park.

It is a lovely way to relax and unwind. And it is free. I highly recommend it.

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