The Japanese Garden (SuihoEn)

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What visitors say

• Christopher Aragón★★★★★

  Went near mid-February for the first time and was pleasantly surprised! I expected it to feel smaller but it's a good sized area, despite a small portion near the entrance being closed off for guests for some remodeling. The entrance is a little odd, somewhat hard to miss if you don't know where you're going. The gate had a no trespassing sign but also an open sign, so we just looked over at the guard to be sure we can go in and he waved us off. Decent amount of parking; I hope entering on foot will be made less awkward once construction finishes. We entered through the Admin building and there were some interesting little artifacts and displays. The architecture is really cool, looks kinda brutalist with all the concrete; it's definitely unique for the Valley. The inside does smell a bit musty since some of the water does pool into the interior. But it's not too bad, just like maybe an indoor pool that doesn't get treated with chlorine. That musty smell does stay whenever you're around the water and, of course, when you to the observation deck over the treatment plant; but again, it's not that bad, though sometimes you will get punched by a random bad whiff. The garden itself is beautiful, surprisingly well kept, it's good to see people respect the space here. There wasn't a crowd at all when we went either, so you definitely got some of the visual peace intended by the garden. Only sad thing is the surprisingly distracting noise from the airplanes going in and out of Van Nuys; but that's beyond anyone's hands and if you like planes, it could be a good place for plane spotting. Most trees had shed most of their leaves except for the evergreens and the camelias were looking very full; some cherry blossoms were even starting to flower, but most were just budding which was still beautiful to see. One thing I hadn't expected was the amount of mosquitos. There were some points where you had to cover your mouth and wave through literal clouds of mosquitos at risk of getting them in your mouth, ears and eyes. I think they're the tiny male ones, since they tend to cloud up like that, which is good because at least those don't bite. I'm not sure if they're more or less common in certain seasons, it had rained the day before so maybe that brought them all up. But considering how many there were, I'm guessing the mosquito fish were on strike or something. The birds are another highlight of the garden. Lots of ducks of all kinds hang out in the pond, as well as egrets and cormorants. Only downside is that they also do their business in the garden, so that musty smell might be partially their fault! In all, it's a very cool spot and definitely worth visiting often. It's cool to see a public utility, the treatment plant, be host to a space like this.

  5 months ago

• Jason★★★★★

  Came here, honestly with low expectations given it is a city park. The gardens and grounds were in exceptional condition. Plenty of fish, lush grounds, and honestly a real standout compared to the surrounding basin parks. Would recommend stopping by for a few hours to enjoy the nature and peace/quiet.

  a month ago

• Nick Su★★★★★

  Visited SuihoEn Japanese Garden on a warm afternoon, and even though it was a bit hot, the garden was absolutely beautiful and worth it. The peaceful atmosphere, koi ponds, bridges, and perfectly maintained landscaping make it one of the most relaxing places you can visit in the Valley. The garden is wheelchair accessible throughout, with smooth paths and gentle slopes that make it easy for everyone to enjoy the scenery. There are plenty of shaded areas to take a break, and benches positioned along the walkways for resting or just taking in the view. They are currently doing some construction on parts of the grounds, which is expected to be completed in early 2026, but it doesn’t take away from the overall experience — most of the garden remains open and just as stunning. Parking is free and convenient, and the small admission fee is well worth it. If you’re looking for a quiet place to unwind, take photos, or enjoy a peaceful walk, SuihoEn is a perfect choice. Even on a hot day, it’s a serene escape right in the middle of Van Nuys.

  9 months ago

• Varshini Sudhakar★★★★★

  so so pretty! I wish accessing it by transit was a little bit easier because its not very clear on Google Maps. My friends and I were going in circles for a little bit.

  a month ago

• Margaret Keller★★★★★

  This is a lovely place so peaceful and beautiful, an ideal place to spend some time to get away from the hustle of the city. Parking is free as well as admission. They close at 3:30 pm so you will want to make sure you get there with enough time to walk about leisurely. The grounds were very well maintained which was impressive. The only small issue I have is how early the close and I wish they were open on Fridays and Saturdays. Other than that I loved it here.

  a year ago

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