San Fernando Valley Sanctuary

Japanese Garden at Tillman Plant: A Sci-Fi Oasis Fed by Wastewater

Los Angeles, California, United States

By the Wicked Cool Places editors · Published Fri, Aug 28, 2026

Why it’s cool

This tranquil sanctuary in the San Fernando Valley uses recycled wastewater to nourish its lush landscape. It also served as the iconic backdrop for Starfleet Academy in the Star Trek universe.

West Coast Scenic

A large, modern glass and metal building overlooks a Japanese garden with a pond, large rocks, and manicured shrubs.

Tucked away in Van Nuys, a lush landscape thrives on the byproduct of urban infrastructure. This six-and-a-half acre retreat is known formally as Suiho-en, also called the Garden of Water and Fragrance.

It sits alongside a facility that purifies the wastewater of Los Angeles. While the surrounding plant handles the city's utility needs, the garden provides a meditative space where traditional Japanese aesthetics meet modern environmental engineering.

Why It Stands Out

The garden is the result of a vision by city engineer Donald C. Tillman and designer Dr.

Koichi Kawana. Created in the early 1980s, the space follows a philosophy Kawana called mystic profundity.

This approach blends the flora of the San Fernando Valley with classical Japanese design elements. Visitors find a diverse ecosystem featuring waterfalls, an iris pond, and a variety of symbolic trees.

Architectural highlights include a zig-zag bridge and a Shoin building. The stone lanterns throughout the grounds were hand-carved by artisans in Japan.

Beyond its botanical beauty, the site is a landmark for science fiction fans. The futuristic administration building nearby is recognizable as the setting for Starfleet Academy.

The garden's cinematic history is shared by other local landmarks like the Chemosphere. This cinematic connection brings cosplayers and photographers to the grounds, adding a layer of pop culture history to the quiet paths.

The garden manages to feel like a remote escape despite its functional role in the city's water system. Another peaceful retreat in the region is the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine.

Before You Go

You can find the entrance within Woodley Park in the Van Nuys neighborhood. The site is closed on Saturdays and may also close during periods of heavy rain or when it reaches maximum capacity.

A small fee is required for entry, which includes a map of the grounds. If you prefer a guided experience, walking tours are available but must be scheduled in advance.

It is a good idea to call ahead to confirm the facility is open before making the trip.

Questions worth answering

What is the connection between this garden and science fiction?

The administration building on the property served as the filming location for Starfleet Academy. Fans of the Star Trek franchise often visit to see the futuristic architecture in person.

Where does the water for the ponds and waterfalls come from?

The landscape is sustained by reclaimed wastewater from the city of Los Angeles. This water flows through a six-and-a-half acre space designed to merge utility with meditation.

Can I visit the grounds on the weekend?

The gates stay locked on Saturdays. You should also check the weather forecast before heading out, as heavy rain will cause the site to close.

Are there any specific architectural features I should look for?

The grounds include a zig-zag bridge and a traditional Shoin building. You will also see stone lanterns that were carved by hand in Japan.

Visit Snapshot

Located in Woodley Park. Closed on Saturdays.

A small admission fee is charged at the gift shop. Walking tours are available by appointment.

The garden may close for bad weather or if it reaches capacity. Call 818-756-8166 to check status.

Location

Los Angeles, California

Know before you go

The garden is in Woodley Park in Van Nuys, part of the city of Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley. Closed Saturdays.There is a small admission fee payable at the gift shop, which will gain you access and a courtesy map/pamphlet.

Or, for no additional charge, the garden offers walking tours (by appointment only). Not that it isn’t always perfect in LA, but the garden will occasionally close if there is inclement weather (or if maximum capacity at the garden is reached).

You can call ahead to check for any closures (818-756-8166).

Editorial source

Japanese Garden at the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant

Whether daydreaming of an escape to a Far East Zen paradise or enrolling at Starfleet Academy, a stroll through this traditional Japanese Garden, part of a not-so-glamorous water reclamation plant in the San Fernando Valley, will instantly transport you in either direction. Appropriately named Suiho-en , or the “Garden of Water and Fragrance,” this gorgeous (and sometimes smelly) six-and-a-half acre oasis sits next to a Van Nuys water treatment plant, where wastewater is processed and purified for the city of Los Angeles , and also used to maintain the lush, perfectly manicured garden.

The idea to install a garden next to the plant belonged to a city engineer named Donald C. Tillman (they named the plant for him), and was made a reality in the early 1980s by Dr.

Koichi Kawana, a renowned landscape designer, architect and long-time professor of Japanese design at UCLA. A native of Hokkaido, Japan, Dr.

Kawana aspired to combine traditional Japanese principles with local horticulture and the contemporary surroundings of the San Fernando Valley, according to a personal doctrine he coined “mystic profundity.” The garden has enchanting waterfalls, a variety of symbolic trees, winding pathways and an abundance of wildlife. Dr.

Kawana also built a large aristocratic Shoin building, a working teahouse and tea garden (run by weekend volunteers), a storybook-inspired zig-zag bridge over an iris pond, and four types of traditional stone lanterns, hand-carved by artisans in Japan. In addition to classic Japanese architecture, one of the most prominent features is the dazzling and futuristic administration building.

It has starred in a number of Hollywood productions, perhaps most famously as Star Trek ’s Starfleet Academy (minus the 24th century CGI buildings, officers and Golden Gate Bridge). Designed to bloom in all four seasons, the garden draws casual visitors, professional photographers, weddings, and—of course—the colorful cosplayers of LA’s Anime Expo.

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