James Irvine Garden451

This award-winning garden is one of the most delightful stops on any tour of Little Tokyo. Built largely by volunteers in the 1970s, who trucked in some 250 tons of rock from Mount Baldy to create the lovely landscape, the garden is now an oasis of peace and serenity in the middle of the bustling city. A stream runs through the middle, symbolizing the conflicting emotions of the Nisei, second generation Japanese-Americans, who volunteered for military service during World War II to prove their loyalty, after leaving the concentration camps the American government put them in to protect national security. The waterfalls represent the struggle of the Issei, the first generation Japanese, who came to America under often difficult circumstances, in turbulent times. For children, however, the Garden is merely a wonderful place to play. Follow the path that circles the garden, and cross the wonderful arched bridges, counting the waterfalls as you go. Gaze up at the sky through the groves of rare bamboo, and look for goldfish in the still parts of the stream. Food and drink are not allowed, and children and parents should respect the beauty of the garden and the work that goes into taking care of it. Getting there is part of the fun, especially if you can be mysterious about your destination as you go. Take the elevator to the lower level of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, and follow the signs through the maze of hallways to the doors that lead to the Garden. There are clean, safe bathrooms, and a drinking fountain in that lower level hallway.