Many people don't know that UCLA has a very nice Japanese garden. It's in the nearby neighborhood of Bel Air. You have to make a reservation because they only have a few parking spots. (I went there by bicycle once but it's not easy because the streets are narrow, and cars drive pretty fast in that neighborhood.) The garden is fenced in on a hillside and is designed like a Kyoto-style garden with Koi ponds. It's FREE and is open 10:00am - 3:00pm on Fridays.
Here's the website for more information:
