I am fully aware that any type of "garden" in the dessert will be modest. And while Japanese Friendship Garden is perhaps a chill spot to insulate oneself from the most urban parts of town, it's just a bit too uninspiring for me to get excited about.
What I like: It's surprisingly quiet. You can feed the fish, which are most definitely plentiful and not shy. This is one of many signs this park is incredibly well-maintained. They've introduced a little bit of culture here with the tea room as well, which I should definitely consider visiting someday.
What I don't like: OK, this place is tiny and the only thing really worth looking at is the little waterfall. You'll walk through it in 5 minutes and ask yourself why you're here. You might wanna snap a selfie or something, but they appear to take that very seriously, demanding a fee for even the most amateur and unobtrusive pictures. Furthermore, people shouldn't be allowed to hold professional shoots here during business hours. It not only makes great photography even more difficult, but it's kinda lame as a customer to feel like I need to be wary of getting in someone's shot.
Overall, it's a nice novelty, but quite frankly I don't find it noticeably more aesthetic than quite a few public parks around the valley. I can't see myself becoming a regular.