In the shadow of the boxy Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, the James Irvine Garden is Little Tokyo's best-kept secret.

The 8,500-square-foot sunken garden is not easy to access: You have to enter through the community center's basement. But the difficult entry is worth the trouble. The lush vegetation and 170-foot babbling brook soothe weary Downtown office workers and City Hall staffers on a break from the rest of urban LA. Complete with Asian sculpture, Japanese-style wooden bridges, and an abundance of bamboo and Japanese maple, the garden is truly a sub-ground level Far Eastern oasis. (It keeps its lush physique thanks to a bevy of volunteers.) The quarter-acre space is available for filming and very intimate weddings; about 50 people can be accommodated.