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Gardena is a city of about 60,000 people in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, between Torrance and South Los Angeles. Its name reflects its farming past: in the early 1900s the area was known for berry fields and truck farms, many worked by Japanese American families, and Gardena incorporated as a city in 1930.
That heritage still shapes Gardena today. The city has one of the largest Japanese American communities in the mainland United States, and the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute hosts classes, festivals and community events. Japanese markets, ramen shops, bakeries and Hawaiian plate lunch spots line Redondo Beach Boulevard and Western Avenue. Gardena is also famous for its card clubs, a tradition dating to the 1930s, with the Hustler Casino as the best-known today.
Nature lovers can walk the boardwalks of the Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve, and in December the Jolly Trolley tours holiday lights. Gardena is a short drive from the beaches of Redondo and Manhattan Beach, LAX and downtown Los Angeles.
A small nature preserve protecting willow woodland and wetland along the Dominguez Channel, with a boardwalk, trails and an outdoor classroom. Herons, egrets, hummingbirds and many songbirds can be seen in this green pocket of the city. Opening days are limited, so check the schedule before you visit.
A community and cultural center for Gardena's large Japanese American community, offering language and cultural classes, exhibits and events such as summer festivals and holiday mochi making. It is a good place to learn about the area's farming and family history. Check the calendar for public events.
A large Japanese supermarket on Redondo Beach Boulevard, formerly known as Marukai, with fresh sashimi, bento boxes, Japanese snacks, sake, household goods and a bakery corner. It is a fun stop for browsing and picking up a quick lunch. Nearby strip malls hold some of the South Bay's best ramen and udon shops.
One of Gardena's well-known card clubs, continuing the city's long tradition of legal card rooms dating back to the 1930s. It offers poker and table games around the clock, plus a restaurant and bar. You must be 21 or older; bring identification, and set a budget before you play.
A free holiday tradition in Gardena where trolleys take riders on evening tours of the city's most festively decorated homes and streets during December. Santa sometimes appears at departure points, and the rides are popular with families. Check the city's schedule and reserve early, as seats go fast.
A Gardena city park named after the longtime local leader Mas Fukai, with sports fields, a playground, picnic tables and open lawns. It is a busy place for youth leagues and weekend family gatherings. It makes a pleasant break after a meal at one of the nearby Japanese restaurants.
An independent single-screen movie theater in Gardena that has operated since the 1940s, one of the last neighborhood picture houses of its kind in the South Bay. It shows a mix of current films, classics and special community screenings. Tickets are inexpensive; check the schedule ahead, as showtimes are limited.
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California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Penny Richards, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Jengod, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Jengod, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jengod, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jengod, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jengod, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jengod, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jengod, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: GPD., Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Fred Cherrygarden, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Fred Cherrygarden, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Fred Cherrygarden, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Fred Cherrygarden, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Fred Cherrygarden, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
