POMONA — Take a walk through Cal Poly Pomona's new Japanese Garden and you might find inner peace amid the soothing sounds of a cascading waterfall or a gentle breeze underneath a majestic pine tree.

The Aratani Japanese Garden -- named for George Aratani, chairman of Mikasa and Kenwood Americas, and his wife, Sakaye, -- is an oasis that provides natural beauty for quiet reflection, meditation and relaxation.

Located on a 1.3-acre site between Cal Poly's landmark administration building and the W.K. Kellogg Commemorative Rose Garden, the lush landscape features overlooking bridges, sculptured rock, plum and cherry trees, sasa bamboo and an array of traditional Asian flora.

"It's beautiful, it's very peaceful," 26-year-old electrical engineering student Sayed Hossain said as he admired his surroundings. "We don't see much of this out here. Students will come here to chill."

According to retired Cal Poly Pomona landscape architecture professor Takeo Uesugi, the Japanese Garden is more than just a place to plant trees and flowers.

"It's an oasis where everyone can rest, talk and gather," said Uesugi, a renowned Japanese landscape architect who designed the garden. "It's a tool to bring people together."

Japanese gardens are meant to be a ceremonial space, Uesugi said. Traditional uses for the gardens included harvest celebrations, religious ceremonies and to enhance an emperor's imperial residence. Later, the gardens were used for recreational purposes.

"Cal Poly's (Japanese) garden is ceremonial," Uesugi said. "I consider this a sacred place."

Every aspect of the garden was intentional, according to Uesugi. The landscape was designed and built with the natural topography in mind, he said. The waterfall flows from north to south, the prevailing winds keep the insects away and the garden acts as a terminus for the rest of the campus.

Retiring President Bob Suzuki said the Japanese Garden is one of his favorite places on campus. It is also the last project to be completed under his tenure as president.

"It's something that will enhance the campus, and it's enjoyable for the entire community," Suzuki said.

The concept for the garden originated from Japanese-American author and costume designer Michi Weglyn, a supporter of the university and a close friend of Suzuki and his wife, Agnes.

Weglyn left a $100,000 endowment for a Japanese garden to pay tribute to the Suzukis and specifically requested that it be finished before their departure from the university.

George Aratani got word of the garden and donated $300,000 to enhance the project. The total construction budget for the garden is $600,000, and fund-raising efforts are expected to raise an additional $200,000 to complete the privately funded project and provide an endowment for its future maintenance, according to officials.

In addition to providing a beautiful resting space, the Japanese Garden will also be used for education purposes. Cal Poly officials said they hope to integrate the garden with the university's ornamental horticulture program and offer Japanese landscaping classes to the public.