Discover a beautifully maintained 5.5-acre Japanese garden in Portland, where serene landscapes, waterfalls, and a cozy teahouse create a tranquil escape.
"Its thriving cultural scene includes spots like Powell’s Books and the Japanese Garden." - Travel + Leisure Editors
"Find Inner Peace at Portland's Japanese Garden Portland is not lacking for parks and gardens—I've heard the Chinese garden in the Pearl district is a stunner—but I highly recommend the Japanese Gardens in Washington Park. Portland 's a relaxed place anyway, but the Japanese gardens, said to be the best example outside Japan itself, are a change of pace entirely, a shaded haven of trickling streams and artful horticulture. The day we visited there were a number of other visitors, some of them a little boisterous, and I was worried that we weren't going to get the full calming effect, but there are enough paths and Zen sculpture gardens that you can find your own spot to sit and contemplate. Don't forget to take a warm jacket."
"First opened to the public in 1967 and expanded in 2017, the Japanese Garden in Portland ’s West Hills is an essential stop on a visit to the city. After a $33.5 million expansion that included three new buildings designed by architect Kengo Kuma—a Japanese Arts Learning Center, a Garden House for horticultural workshops, and a café—the Japanese Garden now spreads across nine acres. A tea garden, a 185-foot “castle wall,” and a new welcome center were also added. The centerpiece is the Strolling Pond Garden, with thousands of Japanese trees and plants."
"If you only have a limited time in Portland, the Japanese Garden is a sight to behold..."
"Dotted with vivid Japanese maples in fall, delicate pearl-pink weeping cherry trees in spring, fairytale-worthy bridges, shimmering pools teeming with koi, and traditional structures like the Kashintei Tea House, the Portland Japanese Garden feels like another, far more serene, dimension. But don’t just take it from us. Even Nobuo Matsunaga, former Japanese Ambassador, declared it “the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan.” Your main objective here is to spend at least an hour, preferably two, strolling the gently curved pathways and just generally blissing out. City sightseeing can be intense, so if you need a break from the downtown bustle, this is the place to have a moment of Zen—not to mention a birds'-eye view of downtown from the Pavilion garden." - Jen Stevenson
