City: Portland, OR

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (503) 223-9233 (for tours)

Address: 611 Southwest Kingston Ave.

Insider Pick:

Description: A Japanese ambassador to the United States once commented that this site in Washington Park is the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan. Established in 1963, the Japanese Gardens was designed by Professor Takuma Tono, a distinguished landscape and garden designer, and his achievement is remarkable, compressing five different garden spaces—the Flat Garden, the Strolling Pond Garden, a Tea Garden with a chashitsu (a ceremonial tea house), the Natural Garden, and the Zen-inspired Sand and Stone Garden—into little more than five acres. The trees and plants, water, and rocks here change with the season, offering visitors different perspectives of color, texture, shape, shadow, and sound throughout the year. Managed by the nonprofit Japanese Garden Society of Oregon, the gardens are open daily, except on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Hours vary according to the season, but visitors can be assured of admission between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. except on Mon, when the garden opens at noon. In summer the last visitors are admitted at 6:30 p.m., with the gates closing at 7 p.m. Guided tours are available, as well as special annual events, including a moon viewing in Sept, a bonsai exhibition in Oct, and an excellent art and gift exhibit and sale in Dec. A fine gift shop lists a wide range of books on Japanese art, culture, and gardens among its offerings. The Japanese Gardens, save for a few areas, is wheelchair accessible.