On a recent trip to Oregon I had a chance to visit the Portland Japanese Garden. Set in the hills overlooking Portland – not far from the museum hosting next month’s Artisans Cup – the garden is well worth a visit. On the day I visited the weather was perfect.
Sunlight through Japanese maple foliage
Designed in 1963, the garden features five distinct gardens – the Strolling Pond Garden, the Tea Garden, the Natural Garden, the Sand and Stone Garden, and the Flat Garden. Each has its charms and mature trees fill each scene.
Strolling Pond Garden
Large laceleaf Japanese maple
The tree’s interior
The garden is set on 5 1/2 acres of uneven terrain which creates natural separations between the different gardens. It’s both cell-phone free and smoke free.
Strolling Pond Garden
In addition to the wonderful foliage, the garden features a variety of intricate stone paths.
Stone path
Zig-zag path
Stone path
Entrance to the Tea Garden
The five-tiered stone pagoda below was donated to the garden by Portland’s sister city, Sapporo. The stones at the base of the pagoda are arranged in the shape of Hokkaido.
Five-tiered pagoda
Afternoon light through Maple foliage
The Natural Garden
The Sand and Stone Garden
My favorite of the gardens might be the Flat Garden. Featured in the sea of raked sand are two patches of moss in the shape of a gourd and a sake cup.
Flat Garden
Large grafted cherry
An island of pines
The garden is located just above downtown Portland in Washington park. Do visit if you get the chance!
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Gary R Croft says
Jonas, after all the gardens in Japan I have seen, this one in Portland is the real deal.
There is a wonderful sense of authenticity here that other western places strive for,but dont hit the mark.
Gary Croft.
Melbourne Aust
Thomdec says
Jonas, do you know if the Japanese Garden will be open to the public during The Artisans Cup, or are they part of the garden tours / partnerships The Cup is planning?
Jonas Dupuich says
Good question Thom – I haven’t seen it on the Cup’s site, but I know the Portland Bonsai Village has offered tours there in the past. I don’t know if the final schedules are out yet – I’d check their site (a new one is on the way) closer to the event.
Lance says
Portland seems to grow everything well..
Jonas Dupuich says
Update – it looks like the Japanese Garden will be closed during the Artisans Cup (and through next winter) to make some big improvements. As a result, no tours are scheduled. Will post further updates if this changes.
Janet Roth says
Ah that’s a shame. As Gary Croft said, this is the only Japanese garden I’ve even seen outside Japan that was genuinely good. (All the rest look like theme park pretend places.) Anyone who has an opportunity to see it sometime should, it is so enjoyable