Proclaimed the most authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan, the Portland Japanese Garden is a 5.5-acre haven located within Washington Park in the west hills of Portland, Oregon, USA.

The Portland Japanese Garden is composed of five distinct garden styles, and it’s most popular (and certainly most photographed) inhabitant is surely the stunning Japanese Maple seen above (there’s even a Flickr group dedicated to the tree!).

According to the official Garden website:

“Three of the essential elements used to create a Japanese garden are stone, the ‘bones’ of the landscape; water, the life-giving force; and plants, the tapestry of the four seasons. Japanese garden designers feel that good stone composition is one of the most important elements in creating a well-designed garden. Secondary elements include pagodas, stone lanterns, water basins, arbors, and bridges.
 
Japanese gardens are asymmetrical in design and reflect nature in idealized form. Traditionally, human scale is maintained throughout so that one always feels part of the environment, not overpowered by it. As Professor Takuma Tono wanted to incorporate native trees in our Garden so that it would blend naturally with its environment, some of the plantings here are on a larger scale.”

 

VISITATION DETAILS
Official website: http://japanesegarden.com/
Address: 611 SW Kingston Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97205
Phone: (503) 223-1321

Visitor Hours
Winter Season (October 1—March 31)
Monday: Noon-4pm
Tuesday–Sunday: 10am-4pm

Spring/Summer (April 1—September 30)
Monday: Noon—7pm
Tuesday—Sunday: 9am—7pm

(May 1—July 31, 2013)
Saturday: 9am—9pm

Admission
$9.50 Adult
$7.75 Senior (62+)
$7.75 College Student (w/ID)
$6.75 Youth (6-17)
Children 5 and under free