Portland Japanese Garden

The Portland Japanese Garden is a park within Washington Park that features eight distinct garden spaces spread across multiple levels. The grounds include flowing ponds, sand areas, and stone arrangements that together create a varied Japanese landscape.

A university professor from Tokyo designed this garden in the 1960s, transforming an abandoned site into a new cultural space. A traditional tea house was later brought from Japan and assembled on site to enable traditional ceremonies.

The garden's name reflects a Japanese philosophy of harmony between people and nature, something you can feel in every carefully placed element. As you walk through, you notice how water, stones, and plants work together to create a space that invites quiet reflection.

The garden spreads across multiple levels, so comfortable shoes and moderate fitness are helpful for your visit. Plan enough time to walk at your own pace and explore the different areas without rushing.

A five-tiered stone lantern tower over 100 years old comes from Portland's sister city Sapporo and symbolizes the long connection between the two places. This historic stone is one of the oldest features in the garden and shows the deep cultural relationship between Japan and Portland.