Portland Japanese Garden
Portland Japanese Garden
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
About
Considered the most authentic Japanese Garden outside of Japan, the Portland Japanese Garden is a haven of tranquil beauty in all four seasons. In Spring of 2017, the Garden opened its new Cultural Village, complete with new garden spaces, classrooms, exhibition and gallery space, and the Umami Cafe.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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Address
Neighbourhood: Northwest District
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Restaurants
1,402 within 5 kms
Attractions
388 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- Fred_MerchantCanby, Oregon240 contributionsSerenity in the Heart of the CityIt had been years since I visited the gardens and was so impressed. Even in early winter it is a wonderful serine place. The garden is naturally divided into several sub gardens, each of which is a pure pleasure to wonder thru, sit, and leave the cares of everyday life behind if for just an hour or two. I highly recommend the Portland Japanese Garden. The garden is located in Washington Park is adjacent to the International Rose Test Garden. Plan ahead, you can buy tickets online, and get an electronic ticket (QR Code) to display at the entry with you smart phone. Be aware all parking is pay and controlled by the City of Portland. A pay Smart Phone App called ‘ParkingKItty’ can be used to pay for parking.Visited December 2022Written December 19, 2022
- JordanColumbus, Ohio137 contributionsBeautiful!I love visiting different gardens while traveling and this one did not disappoint. Traditional Japanese garden in the middle of the city. I enjoyed the winding paths up and down as opposed to everything being flat. The only downside were the crowds so maybe come a bit early in the day.Visited September 2022Travelled as a coupleWritten January 4, 2023
- MaryLudlow, Kentucky13 contributionsBeautiful, but.....Limited viewing day due to rain. Recommend caution on paths and walkways. The admission price is on the high side. Parking is pay and limited. Tea house very small; reservations recommended.Visited March 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten April 8, 2023
- EaglesFan27Reading, Pennsylvania631 contributionsBeautiful escape from the cityThe Japanese gardens are located in Washington Park, which is right next to downtown. It was a very peaceful experience on a rainy Portland morning. The gardens are very well taken care of and there is an extreme attention to detail. It was a little pricey for the size of the gardens (took less than an hour) but would probably have stayed longer if the weather was nicer. Overall, a memorable experience.Visited May 2023Written May 7, 2023
- Jake4 contributionsBeautiful Views and gorgeous waterfallsAlthough on the pricy side for entry to what I thought was free, the gardens are extremely well kept and scenic. The place had a calming feel and was enjoyable to walk around. There is also a free bus from the downtown Portland area. I took the paid bud and it was only $2.50.Visited May 2023Travelled soloWritten May 15, 2023
- Russell3939Castle Rock, Colorado796 contributionsPretty views, a bit expensiveWe thought the views were pretty but it was expensive. The first part you see is just a teaser to the rest of the park. Quite a few of the sites at the beginning did not have water to them which felt a bit like getting the shaft. The rest of the park is pretty. Not sure if it was worth the cost though.Visited June 2023Travelled with familyWritten June 16, 2023
- anita059Russell Springs, Kentucky485 contributionsNot what I was hoping forMe and my granddaughter visited it is a pretty are to visit but we didn’t feel it was worth what it cost. It was some trees and a brook with small water fall. Lots of walking to do more of a place to relax and walk, not much to see. There was a lot of people so hard to enjoy it.We are sorry to hear you were disappointed with your visit but thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. The Garden tends to be more crowded on weekends, so we encourage visitors to come during weekdays or off-peak hours (in the mornings/evenings). If you would like to learn more about what you see in the Garden, we recommend taking one of our free public tours. Our knowledgeable guides will tell you about our Garden’s history, what makes Japanese gardens unique, and the design principles of our garden spaces. Call or visit our website to learn about tour times.Written June 19, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited May 2023Travelled with familyWritten June 18, 2023
- Ellen28New York City, New York998 contributionsPretty zen gardenWent with a friend on a busy weekend. I was expecting more flowers or something, but it was a pretty zen garden. Nice spot to walk around for a little bit. The area of Portland reminds me of a loose Balboa Park type set up in San Diego since it has a zoo, an arboretum, a park, a rose garden and this garden. The rose garden is free and adjacent to the Japanese garden - you should make time to do that if you’re visiting this spot. I wouldn’t urge someone to go, but it is pleasant.Visited June 2023Travelled with friendsWritten July 1, 2023
- WDCUeberauPhoenix, Arizona62 contributionsExcellent tour, ideas for my own garden.Used Max transit combined with Washington Park free shuttle to the gardens - worked smoothly. Arranged for entry tickets and tour tickets in advance, made everything stress free. The tour was excellent, informative. Beautiful gardens, serene atmosphere. Came away inspired to attempt my own Japanese garden. Recommend.Visited June 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten July 5, 2023
- Cryptic_TouristSaint Louis, Missouri742 contributionsGo before closingMy husband and I went here about an hour and a half before closing and that was plenty of time to explore the gardens with much smaller crowds. The gardens had been slammed all day but later that night we bought tickets online and got right in no problem. Just know that if you do that, the gift shop and cafe may not be open and all of the tours will be sold out for the day. The gardens were gorgeous and my husband absolutely loved it. Definitely a great date idea!Visited July 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten July 12, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
6,324 reviews
Excellent
4,172
Very good
1,500
Average
484
Poor
111
Terrible
57
Laura H
El Dorado Hills, CA430 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Couples
This is a beautiful and tranquil garden. It is easy to navigate and a place for reflection. It was busy, but people were quiet and respectful.
Written November 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jamie S
5 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Couples
Truly a beautiful and serene place, my girlfriend and I found it both breathtaking and peaceful. At US$19 per person, I believe it is worth the price for any garden enthusiast or new comer to Portland. The fall colors were in full flight and combined with a rainy/cloudy day, it truly was a majestic location and time.
Written November 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tumbleweedchris
Richland, WA954 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Couples
The Japanese Garden is a nice attraction. The garden is quite beautiful and offers a respite from a chaotic city. I'm not quite sure about the value of this attraction, however. The garden is not very large. It will take you 30-60 minutes to walk through if you take your time. For the price, that seems a little light on content. What you get is nice, but there's not much of it. I probably wouldn't bother bringing a large group here because of the cost, but one or two people is definitely doable. Check it out if you don't mind the price to entertainment ratio being iffy.
Written October 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marymary27
Scarborough, UK813 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Friends
This is a well laid out and interesting garden, with a useful leaflet provided with the ticket. There are steep paths and steps, so I would say not really suitable for those with mobility issues. From the to, there is a great view over the city to Mount Hood. I have given four stars rather than five, because of the refreshment situation. The tea house looked very nice, but a long wait for a table meant we decided not to visit. Perhaps a small kiosk could sell drinks?
Written October 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laura W
Denver, CO41 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Solo
I may be in the minority here, but I found it underwhelming. Some of it was nice. Some of it was just generic forest. I needed something to fill my time so I came here. I’ve seen it once. I don’t need to return.
Written October 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ljolsen12
Southaven, MS40 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Friends
I’m not a plant/garden person however I love pretty nature spots. My friend wanted to see the gardens so of course I said yes! They are so beautiful and serene. It’s a wonderful place to explore and get your Zen. The fish were my favorite part and they were feed while I was watching. It was very entertaining!
Written September 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravellingBritNY
Syracuse, NY9,229 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Couples
We visited on a Sunday in September. Caught the bus that dropped us off right outside (love the Portland buses), paid the money at the entry and walked up the windy path to the main entrance. The path up itself starts getting you into the right mindset.
The main entrance area has the gift shop, the cafe, bathrooms, and a cultural center. A gate takes you into the gardens proper. I would not recommend this for people with mobility issues - there are a lot of steps and slopes to negotiate.
The garden is beautiful. It's laid out with care, and is extremely photogenic. Lots of great angles to get great photos. Water features, sand gardens, a beautiful traditional flower-arrangement display in the building, complete with a curator who knew her stuff.
We visited the Umami cafe, which had a wait that was 1 hour. They have a phone system where they page you when your table is ready so I recommend getting on the list then walking and enjoying the gardens until you head over there.
My only complaint with the experience had nothing to do with the facility but instead those visiting it - signs everywhere ask people to be quiet and respect the calming nature of the place. However some feel it appropriate to hoot and holler, yell at their children, do some sort of live stream with loud commentary and generally ruin the mood.
Once we were finished, we walked back down and spent a while in the rose garden before catching the bus back downtown.
In all a really nice visit that I would highly recommend.
The main entrance area has the gift shop, the cafe, bathrooms, and a cultural center. A gate takes you into the gardens proper. I would not recommend this for people with mobility issues - there are a lot of steps and slopes to negotiate.
The garden is beautiful. It's laid out with care, and is extremely photogenic. Lots of great angles to get great photos. Water features, sand gardens, a beautiful traditional flower-arrangement display in the building, complete with a curator who knew her stuff.
We visited the Umami cafe, which had a wait that was 1 hour. They have a phone system where they page you when your table is ready so I recommend getting on the list then walking and enjoying the gardens until you head over there.
My only complaint with the experience had nothing to do with the facility but instead those visiting it - signs everywhere ask people to be quiet and respect the calming nature of the place. However some feel it appropriate to hoot and holler, yell at their children, do some sort of live stream with loud commentary and generally ruin the mood.
Once we were finished, we walked back down and spent a while in the rose garden before catching the bus back downtown.
In all a really nice visit that I would highly recommend.
Written September 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kolene T
Richland, MI221 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Couples
After touring the roses, we walked through this beautiful, calming place. There are several steps, benches and wonderful views. You may walk at your own pace or have a guided tour.
Written September 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jennifer Y
8 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Solo
The view was amazing. After the initial uphill hike from ticket booth to entrance the gardens are a fairly easy walk. Beautiful waterfalls. Very peaceful. Not a place to take small children as quiet is encouraged. Leave the kids with a babysitter and enjoy some quiet time.
Written September 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DMW
43 contributions
Aug. 2023 • Couples
The garden is nice, but very small. Not worth the $20 per person that they charge. Could have been more explanations and demonstrations. I would not recommend it.
Written August 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amanda
Portland, OR
Is this an okay place to go on a rainy day? Trying to find rainy day activities
Are e-tickets the only option or can I buy a ticket at the entance? I don't have a printer to print an e-ticket and only have 2-3 says left in Portland.
ticapdx
Portland, OR60 contributions
Yes, you can buy it at the entrance.
shar0nannt
Gresham1 contribution
Are there any discounts or free admission into the Portland Japanese Gardens for having a Multnomah Library Card?
JapaneseGardenPDX
Portland, OR
Multnomah County Library is now taking reservations for electronic library "Cultural Passes." These, available to Library Card holders, are sent via e-mail, and can then be shown either on a print-out or a mobile device at our admission window. The "Cultural Pass" qualifies you for two free adult admissions and up to eight free youth admissions.
A library card alone would not qualify you for free admission to the Garden, but on your next visit to a Multnomah County Library, please ask about their Cultural Pass.
Kim R
McGregor, MN
How are the gardens in the last week of March? Is it leafed out?
angelaharse
Kansas City, MO2 contributions
Honestly gorgeous. We went yesterday and found it breathtaking.
DEBBIE C
Medford, MA62 contributions
when do cherry blossom due to bloom in 2019?
Michael Mitchell
Black Rock City, NV55 contributions
Suggest you Google it. Check a calendar?
SusanOC262
Atlanta, GA16 contributions
How much time do people typically spend in the garden?
Julie G
Chicago, IL86 contributions
We spent about 3 hours there. We walked all over, and then stopped for soup and tea.
Cherri S
2 contributions
A friend and I are landing in Portland and planning to visit the gardens on our way to the Willammette Valley where we're meeting friends for a few days. If we take a bus to the gardens, is there somewhere we can leave our 2 suitcases while we tour the gardens and then get back on the road to continue our journey to the valley?
JenniCrab
Berea, KY118 contributions
There is a ticket office where you purchase your tickets for entry that may stow your luggage for you. On our visit I didn’t see anyone with luggage so can’t be sure. The international rose garden across the street is public so there isn’t any storage space there.
Cherri S
2 contributions
I will be arriving in Portland, spending a day and then heading to the Willamette Valley to meet up with friends. I'd prefer not to rent a car for one day - are there any hotels that have shuttles from the airport that are close or also offer shuttles to the Japanese Garden? While I'm at it, any suggestions besides Uber from the hotel the following day to Willamette? Thanks for any local intel!
JapaneseGardenPDX
Portland, OR
Hi Cherri,
You have a few different options to reach the Portland Japanese Garden:
- Bus 63 from Providence Park, will take you right in front of the garden but comes only once per hour
- Bus 20, direction west, Tichner stop, is very convenient, although you have a 15 minute walk from the bus stop to the garden
- Streetcar "MAX" blue or red line from downtown, Portland East or even the Airport, stop at the Oregon zoo, then take the Washington Park Free shuttle that will take you to the Japanese Garden/Rose Garden.
Hope this helps!
See you soon
kdipple
Seattle, WA
Are dogs allowed?
JapaneseGardenPDX
Portland, OR
No pets are allowed, only ADA (or trained) Service Animals are permitted inside the Garden.
If you are in Washington Park, the Rose Garden and Hoyt Arboretum are nearby and allow leashed pets.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Portland Japanese Garden
- Hotels near Portland Japanese Garden:
- (1.68 km) Inn at Northrup Station
- (1.51 km) Hotel DeLuxe - Provenance
- (2.22 km) Hotel Lucia
- (0.95 km) Park Lane Suites & Inn
- (2.22 km) The Benson Portland, Curio Collection by Hilton
- Restaurants near Portland Japanese Garden:
- (0.12 km) Umami Cafe
- (0.94 km) Elephants Delicatessen
- (0.96 km) Ringside Steakhouse
- (1.25 km) Salt & Straw
- (1.12 km) Papa Haydn
- Attractions near Portland Japanese Garden:
- (0.15 km) International Rose Test Garden
- (0.12 km) Rose Garden Children's Park
- (0.93 km) Around Portland Tours
- (1.02 km) Hoyt Arboretum
- (1.02 km) Pittock Mansion