Portland Japanese Garden Reviews

This Japanese garden is beautiful, wonderful, and serene. The garden and koi pond is beautiful. There is an entrance fee but worth it to come and see. I’d recommend to come here. There’s also a small show here too.

We went on a Monday afternoon and it was not crowded. It was quiet and beautiful and quite stunning. There was a bonsai exhibit with a very knowledgeable volunteer. The different sections of the gardens conveyed various ways to enjoy natural beauty. The park workers and volunteers were helpful and kind. It’s a wonderful place to rest your mind and peacefully commune with nature. This place is truly a gift to the city.

Our family thoroughly enjoyed our visit here, even on a cool day in November. We spent about 1.5 hours. Would highly recommend!

Great time with friends exploring this beautiful Japanese village, garden and Forrest… My favorite activity we did in Portland!

Breathtaking and relaxing… wish we had all day there to spend but we only took 1 1/2 hours😂

I am not sure why this is called Japanese Garden. There was more native plants to Oregon/PNW area vs. Japan. I was expecting more Japanese plants in the garden. There was just a section which made it seem like Japanese. I have visited other Japanese gardens in the country and they have a lot more Japanese features vs. this one in Portland, a bit disappointing.

The 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.

Absolutely amazing!! One of the highlights of my otherwise kinda yukky trip to Portland. Complimentary tours of the garden were offered, but unfortunately, my time there was very limited, so I could only take part in about 15 minutes of it.

If I ever get back to Portland, I will definitely make this the first stop on my list... and allot 2-3 hours to explore more fully.

Well worth visiting and spending time walking through their tranquil gardens. If you want to visit their tea room you must book when you arrive. Lovely place to spend 2 hours

This garden is exquisite! Truly a jewel in Portland’s many natural places to appreciate. The aesthetic of the Japanese/Zen garden is simplicity and control, with subtle sensuality. You will find serenity here. Don’t miss the opportunity to discover the charms of this magical space. You will be transported by its loveliness at any time of year.

The garden is pretty but too small to be worth the entry fee of $22 per adult, the waterfall and the fish were very pretty but the small site means people are crowded in so not as peaceful as intended...we only stayed about 45mins then crossed to the rose test garden which was beautiful and free!!!

Nice and serene but expensive. Covid rule have you traveling a 1-way path through the park in about 15minutes. $80 for family is quite a bit in these times. Much rather head to forest park for an afternoon

We rented electric bikes to travel here through the city and I cannot wait to return. If you're not good with stairs or steep hikes, consider taking a Lyft to the gardens as it's up a hillside. The interior gardens are tranquil and extremely well-manicured. We wandered leisurely through the area and even went around for a second lap. The staff were available to answer questions and I often had someone come up to me while I was spending time in places I really enjoyed to share more information about a particular plant, technique of growing, or why the layout was arranged a certain way. Genuinely one of the more beautiful areas I've ever visited.

My second visit to Portland, but my first time getting out of the downtown area. I loved walking through the Japanese garden; there were many visitors there that day (a Sunday in late October). It was amazing to see beautiful Autumn colours in the trees, something I rarely see at home in Australia.
Well worth a visit!

Was very serene, benefited from the tour. Had a lovely time exploring the Japanese Gardens. We explore a lot of these Japanese Gardens when we travel and these are a very good standard

I have only left a single (1) star review ever. This place is overpriced and a complete joke. There were almost no bonsai trees. A simple waterfall with FAKE KOI fish (large carp not real Koi) - Rude staff and the gardening was no better than the cheap motel down the road. Don't waste your money. Very neglected, disappointing and an embarrassment to the Japanese Culture.

Beautiful, well-planned, very well-maintained, just a lovely place all around. We also had the fortune of going on a clear, sunny day, and the view of Mt. Hood was excellent.

Our toddler had a great time too--thanks, no doubt, in large part to the "scavenger hunt" they offer, and the sticker. Thank you for making this a family-friendly place (though we were pretty much the only ones there with a toddler--but then again, we went on a Monday afternoon, which is a great time to beat the crowds).

We LOVED this Japanese garden!
Super gorgeous garden to walk around in, so peaceful! And the restaurant in there was phenomenal! We tried some delicious food and had some amazing service.

We went as a family of 4 for a couple hours.

The garden is compact although some of the paths include steps / stepping stones and are on a hill so may he difficult for the less able to fully benefit.

We'd finished within an hour and a half or so and didn't feel as if we'd rushed.

Really pretty, very peaceful and worth a visit.

I had the chance to visit the Japanese Garden at Washington Park while in Portland for the CollegeNET conference, and it was an unforgettable experience. A coworker and I decided to explore the garden, and it was the perfect escape from our busy schedule.

The garden’s design is stunning—every detail feels intentional, from the koi ponds to the stone paths. The sense of peace and balance is remarkable. As a rose lover, I also appreciated the nearby International Rose Test Garden, which added even more charm to the day.

If you’re in Portland, this is a must-see destination, whether you’re seeking inspiration, tranquility, or just a bit of natural beauty. I highly recommend taking your time to wander, soak in the views, and enjoy the serenity this garden offers.

After a couple of times visiting Portland, I finally got to visit these gardens. Parking had always been the main problem, and of course, it was a hassle again this time. These gardens were first open to the public in 1967. Before that, this was the site of Portland's zoo.

I arrived on a Saturday in June for a 4:00 PM admission and paid the full Adult price of $21.95 to get in. There was no wait in line for me when I arrived. I've been to other Japanese gardens in the country where a veterans discount is offered, but sadly not here. They do, however, offer considerable discounts to low-income families and individuals who receive food stamps so if that's you, you're very much in luck. For all the veterans out there, I'd like to take this time to say, "High speed, low drag, Hooah! Oorah! Semper fi".

Stephen D. Bloom: Offer discounts to veterans!

The parts of the garden that were available on my visit I found to be a peaceful, tranquil, and spiritual getaway from life's busy and hectic day-to-day. When I arrived at the Cultural Village, sadly, there were no activities, performances, nor demonstrations offered that I noticed. I walked around the Japanese Arts Learning Center and looked at some art pieces offered. Some areas were closed and not opened to visitors while I was there. Also, when I visited, and let me just say what a lovely time it was that I picked to visit, there were no offered exhibitions in their Pavilion gallery, located in the Flat Garden. So, nothing to see here either on a Saturday in the middle of June! I'm beginning to wonder where my $21.95 full Adult admission price is going because it didn't seem to be going to me and my visit. Think of others they say! Where is your zen? Is it here? I'm not sure if I can find it.

Serious parking problems to contend with here. Buses don't help if you are a visitor from out of state with a rental vehicle. Again, if I am an out of state visitor and in Portland for one day, I'm not taking a train either. These are public transit options for locals. What about others? I don't have these same problems at The Morikami Museum in Florida, for instance. Plenty of parking right across the street from the gardens, and I don't live in Florida.

No tea ceremony, no exhibitions, no demonstrations, no performances, nothing. Oh, look at the schedule and plan accordingly, you might say. I say offer at least one special thing on a Saturday in June to visitors. So, some may say this is one of the 12 best Japanese gardens in the U.S. I say, it all depends on what day you go.

I hope you enjoy 33 pictures I've provided, and don't try to feed the koi in the koi pond.

The Portland Japanese Garden is a beautiful garden / curated forest. It also affords a nice viewpoint of the city.
However, our family enjoyed the Chinese (Lan Su) Garden better (in a different area of Portland). I think it would be great to pair visiting both of them as they essentially take two philosophies of gardening and apply those for very different ultimate gardens. Then you can really see which you prefer.

Me 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.

Very pretty and unique garden. Worth visiting! I would definitely go back there again! My favorite parts were the sand gardens.

Its probably ok at $5 entrance fee but they charge $22 for a garden that can be covered in 15 to 20 minutes. Main attraction is the fall colors at the moon bridge that happens in November and the blooming orchids that happen in April/May. Does not make sense to visit at other times!

What a delight
Definitely a place to visit during your trip to Portland. A lovely homecoming for anyone who ever visited Japan. For everyone else a quiet beautiful garden so characteristic of Japan. The shop offered many lovely items to purchase and enjoy at home

Quite a nice experience. Very picturesque. Many elevation changes and waterfalls. Beautiful vegetation.
We didn’t eat so cannot comment on the cafe. Spent only about an hour but glad we did.

Such a stunningly beautiful serene place to walk and “forest bathe” among the nature! The most beautifully manicured azaleas and water features we’ve ever seen!!

Definitely suggest checking this Garden out if you are in town. Very serene and meditative. Can be crowded during the weekends so try heading out there during a weekday if possible.

Way over-rated. Garden is a lot smaller than what is shown in pictures. We took our out of town family members there and no one was impressed. Both of the zen gardens were average, the Japanese tower was tiny and so was the pond...
A few water features were interesting but nothing more than a fancy manicured garden.
We have travelled to Japan about 20 times and we just don't understand why it has such great rating

There are many things to love about the Portland Japanese Garden. One of my favorite parts was the Zen garden of raked sand and some stones. It was beautiful, simple yet complex in execution. I also really liked the eternal energy device, with water going into and out of a bamboo device, like self perpetuating motion. Lovely!

A beautiful, peaceful garden. Quite large. Lots of walking involving up & down hills, up and down stone steps, sometimes precarious gravel or dirt pathways. Not for the elderly or obviously people in wheelchairs or on walkers. I spent 3 hours here including a 1 hour bonsai demonstration and I could have spent more time if I had it! There was a tea house garden, waterfall and koi pond gardens, 2 zen rock gardens, so many beautiful huge trees, Japanese maples, bonsai trees, stone statuary, moss areas etc…. Truly tranquil! Hard to believe you are 20 minutes from downtown Portland.
After walking through the garden there was a nice tea house with drinks and snacks. Also there was a special Summer Artisan market in addition to the regular gift shop. This Japanese garden is adjacent to the International Rose test garden which is also worth your time!

Came by on a Sunday at around 1 pm. We knew there wouldn't be much to see in terms of flowers since it's the wintertime, but we still wanted to check it out nonetheless. Adult tickets are $19, which is pretty pricey for a garden but everything does look meticulously in place, so I guess that's the reason for the high price tag. The grounds are really nice and it's pretty spacious. But even with all that space, it was still pretty crowded at the time we went. That being said, I'd definitely recommend going early.

Not to be missed! and Not to be Rushed and to remain quiet while there !!! This is a place and an organization with a mission, vision and values they have put into Practice!! A GEM!

Beautiful and peaceful evening walking, admiring nature, charging energy for the whole 2020
Some paths were closed (ice/snow)
We enjoyed tea at UMAMI Cafe
Don’t forget to visit the gift shop.

The experience of walking through the Japanese gardens tantalizes all of the senses, especially if you are able to eat at the small café there.

An incredible place to visit near the centre of Portland. The walk around the garden takes you to ever exciting features. The garden is immaculate. The path has its up and downs but well worth the effort. A level of fitness is required.

This is a wonderful place to visit. Just listening to the water fountains makes your stresses melt away. The bonsai displays are just amazing. It is somewhat of a small place but it is absolutely wonderful.

This has always been a favorite to get some peace and quiet. In the summer it's mostly green which is so soothing with all this recent heat! the sounds of dripping water and flowing water are really a balm. I highly recommend the tours which allow one to really understand the design and allow one to appreciate the place on a deeper level. Very lovely and totally peaceful. I would say-- do not wear flip flops-- the gravel paths get into the sandals and make for a not so peaceful walk. Also as others have said there is a very large number of hilly stairs and walkways-- definitely not for the movement impaired although there are some places one can go in wheelchairs or with movement problems in the garden if you take the shuttle up to the main area.

Came over to spend time with my family and it was truly beautiful. A lot to see. Not great if you have mobility issues though.

It was pretty, but since we're from Los Angeles, we have the Huntington Library, which has a Japanese Garden. Entrance fee is a bit pricey as well.

I've been to a lot of Japanese gardens, non-like this. Give yourself plenty of time to see it all. Parking is a challenge. Save time and energy by taking the public transportation tram. It lets you off in the middle of the park.

My cousins who live in Portland brought us here and it was absolutely gorgeous and so serene. I could've sat all day and watched the gentle water falls and the koi fish pond. Must see in Portland!

The Portland Japanese Garden is a spectacular experience. The Views and layout are beautiful. Spring through Fall offer the best experiences.

A beautiful zen Japanese Garden within Washington Park. Overall very enjoyable but a little pricey for the amount of time you will probably spend here. Given the cost of the parking within Washington Park, I suggest either taking mass transit or parking outside of the park and walking inside.

We arrived at Portland airport with several hours to kill before we could check in to our condo 2 hours away and this was the perfect way to spend that time! Being mobility limited, it was nice they had a shuttle to bring you to the top of the gardens. There, I was able to get a mobility map which showed the routes that were accessible. It was so peaceful and beautiful seeing the different areas. I hadn’t been able to get a reservation at their tea cafe but upon walking in was able to put our name down and only waited about 20 minutes. It seems there are a lot of no shows and they only hold tables for 10 minutes so that worked in our favor. We had a table surrounding the cafe outside that made it feel we were having tea in a tree house. Lovely tea service and sweet treats.

The best trip at the Japanese Botanical Garden the leaves are a must see in the fall. All the colors are spectacular!! This is a must see for anyone

Beautiful!!! It was pretty crowded when we went. I would have liked to have gone there when there wasn’t as many people to just sit and enjoy the view. It’s definitely a must. Be prepared to find and pay for parking. Also, you can pay for your ticket before you get there so that you don’t have to wait in line. I actually bought our tickets when we parked and we were able to bypass the line.

A beautiful place, getting there is a little bit of a steep walk, varied terrain, but so very worth the time. Many beautiful vistas and corners to be explored.

Reminded me of the many Japanese gardens in Kyoto Japan that I had visited when living in Japan. If you have the time walk around the whole garden and see all the sub gardens. Each has their own character and bring your camera.
Timed entry tickets are a must.

The garden was a small composite of the many different features you will find in a garden in Japan. It's compact but the winding paths take you by small ponds and waterfalls, bamboo, lanterns, and two zen gardens like you will find in Kyoto. The koi pond has some real wopper fish. The garden was crowded, but not overly so.
Even though I have visited many of Japan's most famous gardens, I found it enjoyable.

The only issue I have is not with the garden, but with the parking. It's very limited. I drove around for 20 minutes before a parking place opened. I was lucky.

We have visited a number of Japanese gardens both here and especially in Japan. This one would fit perfectly in that country for its design and serenity. Of course, it should It was designed by a well known gardener from Japan.

What is interesting is that the garden presents different faces depending on the time of the year. It is probably most beautiful and picturesque in the fall.

If you go, take advantage of the free tours offered several times daily. One will get a much better appreciation of this place.

Besides hiking, this was my favorite activity in Portland while I was there visiting. The garden is huge, having 5 separate gardens each with a unique style. Definitely do the free tour you can sign up for online. It adds 100x more to it than viewing the gardens without. My volunteer tour guide was Michael, who did an amazing job. We had a few blind women on the tour and he gave incredibly vivid descriptions of the gardens and the walking paths for them. Great information! Beautiful oasis.
Btw, if you decide to visit the Lan Su Chinese garden, do it first otherwise it will be underwhelming compared to the Japanese garden.

It’s a wonderful place full of serenity and calmness… I felt the inner peace walking around the beautifully maintained facility.
I have love in Portland for a long while but have not been to this place because back of mind I could not validate if it was worthwhile to pay and go tour a garden. I think $21.95 may still be a bit steep to see a garden but the place is beautiful

We toured this entire garden today. First time in over 40 years. We reserved a free tour and saw everything quickly in just over an hour. Then toured at our pace with the knowledge we gained from the tour guide. Parking is a challenge. Best to park offsite and take the free shuttle. All detailed on their webpage. Beautiful gardens abound. Great use of water. Large trees, manicured gravel paths, some steps but all doable as we are elderly. By all means schedule a tour. The volunteer guides will provide you with so much info. Plan on a minimum 90 minutes but you can easily spend hours if you are not in a hurry. Even when busy there is great solitude walking or sitting on benches in the gardens. The International Rose Test gardens start across the street. By all means go see the roses too.

We went early June on a rainy spring like day and it felt like a perfect day. The garden is gorgeous even with the rain, maybe even especially with the rain! It was a wonderful place to wander and explore, we even warmed up with a cup of tea at the tea house there. The international rose test garden is right next to it, so you can visit both in a short amount of time.

Beautiful place to wander, sit with your tea and enjoy the peacefulness. Quite a few stairs so not really for those not ambulatory. Winter was beautiful but I can only imagine spring or fall would be even better. Affordable, $22 adults, parking by the hour $4 .

We visited the Japanese Gardens after the International Rose Gardens and thought the grounds were absolutely beautiful. Paths were well marked in beautiful bloom. A gorgeous place to slow down, breathe, enjoy the plants, the views and the serenity

The garden is up on a hill and the climb up the path is long. It is not very large and there are only a few beautiful areas.

I see a lot of negative comments about the price to see these beautiful gardens. As a volunteer at another Japanese Garden, the Biopark in Albuquerque, NM, I can attest to the huge amount of work, dedication, attention to details, and devotion it takes to make the gardens look so natural, pristine, peaceful, and pure. Where I work there are more than 400 volunteers to help out through the years, not counting the paid staff. It’s a massive undertaking. (Adult price when I went = $21.95)

I visited with a friend on a very rainy day, expecting no one there due to the weather yet the place was packed. Amazing. To me, the rain added to the peacefulness of this place.

Every garden (strolling, tea, natural, gravel, etc.) is nicely thought-out flows well. They help you slow down and relax, a welcome pace in this fast-paced world we now live in.
After reading more about this place I discovered that it is ‘perhaps’ the largest Japanese culture center in the world. Impressive. The art exhibits and the Japanese inspired items for sale are all of premium quality (none I could afford however).

During our visit, artist Rui Sasaki, called a glass virtuoso had an exhibition of her plants inside glass called Subtle Intimacy: Here and There. Stunning see-through work that you could walk through and around, lit in subtle ways. Wonderful.

I enjoyed watching some of the 50 koi fish they have in one of the ponds. Too bad some uneducated people claim they are just carp and not worth seeing. They are colorful and pretty. Please don’t throw coins (as the sign says but is often ignored). Koi fish are bottom feeders and will ingest them which is not good for them.

Unfortunately, I completely missed seeing the bonsai terrace – it’s easy to do. I didn’t completely follow the provided map.

I love the way the buildings were made of mostly glass and wood – with green-scape roofs – a great way to blend in with the background.

My only negative comment would be that I felt the garden lacked a bit in diversity of plants and colors. Maybe the Oregon weather doesn’t allow more of either.

The space is smaller than I expected and a bit pricy for people with large families and for older people like me on a fixed budget so I can’t say that I’ll be able to afford coming back but I did enjoy my walk-through reconciling with old time, nature, the simple elements of life. You also have to consider that you have to pay for parking if you drive here.

It took less than one hour, going really slow, to see this whole place. But I enjoyed everything from waterfalls to reflections in the water, to mosses and their earthy smells, to simple raked waves in the gravel. Peace.

These are beautiful and respectful gardens. In addition to the lovely plants and sights, you can also learn a bit about the history of the gardens and Japanese-Americans in the United States.

Make sure to see the lovely view of Mt. Hood and take time to stop and listen to the water flowing and natural sounds.

They manage entries into the gardens to keep the number of entrants reasonable. You may want to consider buying tickets in advance so that you can select your entrance time.

I have been to many Japanese gardens and I have done extensive research on this garden before arrival. We visited on the hottest day in memory. It is STILL better than expected.

Like those I have visited in Japan, this is meticulously cared for and very well designed. It is full of interesting stories and symbolism. Unlike many gardens in Japan, visitors have the freedom to roam around. Dedicated gardeners are available to answer questions.

A bit crowded when we visited on a weekend day and a bit pricy. But it is worth it.

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.

THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST if you are visiting Portland. If you love the outdoors great for walking lol. You are transported to an Asian atmosphere of gardening culture and beauty.
BE PREPARE TO WALK.
The entrance to the main common grounds is uphill. Other then that enjoy its beauty.

Very serene and the backdrop of tall evergreens make you feel like you’re in a theater of trees! A bit pricey, they are doing timed entry but it still felt a little busy, even on a Monday afternoon. Don’t miss the cityscape view behind the gallery building

This was one of the prettiest places I have ever been. It was so serene despite the fair number of people who were there. The view of Mount Hood on the clear day we went was gorgeous. Highly recommend, even if you only have an hour like we did.

Wow what a treat! We ubered over there because our bus tour was canceled and looking for something to do. Did the Rose Garden first (lovely!), and then sort of stumbled into the Japanese garden. So much peaceful beauty! !!! There is a 500 year old bonsai tree! Get your comfy sneakers and get out there, you will come back refreshed!

The gardens were very well maintained and there were many volunteers to guide the visitors. Be prepared to park anywhere, parking is limited.

I had heard a lot about Japanese Gardens & was truly impressed with this one. I will definitely visit once again, whenever I visit Portland again.

It 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.

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.

After a few days in the City Center/Pearl District, the Japanese Gardens were a nice nature break. It’s surprising how close this is to downtown. Parking is fairly easy ($2/hr) and the line on a Sunday around lunch was only about 5-10 minutes.

Loved walking through this expansive garden with paths that twisted throughout the park. There are benches and/or shady resting spots whenever you wanted to sit and meditate or just rest and catch your breath.

The Gardens are pretty but nothing mind blowing- can walk it in 25 minutes and mostly ferns, bushes and a few water features. Yes fun to look at the Koi pond and they had 7 bonsai trees which were the most interesting. One was 200 years old but for $18 entry fee i would skip if you are taking kids etc. or you just feel like you would be missing out on some great thing- kids will be bored and you aren’t missing much. Or of course if gardens are your thing then have at it but I wasn’t really impressed.

Great assortment of gorgeous trees and shrubs. If you like to walk amidst beautifully laid out paths and see spectacular scenery, go here!

The gardens were absolutely beautiful. I’ve been to Numerous other Japanese gardens around North America and this one is by far one of the best. If you plan on visiting Portland, this is a must see in my opinion.

Overall, it was worth it. Pay online to avoid the line, and if you want to go to the Cafe - make a reservation.

The grounds are beautiful and lush.

Parking was packed by 10 a.m., so plan ahead.

Moss, ponds, koi, architecture, zen gardens...walking the paths induces meditative calm and appreciation. We caught a 10:15am tour (free) and enjoyed the tour guide's commentary and interesting facts I wouldn't have known otherwise. This is one of the nation's best authentic Japanese Garden. For me, this was even more beautiful than the rose gardens. It's a must-see!

I loved the garden! such a beautiful place, and a perfect time of year to visit, with the leaves just beginning to change. Peaceful even with a lot of people around.

We went to the gardens on a 100 degree day in Portland! Beautiful garden and all the trees/shade made it a very enjoyable visit. It was fun to explore all the different types of Japanese garden areas.

Serene is the one word I can use to describe this place. The garden is pretty big, and is impressively maintained and is indeed a sight to see. The Portland Japanese Garden is located within Washington park, which also houses some other places of interest. There is greenery all round and the ponds, pathways and sculptures are beautifully laid out. The tickets are on the expensive side ($18 per person). Once you enter the park, life really slows down - this is not a place "to go through" in a rush. Self guided tour is best enjoyed slow, with a completely green surrounding and peaceful sounds of flowing water. The ponds in the garden contain large and brightly colored Koi fish. The sand and stone garden was unique. The peace lantern, which was a gift from Japan, is a wonderful addition to the garden. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, masks are mandatory and there was no big crowds when I visited in mid October. Unfortunately, the Pavilion gallery was closed likely because of the same reason. Overall, I'd highly recommend going to Portland Japanese Garden if you find yourself in Portland with adequate time and wanting to enjoy a peaceful few hours.

I wanted to love this place, but only liked it. Parts were closed such as the interactive lessons buildings.
I felt the admission fee was higher than necessary. It took us all of 45 minutes tops to go through the entire gardens and we took our time. Are they beautiful? Yes. Just not as big as I was lead to believe. Lots of work has been placed with pruning and such, albeit. However, I was disappointed in how quickly we moved through the entire place.
We made reservations for the tea house as required. Again, sadly disappointed. Was the tea good? Yes. However for $12 and a tablespoon sized portion of cake, I felt it was a terrible rip off. We are from Hawaii so we know our teas and Japanese sweets. Perhaps for the persons are being educated on Japanese gardens and tea, this is an experience. Your tea set includes 3 cups of tea. You signal them when you are ready by placing your pot on the side of the table. My initial cup of tea was lukewarm. Very disappointing. Each cup became progressively hotter as they reused the tea leaves so not sure if the hotter water each time was to “reactivate them”. Also, not trying to be racist, but we saw absolutely no Asians working in the gardens nor the tea house. Somehow, this diminished the legitimacy of it all. Again, I am sure there was great research done, but to have a “traditional “ tea made, brought and explained by blonde personnel didn’t seem right. I’d also like to hear traditional Japanese music playing in the tea house instead of light rock. There didn’t seem to be anything traditional about it and it was hard to sip and be part of the experience. Mind you our server stated she visited Japan so there was that and she was attentive.
All in all, I would not return. At least not for that price which I’m sure goes to maintain the gardens. It is beautiful though and the koi pond is beautiful to watch as well.

Perhaps it was the time of year that we went or maybe I just had high expectations because of the reviews. Either way, I didn't see anything that would warrant such rave reviews. It was pretty but nothing out of the ordinary that made the the "most authentic Japanese Garden in the US" as some have said on the reviews...and we were fortunate to go on a sunny day. I thought it was really small and not worth what they charge. We were able to see the entire garden in 45 mins and ended up enjoying other scenery in the park that is free. I think the Japanese Gardens in San Francisco are much more beautiful. Sorry we are not a fan of this one!

This was a lovely place to visit. Quiet and relaxing. It would be beautiful in any season of the year

It's not often I would use the words magnificent yet peaceful in the same sentence but it fits the Japanese gardens in Portland. Beautifully landscaped but the human maintenance of the paths and the Zen gardens never overpowers nature. Went with my wife, adult daughter and her domestic partner (they are members). The garden is one of those special places where you can go by yourself and reflect, or quietly enjoy the surroundings with others. We spent a couple hours there (we were visiting from Phoenix and wanted to see other local sights also) but I could have enjoyed spending the whole day there.

Enjoyable experience, walking at one’s own pace, within serene outdoor well kept gardens. Closed Tuesdays (though the Rose experimental gardens across the way were open). Ample, reasonable priced, metered parking. Seriously consider taking the shuttle from the ticket entrance.

Second time visiting the Japanese Gardens and was just as blown away by it's beauty, as I was the first time. I almost didn't get the chance to visit, however, I thought I would walk around before catching my flight back to SoCal. It was a Sunday and arrived right before opening and there was already a massive line to get in. You can get tickets beforehand and I highly recommend doing so because it fills up quickly! Since I was pressed for time, I decided to purchase a membership and bypass the 2.5 hour wait time and I am so glad I did! (Quick side-note if you have a membership you can access the gardens at 8 a.m., 2 hours before the general public and for the photographers out there this is an ideal time to capture images without having volumes of people walking into your frame...additionally tripods are allowed for a minimal cost). Walking around the gardens is absolutely breathtaking and especially going in the fall when the autumn colors are in full swing! You can literally spend a good half day here as there is so much to take in and I do recommend allowing for at least a few hours at a minimum.

At $16.95 per adult, I thought the price was a little steep, but it is, indeed, a beautiful garden. If you have about 2 hours to spend here, the admission price is worth it. The grounds are very well-maintained and the ponds and running water are extensive.

We enjoyed walking through all of the trails and gardens. It was also very peaceful and relaxing to spend quiet time in contemplation at the two rock gardens. The Pavilion Gallery had a very moving exhibition called "Spirits Rising: ひろしま / hiroshima by Ishiuchi Miyako," which displayed photographs of clothing preserved from the atomic bombing.

It was a little more than we wanted to spend, but we were glad we went nonetheless.

Just beautiful. So peaceful and gorgeously laid out. The Japanese maples were a special favorite and the view of Portland just lovely

I recommend taking the tour to get more info on the gardens, it provided a lot of insight we otherwise wouldn't have known. I loved the coy pond and the detail of the gardens is amazing. It was my favorite place in Portland, and an absolute must if you are visiting.

Japanese gardens is a beautiful, peaceful, natural space, full of places where visitors can stop and contemplate.

We have the Morikami Japanese gardens near us in Florida. These gardens were at best on par with the gardens that we have near us. The price is higher here. You have to walk up to get to the gardens. If we hadn't booked the guided tour before we left we would have been wandering around without knowing what the gardens were about. We took public transportation because parking can be very difficult.

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.

We visited here after walking through the Rose Garden across the street. While the Rose Garden is free, the Japanese Garden is a bit pricey. If you have the time, however, and can spare the cash, it is worth it. We spent only about an hour here, but I can see myself spending two or three hours here just enjoying the surroundings. There is a discount for students (including college students) with ID.

If you need a break from the frantic activities of every day life, take a break at the Portland Japanese Garden. This garden is restful and peaceful and just beautiful, in any weather. It is nicely laid out and doesn't take long, unless you want to sit and contemplate. There's a shuttle to the top if you can't do the stairs, so it really is for everyone (in certain spots there are stairs but there are alternative routes and things to see.)

We’ve been to Japan and we have the Morikami Japanese Garden and museum near us in Florida. We purchased $19 tickets, We’re given a map and walked up the hill To the cultural village. The café, gift shop, concierge desk and village with information about Japanese culture and Arts was here.

We stood online, put on masks and waited for our turn to go into the pavilion gallery. This Japanese structure housed beautiful, colorful modern Japanese screens and paintings.
There weren’t directions and they were a few markings pointing us and identifying each garden. With the sun shining brightly it was even difficult to read my garden guide.

The Japanese garden was founded in 1963 and contains five different gardens each representing a different period of Japanese history and culture.

1. There were about eight bonsai’s a few dating back over 200 years

2. The Flat in Garden represents the seasons with raked gravel representing the water

3. The sand and stone garden represents the beauty of blank space and openness

4. Add the strolling pond garden we walked across the Moon Bridge and looked across the lower pond towards the heavenly falls

5. The tea Garden and tea house where where they would be a tea ceremony

6. The Natural Garden was my favorite with the zigzag bridge going across the koi pond with beautiful huge irises in bloom.

An incredible and large Japanese garden very close to home. Very peaceful and beautiful! One can add up by also visiting the zoo and the rose garden, besides hiking on the many trails that cross the road and connect all attractions.

The Portland Japanese Garden is a world-class garden that is far too crowded to savor, even in the middle of weekdays on the off-season. It would be helpful if there was timed entry for non-members. The cafe used to be a high-quality experience. It is now fast food cafeteria style with disposable serving dishes and utensils. I was told the change made it more profitable.

Did not like our experience here. I mean ok. Many beautiful things to see. However, nothing was labelled, the place was PACKED, it was expensive and it wasn't as big as I thought it was going to be. Not worth the money in my opinion.

Beautiful walk. Parking is difficult. We arrived about 45 min prior to it opening, and then walked over to the Rose Test Garden and then back in time for the Japanese Garden to open. It's open for members much earlier. It's a steep walk up, but not very far. There is also a bus that goes up and down. There is a beautiful walkway, and then a short 10-15 min circle and another one-way circle with lots of steps and water. It cost about $21 for adults. There is a rock garden, and don't forget the gift shop on the way out, very cool things.

We didn't think this was worth $19 each. Not much color, mostly non-Japanese plants with a few Japanese items mixed in. We were not offered a map and there were apparently several paths, so we ended up backtracking quite a bit. It's pretty, but not for that cost.

It's a great garden with a glacially slow admission line. Buy in advance. The staff also could let those with mobility issues know that there is a shuttle. I informed one persone who was struggling with the long entry slope.

very good, spacious garden, wasn't super crowded or anything, staff at entry were nice and the plants were pretty, good place to come in portland

The day that we were flying home from our vacation, we had just enough time to stop here check out the gardens and have some tea at the Unami Cafe. The café requires reservations so please do them in advance or you will get turned away like so many other people we saw that day. The gardens I would think would be so much more magical in the spring time when the Rhododendrum’s are in full bloom with that said it is definitely a place you need to come visit anytime of year. The walk through is very relaxing and you feel refreshed and centered by the time you leave.

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.

Portland is known as having one of the best Japanese gardens outside of Japan. Having been to Japan and toured many, I would have to agree. The landscaping, upkeep, peacefulness all are excellent. The addition of the Kengo Kuma designed pavilion make it even better. Highly recommended.

Beautiful garden. Very serene and easy to walk throughout the garden. I enjoyed the fused glass exhibit.

Truly magnificent! Don't miss this beautiful place/experience. Wear good walking shoes. And if you're a bit unsteady take a walking stick. Do not try this with a stroller or wheelchair.

Well maintained public garden with wonderful near and far vistas, including water features, ponds, koi, with Japanese design influence in grounds and buildings.

Truly the most lovely, quiet, peaceful experience. Every inch is beautifully cared for and every second you spend there will be the most serene. Every growing thing is beautiful, every hidden addition only adds to the picturesque landscape. We finished our tour and I wanted to do it again. This amazing spot will inspire you to create your own private garden at home. I've always loved outdoor spaces but this is above and beyond anything I could ever create. The staff is friendly and helpful if questions are asked, but mostly try to be unobtrusive so you can enjoy the quiet, solitude, and beauty of your surroundings. In such a huge, busy city this is a welcome oasis of delicious silence. I hope you visit, you won't be sorry!

Visited on a snowy day, I imagine it’s a very different experience to a summers day.

The gardens were beautiful and well worth a visit, they are a step away from the busy city and very calming.

I loved the block artwork. There was an extremely knowledgeable staff member there who told us some history behind the art.

This is a beautiful Japanese garden to get a touchup Japanese magic. It’s quite quaint, but it accomplishes the purpose of taking you to a different and distant place. There are lots of beautiful botanicals around and it’s a great place to clear your mind and get away from the troubles of the city.

On a recent trip to Portland, my wife and I stopped in Washington Park with the intention of seeing the Japanese Garden and nearby International Rose Test Garden. Since it was clearly out of season for roses in mid-November, there wasn’t much to see when we stopped at the Rose Garden first. We almost then skipped the Japanese Garden, since it was chilly and raining, and I hadn’t realized that unlike the Rose Garden, the Japanese Garden is an attraction with its own admission fee, not just part of the park that you can meander through freely. I’m really glad we ultimately decided to pay the $18 per person and visit the Japanese Garden, since it was absolutely serene and beautiful, even while walking through in the pouring rain on a chilly day.

The line for tickets didn’t look particularly long that afternoon, but it was a bit slow-moving, since there was only one person working the admission window and others had a lot of questions and were buying memberships. I would definitely buy tickets online in the future to skip the line. We entered the gardens close to 3:00 pm, and were told that the last admission of the day would be at 3:30, although it sounded like there was no real time pressure, with the gardens staying open for a while after 3:30 so the final guests of the day could still make their way through.

The gardens are built into a hill, so there was a bit of a leisurely uphill climb to get from the entrance at the bottom of the hill to the start of the gardens at the top. There is a shuttle service offered for those who want to avoid the walk and start at the Cultural Village at the top of the hill. From the Cultural Village, which includes restrooms, a gift shop, and a terrace with beautiful bonsai trees, you can start to meander through the gardens themselves, which are absolutely beautiful, with stunning landscaping and water features.

Everything in the gardens is currently marked out with one-way paths to help promote social distancing, and the only thing that appeared to be closed was the Japanese Tea House. The gallery building that currently has a photography exhibit with photos from internment camps was open with limited capacity and was interesting to visit. Outside of that, we really enjoyed taking a leisurely walk through the various garden paths and discovering the various sculptures and plantings. It was especially gorgeous to be able to see the variety of changing colors on the trees in the fall.

We also really liked that the size of the gardens was manageable so that it didn’t take forever to see everything, but there was still enough to do that the $18 admission was just about worth it (it could maybe be a couple dollars cheaper, but it’s so lovely that I didn’t mind supporting them through our ticket purchase). We spent about an hour at the garden in total, and probably would have spent more time if it wasn’t raining the entire time. I imagine that on a nicer day, you could easily spend a couple hours meandering through the gardens and taking time to relax at various spots along the way.

Despite seeming a little pricey at first, the Portland Japanese Garden is absolutely beautiful and worth a visit. It’s a serene paradise in the middle of Portland, and it’s an interesting chance to see what I’ve read is one of the most accurate Japanese gardens in the United States.

Even in the rain the garden was gorgeous. I appreciated a quiet and relaxing immersion in nature; the mosses on everything and the beautiful traditional Japanese garden buildings were so awesome. My kids loved it too and said it was like being in a Totoro movie!

We visited the gardens with a friend from out of town. It was a great garden with a nice 2.5 hour walk around grounds. As expected for a Japanese garden, grounds were meticulously groomed. There is a nice mix of permanent installations and rotating "exhibits." The place definitely changes with the seasons so repeat visits are always fresh. I recommend going and strolling around but then find a spot you like and just sit for 30 - 60 minutes, look and think. It is a very relaxing place. The gift shop is nice and admission is reasonably priced (similar to the cost of a movie).

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!

This is an absolutely beautiful and peaceful place. It is truly amazing, the cultural accuracy of this garden.
It is located in a beautiful area of Portland. Parking is very simple.

Excellent adventure, very beautiful, we bought the year pass, best value with perks such as early entrance before the crowds show up. Highly recommend this, and you don’t have to stand in lines.

Went on the guided tour that took approx. 50 min, admission fee approx. $20 per adult, little pricey but overall garden is beautiful, extremely well kept, very relaxing, neat gift shops. The guided tour is not necessary, but it was informative, but one can easily do self - tour and still appreciate the beauty.

I took the Max train. It is about a mile nearly all uphill to get from the train. It was OK for me. If you didn't have a car I would suggest public busses or car service which can get you closer. You can get a ticket at the gate. And walk up or take a free shuttle to the main level where the entrance to the gardens, gift shop, and cafe are. The gardens are on about 5 acres and have elevation changes. So be prepared for some walking. There are many different flora and also manmade features (gates, ponds, benches, zen garden, etc.). It is beautiful and up atop a hill in Washington Park. There are a few spots for viewing the city and Mt. Hood. Overall, it was quite a pleasant experience.

During the Pandemic my daily walks in Washington Park have kept me sane. Of course, when the Japanese Garden reopened I had to go. As with most things pandemic, masks were required, the walking path was designated with arrows and the restaurant was closed. But this is a beautiful garden fostering an appreciation of contemplation (do we do that in America?), negative space and examples of Japanese art and aesthetic principals. Highly recommended.

Tranquil, pleasant, but not an exciting experience. If you are interested in art, plants, or Japanese culture, you could easily spend a couple of hours walking around looking at the wonderfully laid out plants, paths, and water features.

Very nice place in the oriental style. Peace, tranquility and harmony. You visit it in 1 hour and it is worth having the green in the cafeteria, the pastries are fabulous

A Gem in the city that doesn’t have much else going .. we visited the Japanese Tea House for a nice break before we started the garden walk… it’s lovely !

I really enjoyed walking around the Historic Gardens section; it was all breathtakingly beautiful and serene. The Cultural Village was a bit of a let-down, however - the cafe was reservation-only, and except for the Bonsai Terrace there wasn't much else (nature-wise) to see. The view of Portland and Mt Hood from the overlook at the Pavilion Gallery is lovely, but if you have limited mobility this is not the place to visit; it's mostly walking up and down hills/stairs. I had to request the shuttle to get up to the Cultural Village which meant I missed the Entry Garden including the big gate. Oh well. The Strolling Pond area and Heavenly Falls were my favorites.

Amazing garden and a must visit while in Portland! Parking isn’t fun, but it can be done. It was one of the highlights of our trip and unexpected.

A little warm to make the hike up and around the gardens, but lovely. Very authentic, clean and a nice day.

My 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!

A different world a taste of Japan truly a well thought out experience that’s is a must see you definitely go into a different world going here and the cafe is a must try with authentic Japanese matcha and authentic Japanese pastry and Mochi

Small garens. Very beautiful and meticulous, well maintained gardens. So many unusual colorfu koi. The koi pond was our favorite. Uphill climb to garden area. Much smaller than we anticipated. Admission price a bit high for size of gardens. Dont miss the free rose gardens in Washington park immediately beside the japanese gardens. We actually spent more time in the rose gardens. Parking can be challenging.

Total tourist trap. Rude staff, very overpriced. Very small especially for the price. Seems to be in a bit of neglect as there was a ton of poison ivy growing. Also, very overcrowded, lots of tour busses.

We were here in fall, absolutely gorgeous flowers and scenery. It was quiet busy for covid but we felt safe. We bought tickets ahead of time online, and the check in was very simple. Can definitely spend a few hours here, very unique and beautiful place.

Beautiful and calm and more than just a garden, The garden is not that large but feels bigger than it is. When you arrive they will provide you a map of the layout. The garden is kept in good shape and in the garden you can find a couple different shopping opportunities with some very nice Japanese items. There was some food available. The cost of the garden is expensive and tickets are sold for specific times so you are better off buying tickets before you go as it is not unusual to find a line to purchase tickets if you go during the prime times. It was a highlight for my wife.

There weren't too many purple visiting at the time and it was beautiful to be alone in the Japanese Gardens. For the $18 price tag, I can't really say anything bad about it. Its just a nice, peaceful, lush area. The koi and the bonsai were my personal favorites. Its worth going to!

While visiting Portland for my wife's bday, we visited here. All I will say is that it is amazingly beautiful and you can feel all the historical culture as soon as you enter. I don't want to ruin the trip by telling you all everything. Go see for yourself!!!

Very calm and enjoyable experience. Friendly staff and the gardens are very well kept. Easy to get there and plenty of parking.

Absolutely beautiful place to visit. Everyone is a photographer at the gardens. Tea was perfect too! Add the rose garden, and you have perfect way to spend 1/2 day.

The gardens are a breath of fresh air. The views are spectacular. The gardens are truly beautiful. A great place to spend a few hours away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

We visited a bunch of Japanese gardens on this vacation and Portland's was the highest standard by far. Yes, there is an entry, but it's worth it. Stunning gardens with clear routes to follow and plenty to see. The kids scavenger hunt was sweet too. Highly recommended.

Just check your hotel "resort fee" first to see if tickets are included in that. We visited the garden *before* checking in, so didn't realize. Still worth it!

The garden was beautiful this time of year. We were lucky to be there on a nice day that wasn’t raining. The garden was very calming and peaceful. Great place to go and have pictures taken.

If you love Japanese architecture, garden style, and serenity, this is your place. Bring a nice book, feel free to sit on a bench in the sun and read, or wander around just taking in the beauty. There is no way I can see anyone giving this less than 5 rating. Simply immaculate from the planning, to the architecture, to the vegetation, and water , even wildlife that comes and goes. This is hands down the most beautiful attraction in the city of Portland, followed closely by the rose garden which is just across the street with its views of Mt. Hood.

This place is stunningly beautiful and incredibly serene. I could have stayed all day, listening to the babbling brooks amid the cool shade. It's definitely something I hope to see again!

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.

Super great. Peaceful. Regenerative. Don’t miss this on your visit to Portland. Buy your tickets online - there is a senior citizen discount. Go early in the day to avoid crowds. We had a timed entry if 10 AM.

The Portland Japanese Garden, like other Japanese Gardens, is a serene and meticulously designed garden with traditional Japanese landscaping. Located within Washington Park, the garden spans 12 acres, featuring eight unique garden styles, including the tranquil Sand and Stone Garden, the lush Strolling Pond Garden, and the peaceful Tea Garden. It’s peaceful to walk around Japanese Gardens.

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.

What a beautiful and peaceful sanctuary this is. I felt so far removed from Portland and felt transported to Japan. It was perfect way to spend an afternoon.

Nice enough place with some beautiful specimens but much smaller than we expected. The whole tour was over in about two hours. If you want to go there by public transport, ignore their directions. Take the light rail to Washington Park station, enjoy the 600 ft elevator ride in the mountain and catch the shuttle to the garden

I cannot express how beautiful and peaceful these gardens are. We took the free tour (sign up ahead of time!), which helped us appreciate the gardens even more since we could learn about the reasoning behind their designs. The tour was about an hour, then we spent another hour here walking around some more, eating at the cafe, and shopping for souvenirs. Honestly, I probably could have spent even more time just enjoying the gardens. Note that the path up to the gardens is a bit of a hike uphill.

What a special place! I visited with my family on a Wednesday around noon in August. We found street parking relatively close by- but even if it had been further it would have been worth it. We loved the whole space, especially the bonsai and other gorgeous trees- and watching the koi. It was crowded but still felt peaceful.

We were in the right place at the right time when we were able to join a tour. The docent was terrific and we thoroughly enjoyed our guided walk through gardens. The bonsai garden did not disappoint and neither did any of the other displays!

These gardens were beautiful and a peaceful place to visit during our recent Portland trip. A shuttle was available for the trip to the garden gate. There were nice walking paths, plenty of benches to sit and take in the experience. The large zen garden was nice and the coy in the water were colorful. Recommend wearing good walking shoes. There was a cafe that required reservations, so we did not get to enjoy that, but there was a small cafe with outdoor tables as an alternative. A must-see in Portland

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.

Beautiful Japanese garden. Definitely worth the $22.50 bucks. I listened to a guided tour for half the time and then ventured off. I loved all the live moss, Japanese red maples and the koi pond. Lots of great pictures. Definitely not the most accessible for those who have trouble with uneven surfaces though.

Part of a much larger park that overlooks the city of Portland. Created as an homage to the artistic homage to Japanese culture. The gardens and trails are spectacular! There are awesome varieties of Bonsai plants—some hundreds of years old. No need to hurry through....aaah...

We went in September 2018 (two years ago). It was a very beautiful place. It was very scenic and serene. We spent a lot of time just enjoying the scenery and walking around, taking it all in. It was easy to walk around this entire place in under two hours.

We've visited a lot of Japanese gardens in the US; this is one of the best I've ever seen. I loved the multi-level design and even on a busy summer's day, it still felt serene.

I’ve visited the garden in the pre-Covid-19 days. I was thrilled they were open last week when I was in Portland. The garden is beautiful and peaceful. It’s the kind of place where a little social distancing is always welcome to fully appreciate the setting! I was so impressed by the staff’s careful planning a design to reopen as safely as possible. The directional signage was clear, and the extra staff around was helpful. They were all so welcoming. You won’t feel like you’re missing out on anything if you go now, even with the one-way paths set up.

We toured the Japanese garden after the (free) Rose Garden across the street. For $20 it was much less interesting and worth it. There are some cool things to see but it is not worth the admission.

Worth the admission.

Pretty and serene. NW forest area cultivated into a beautiful Japanese garden, tea garden, serenity area, gift shops and koi ponds.

Bonsai area, nice walking paths.

Tea house was very nice with nice snacks and of course teas.

Must see attraction.

I would highly recommend this stop. We loved it. It was a beautiful space to explore and right across the rose gardens so we were able to see both.

This garden was serene and just beautiful. We especially enjoyed the waterfall and koi pond. Worth the price and a great way to spend an hour or two in Portland.

this beautiful garden was so peaceful! it was artfully designed and meticulously maintained - just being inside the garden made you feel less anxious about everything going on! If you need an escape, visit this garden!

Beautiful way to spend a morning. Make a reservation for the Unami Cafe, and treat yourself to the complete experience. Give yourself time to slow down and take it all in. The garden is a work of art and is tended as a labor of love.

We visited on a Thursday morning. The parking lot is very small and surrounding area does not have much. We got lucky as someone was leaving when we drove in.

There was a wide variety of relaxing areas. Koi pond, many fountains and waterfalls along trails winding through the park were my favorite. Also enjoyed the view looking out across Portland towards Mount Hood.

The walk up from the parking lot was a steep climb and you had to be careful going up and down the trails in the park. Definitely wear good sturdy shoes.

Wish we could have spent more time as it was a very relaxing stop in a busy vacation.

Happened upon the Japanese Garden while wandering through Portland. Pleasantly surprised by all there was to see. Tea house worth a stop for a snack and delicious tea.

100% would recommend and would go again anytime we’re in Portland! The plants are SO beautiful, but it’s the way they’re landscaped that makes it an entire experience! I don’t think anyone could go here and not like it! The koi are absolutely gorgeous per my husband!

If you haven’t been to Portland Japanese Garden you must hate nature. Okay, that’s a bit extreme. You don’t hate nature, but you hate trees and little ponds and koi fish and ducks and especially baby ducklings following their mom across a little walkway from a tranquil little pond up over a shallow edge onto a landscaped backdrop of zen greenery. Yeah, you need help. Everyone else? Tap the brakes on your fast-paced lives, go to the PJG and enjoy taking a deep breath of all that beauty.

One tip to the PJG:
When you offer tea service at a restaurant that tries to seem authentic in that stunning backdrop, don’t sell us a Japanese chicken and rice dish that we clearly see and taste is nothing more than a Costco fried rice 1-min microwave packet. (Yes, really.) Wow, my husband and I laughed so hard the Matcha nearly flew out of our noses. That was cheeee-zeeee. (Cringe)

This is wonderful place to visit! So relaxing like you completely peaceful mind in this place also well maintain.

You need to visit this place. We've been to JP garden in SF as well, but this one is top of our list. We went on a bit of rainy day but that still beautiful in NOV color of foliage can still be seen. The rock garden was very serene. Too bad the tea room was too full, so we could sit and try the tea. We went as 2 couples and everyone enjoyed the walk even on the cold rainy day.

One of the most wonderful experiences we had in Portland . But at the ticket booth the stuff could help elderly to offer shuttle to the top, otherwise we had to climb there ourselves and learn about shuttle going down. Delightful garden!

The best part of my visit to Portland was the visit to this garden. I lucked out without any reservations. I was there on a cold, gloom Thursday morning. Things were very busy by sunny noon just as I left. Recommend reservations for entry, tour and tea room. Susan H. was a great guide

During my time in Portland , we dropped by this place by accident.

*If you are a student make sure you bring your IDs , if not tell them you got an email you can give them to receive a discount on the admission tickets.

Parking can be a bit hectic depending on the day , just be patient everyone trying to get in and do the same thing.

Once we got in we just walked around and admire all the gardens and the entire scenery. Definitely a really beautiful spot , if you have time and want to just really enjoy walking around , this is the place!

This garden was absolutely beautiful- reminded me of the gardens we visited when I toured Japan a few years ago. After experiencing the disappointment that is the current state of downtown Portland, the beauty and serenity of the Japanese garden was a very welcome change. Highly recommend!

Lovely serene gardens, go a slow or as quick as you like,. I do wish that some of the trees had been labeled for those not familiar with them. Would definitely go again. Make sure you wear comfy walking shoes,

It is a fairly small garden with easy walk and easy to navigate. It is amazingly manicured, well attended, and cleaned. Just beautiful.
I recommend starting at the Japanese gardens and then walk down to the rose garden not the opposite

We enjoyed our visit to the Portland Japanese Garden. The admission is a modest $20 per person. We arrived around 11am and there was no line to purchase tickets. You will need to wear comfortable shoes as you need to walk up a hill and also maneuver corners and some unlevel ground. The grounds are well kept and the water features are nice. Worth a visit while near Portland. Recommend visiting the adjacent International Rose Test Garden that is nearby.

We love visiting city gardens, but felt the entrance price ($18.95 for seniors) was pretty pricey. Lovely waterfalls, zen gardens, Japanese stonework and bamboo art.

From the ticket area, the walk up to the gardens is a steep, uphill walk and not suitable for wheel chairs/walkers, or for those with mobility issues.

Plenty of clean, attractive bathrooms. Parking was extremely limited. We had to park down the street (5-10 min walk away) and pay at the kiosk (by license plate).

Beautiful garden. I felt extremely at peaceful and a lot of unique sights. However, it was over price with adult tickets costing $25 each and multiple locations for shopping.

Nice place - tranquil and well-manicured. The staff were friendly. There are steps so if you have mobility issues, you should know about this. It wasn’t as expansive as ai thought it would be, some it seemed pricey for less than an hour experience.

I had really been looking forward to visiting this garden, but was so disappointed.
The gardens were pricey for a 2-hour visit (and we did take our time), with the staff unfriendly & rather precious about the surroundings. We felt very uncomfortable.
Definitely NOT a place to take kids. I'd be worried about them stepping on the wrong path / section of grass the whole time...!!!
Note you can only bring bottled water into the gardens - no other beverage or food are allowed. We got the impression that bottled water was barely tolerated, and that you shouldn't even talk too loudly.

Even though I visited the Portland Japanese Garden on a dreary autumn day, it was beautiful. The leaves were a variety of golds, oranges and reds. The paths are thoughtfully laid out and you can see various Japanese garden styles. If you want, you can do a 1 hour stroll or you could stretch it out and relax along the way for a few hours.

Beautiful place to take a spring walk in mid February 50 degree day. Peaceful, well kept and a great tra ceremony. Every staff member was pleasant. The Tea Ceremony was with the 20 minutes to watch.

Beautiful escape for the first day of a long business trip. Lovely venue, make sure you’re aware there is a shuttle that will take you to the top of the hill if it’s too steep.

Expensive with many of the exhibits being closed. Cafe which is small was already fully booked, no place to even buy a beverage. Of course, the gift shop is open! Parking is difficult and not free either. Could be a real challenge for people with mobility issues. The only display worth seeing is the Bonsai garden. No discount for those serving in the military or veterans.

This is an absolutely beautiful, do not miss spot! Truly just amazing to see the time, energy and effort that went into creating something so peaceful, thoughtful and stunning.

This is, hands down, the best Japanese garden I have seen, and I have seen quite a few. Though it is not the biggest Japanese garden in North America (St Louis has that), this place is a wonderful "East meets Northwest" combination, with a backdrop of tall trees and varied terrain. Wonderful waterfalls, bodies of water, walkways, structures, etc. Docents there were very friendly and helpful. Nice giftshop as well. I should point out that there is lot of walking up and down, but they have shuttle buses for the initial ascent and final descent if you need them. One fun little touch- when you walk down to the street as you exit, there are a series of fun signs greeting you, with information and some humor as well. Just a great experience, do NOT pass this one up!!

Large Japanese garden with everything you would expect well designed trais and trees/flowers to fantastic bonzai and from tea saloon. The place isn't as big as expected but very enjoyable nonetheless. Prices for entry is maybe a tad high considering the attraction.

The garden is beautiful and lovingly designed. A great idyllic opportunity to relax and enjoy nature. The architecture is also beautifully integrated into the nature. Due to the proximity to the free rose garden and parks, finding a parking space can be stressful when it is busy.

Here are some handy dandy tips for your visit to the Japanese Gardens:

1. Buy your tickets online in advance and you will avoid waiting in line. Even after you purchase your tickets in line, you are not guaranteed to enter the gardens immediatelyty since tickets are timed.

2. Go on a weekday and get there when it opens. The magic of the gardens is to experience tranquility, but it was so unbelievably crowded when we visited, we really could not enjoy parts of the park. You want to go "off peak" and bask in the quietude for a full, peaceful experience.

3. Don't mind the park employees. I think every person who works there must go through a training workshop entitled "How to Be Unwelcoming" since pretty much every person we encountered from the ticket booth operator to the ticket taker to guest shop worker was rude and impersonal.

Beautiful Japanese garden! I have been to several Japanese gardens in the US, and this is top notch. There was a tea demonstration and although it was hard to hear from where I was standing, the presentation was enjoyable. Very enjoyable park.

This was very memorable of the Japanese culture- there were bonsais, a gazebo, a waterfall and pond.

Beautifully landscaped garden. The tranquility here is simply heavenly and the variety of flora is fantastic. Everything fits perfectly into the landscape and is beautifully landscaped.

While on vacation with sister and nieces, we visited this absolutely amazing place.
It is a must see!

Beautiful well preserved garden with amazing land around it, zen gardens were peacful and serene. Almost forgot I was in america for a minute thats how authentic this place is

We've visited a number of Japanese gardens across the US and this tops them all, a beautifully maintained park that dazzles with its paths, plantings, architectural and water features, and friendly staff and volunteers. I wish we had planned in advance to have a late breakfast or lunch in their on-site cafe. This inspiration obviously has strong support from the community and we were thrilled to see so many visitors on a summer weekday morning. Icing on the cake is the spectacular view of the city afforded by its hilltop setting. An absolute must-see.

The garden is very peaceful and Serene. For the cost of under 20 bucks you can get away from the hustle and bustle of the city for a while. The fish are huge in the waterfall pond, and even let me pet them gently. The view of mount Hood and the city in the foreground from behind the main Japanese building was by itself worth my 40 minute walk and ticket charge.

Good luck finding a parking spot. Crowded on a Sunday, no parking and signage every 20 ft stating to be aware that your car could have a smash and grab in broad daylight. Had to pay for parking on top of a $20 entrance ticket. Gardens beautiful however not worth price. They should hire security to patrol the parking lots.

Fantastic zen experience. Beautiful gardens, exceptionally maintained. Fall colors were excellent. Take the shuttle up to the historic gardens if you have trouble walking.

These gardens are spread over a large space and even with the crowds you feel a sense of peace. A true testament to the thought and patience that went into creating it. Be prepared for an upward hike to start your tour, but totally worth every step.

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.

We love our visit to the Japanese Gardens. Even in November, the beauty and calmness of the walking trails was fantastic.

After your visit, you can cross the street into the Rose Gardens and stroll through other parts of Washington Park at no cost.

Built into a steep hillside, the garden offers lovely spaces and beautiful plants. Benches strategically placed, huge variety of stairs and water features and the best overlook of downtown Portland. We stayed for a tea service and shopped in the gift shop which added to the cultural aspect. The shuttle to the top and back is a great idea for mature audiences!

Beautiful incredibly well maintained grounds. Such a peaceful place to go to- brought out my “Zen”.
Way too crowded, though- but I can see why. Definitely a “must do”.
It is not-for-profit so that made me feel better about the admission price. The garden doesn’t get any city or state funds to operate.
My 19 & 22 year old girls loved it, my 15 year old Boyd’s were bored- exactly what I expected!

If you're in Portland, you must go to the Portland Japanese Garden. Such a special place. It's beautiful and tranquil with so many areas to explore, sit, and reflect. There are free one-hour tours, which I highly recommend. I snagged the last spot at the 10:15 am tour the morning I went and am so glad. I learned so much. I will definitely return whenever I'm in Portland.

A nice experience overall but walk if you can since parking looked to be a bit chaotic. We walked through the rose garden which, despite the late summer date and drought situation, was still looking beautiful. The Japanese Garden is lovely and a peaceful place to spend some time, but is smaller than I expected. I also thought the entrance fee was a bit high, but I presume looking after the gardens is a costly enterprise.

Lovely gardens to enjoy and explore. Very serene setting with so many different and beautiful plants, flowers, trees. Beautiful little tableaus you can happen upon. Lots of photo opps so have your camera ready!

Nice garden, but we felt it was 'just OK' if you've been to actual Japanese gardens in Japan.

Unfortunately, we missed out on taking a tour, seeing any demonstrations (They weren't obviously available) or visiting the cafe and therefore felt it was slightly lacking something. I would suggest doing these things to get a deeper appreciation for it.

The garden was peaceful and serene, but we were slightly underwhelmed. At a total of $34 for the entrance fee for the two of us, it felt kind of expensive as far as 'bang for the buck'.

You will see a sand and stone garden, torii gates, a learning center, koi fish, stone lanterns, some bridges, a small waterfall, flat garden, lots of trees, a veranda overlook, quality gift shops and more. There is also a cafe which we didn't visit.

We took public transportation to the park from the Pearl District and also visited the Hoyt Aboretum and International Rose Test Garden on the same day, which are free and all part of Washington Park.

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A gorgeous garden, beautifully appointed. Serenity abounds, a lovely waterfall, walking paths. Be ready to climb, however, it's a steep walk up the hill from the ticket booth. Worth it, however. The bonsai trees are remarkable, from 50 years old to 500, an experience not to be missed.

Beautiful, with a lovely peaceful quality, despite the number of visitors. However there are only five gardens, plus a small bonsai display and exhibit, so it was smaller than I anticipated and didn't quite meet my expectations. Bit expensive at 20 USD for a one hour visit and I wasn't rushing. Of course, you could spend longer if you want to sit for a while.

This is a very popular place and I would recommend buying tickets on line beforehand to avoid queueing.

Also if you're planning on spending time visiting other sights within Washington Park, you may want to take a picnic as there is very little in the vicinity.

This was the first thing I went to when I visited Portland in late June. And what a stunning place it is! Located in Washington Park, I took a taxi there from my lodging. In my opinion, if you value beauty in the floral/green environment, you can’t beat this garden. I couldn’t stop snapping pictures because everywhere I looked was a beautifully sculpted tree or shrub or banzai or pathway. Sounds of brooks and water passages, places to sit and just absorb your surroundings are everywhere. I heard some caretaker/gardeners discussing particular design cutting for one of the trees there as I walked and had a chat with them. There is a fabulous gift shop here where I spent far too much money. Don’t miss this place!

I was there mid-April 2019 and the landscape/environment was sublime. The plantings throughout the complex have been designed and curated by some of the best landscape architects on the planet. The walls adjacent to the main facility area, constructed by a team from Japan are astounding in their grandeur and fit. This environment is truly one of a kind.

This garden is really a collection of gardens that flow together, and it’s absolutely stunning. It is meticulously laid out and cared for. Apparently there’s a spectacular view of Mt Hood from there, but I was so caught up in the beauty of the garden itself that I forgot to look. The tea room in the garden is also worth a visit.

A very nice walk. Nicely landscaped. $35 seems expensive for a couple to take a 45 minute stroll. Many cities have similar Japanese gardens in their parks that are free. Save your money.

I visited the Portland Japanese Garden with family, and enjoyed the beautiful gardens and water features. A special favorite was the small area with all the miniature bonsai trees of various kinds. I found them fascinating. A great place for family outings, or even a solitary adventure to enjoy the peacefulness of the gardens.

Absolutely beautiful! Kind of balked at entrance fee because had enjoyed free admission to rose garden. Japanese garden is definitely worth price of admission. Beautiful waterfall. Raked gravel area. Directional arrows aid in social distancing. Shuttle from entrance pavilion to actual garden entrance available.

The entrance fee isn’t very expensive, 17$ for seniors 20$ for adults and 14$ For kids (6-17). You could easily spend multiple hours here taking your time walking through the carefully curated gardens with multiple pathways. It is also conveniently located next to the international rose gardens which is free to enter.

Went 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.

Walked to the park from our apartment in the Slabtown area. About a mile. Would not advise with a 6 and 2 year old. They were wiped before we got in.

Reservation system keeps people spread out.

Bonsai trees were awesome. Very peaceful. 2 year old loved the Koi pond.

Would love more time there with activity center open and without kids. Hard to be as mindful as I would have liked.

Loved this place. It was beautiful and calm. I really wished I lived closer so that I could visit frequently. I would highly recommend checking it out

I want to commend all of the people who worked on this garden to make it absolutely beautiful for the people who visit. I did not just feel like a customer. I felt like a guest. Having lived in Japan, I truly enjoyed looking at all the beautiful gardens and space that reminded me of my time there. From the exquisitely manicured bonsai‘s to the Zen gardens and the natural spaces, everything made my heart happy. And…we were there in the rain. I can’t imagine how awesome when sunny.

The Portland Japanese Garden is pretty cool. You have to pay for parking on the street. It's nice and relaxing spot. Wear comfortable shoes as there is a lot of walking. Waterfalls, streams, beautiful trees and just overall relaxing time. We heard a Japanese artist play music. Saw some 100, 200 and even 500 year old trees.
Cool spot to spend 2-3 hours.

My daughter and I visited here and were not disappointed absolutely amazing! So serene and beautiful, as you enter each garden you feel like you are in a different world transported to a different time and place away from all the chaos of today's world!

No sure why this gets recommended to travelers. Unless you are fascinated by Japanese culture or you specifically have something you need to see there, I would skip it. We spent 2 hours walking around and were very underwhelmed.

Very lovely garden Well laid out and great views of My Hood. Good history as well Not very wheelchair friendly in some areas, but can get to main over look to see Mr Hood. Nice cafe there as well to try some teas.

First of all, the garden is very well situated on the west hills of Portland; a peaceful place within Washington Park. The garden is meticulously maintained and is enjoyable year around. It also offers exhibitions, activities, festivals, and tea ceremonies throughout a year.

Extremely beautiful site and designs. I would highly recommend this to anyone visiting the Portland area. I went in the fall and the fall colors were amazing.

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.

You will think for a moment in time you’re here that you have been transplanted to Japan. Absolutely loved the 3 hours I spent here. Most people are respectful of the quiet, however a few people not so - if that happens, alter your route so you get to enjoy the garden as it is intended. Beautiful gift shop also. Cannot wait to return, loved it

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.

Outstanding, zen like experience, must do in Portland itenary , part of Washington park , add rose garden to visit.
We went in the morning and weather was wonderful ..found plenty parking availability.. $2 / hr!! crowds were lesser .. an absolutely fabulous experience..
Quite a bit of walking to admire the entire garden .. even had a painting show which was again fabulous ..
Keep atleast 2 hours to visit ..

I would add another 1-2 hours to see the rose garden ( free) and another hour to visit other parts of the amazing Washington park ..

Beautiful gardens. Some of the prettiest I've seen anywhere. Highly recommend stopping here when in Portland. Well worth it.

A must do in Portland! Especially the gorgeous trees Changing for the fall. Tea house isn’t open due to Covid which was a bummer.

Pros/Tips: This was a wonderful experience that I would definitely do again. It's relatively inexpensive and easy to get to. Pro-Tip: Order and pay for your tickets online to skip the huge lines. It was easy to follow along the paths and the stewards/workers were incredibly helpful. You can tell a lot of care goes in to the grounds. It is the kind of place that's great to go to with a friend, but could be even better if you go by yourself.

Cons: (Other People) If I were to go again, I'd try to go as early as possible to avoid the crowds. If people weren't talking loud, they were taking a thousand pictures which was distracting/annoying. (Drought) Some of the water features were really dry. Not sure if it was because of the time of year or if it was for conservation purposes but it would've been even more lovely with all the water features flowing.

WARNING: We parked at a metered spot but got a parking citation. Thankfully, we kept our receipt and were able to easily get it reversed but it was a bit of a shock at first and if I hadn't kept the receipt, we'd be out $44.

Small but beautiful traditional Japanese Garden at the edge of the city. Lovely quiet places to explore with our own twist of large evergreen trees separating each space. Enjoy the guided walk as you will learn more about the creation of this garden and therefore treasure it even more. I loved the story of the crane and turtle stones.

Sometimes I make poor decisions, visiting the Portland Garden on a weekend after seeing the how long the line was is one of them. I wish we had just come back at a later time, but we talked with an employee who assured us the garden was large and wouldn’t feel crowded. But not so for me anyway. There were just too many people, people taking selfies, people trying to get The Instagram shot, not a chance in hell of even 10 seconds of quiet in the mediation areas. I wish they they would do timed tickets where they could control the number of people at a time.
I’d like to go back and probably will at some point but will try to pick a time when it’s nots so crowded.

Great place. Lots to see. Look at the pictures everyone posts and figure when the best time to go is. I think maybe in the spring and the fall. When I went, it was summer and winter. Everything is just bare or green, no colors. But still a nice place to visit.

This garden is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. It’s so relaxing and quiet, and the scenery really immerses you. We went on a rainy day and honestly, I think that made the experience better. The sound of the rain and the damp moss everywhere just gave me such a sense of peace.
We chose not to do the Umami Cafe, but quite a few people were in there. The gift shop had some cool stuff, and the info center really explains the Japanese culture and theme. Also seeing that this is the best Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan was cool to learn. I feel like I went to Japan without spending 22 hours on a plane.

I stepped into the gardens on a rainy Friday afternoon. Elaborately planned Landscaping, hidden paths, Lush foliage, waterfalls, hidden streams with Zen Gardens all combine to relax and calm your soul.You don't want to miss this place! Allow at least 2 hours for quiet contemplation and careful discovery. Then drink hot miso soup or other Delicacies at the cafe.

Didn’t have a lot of time but at least got to see it!! Luckily it’s not that big but if had more time would have sat and taken in all the beauty. The fish ponds were my favorite. It’s a bit pricey but am sure that’s for all the maintenance it needs. Very very beautiful.

Heavy terrain - so be in good shape to climb (not wheelchair friendly) and lovely peaceful areas to sit and contemplate. The architecture of the few buildings - also lovely. Ticket prices were high, especially given the lack of food or dining. Lovely view. Parking is a challenge on weekends and during travel season, so add an extra hour for parking and getting to/from garden to car. Bonus is the Rose Garden is adjacent and free, and there is a large free kids' playground that is also a big attraction.

Absolutely beautiful. Detail everywhere you look. Very relaxing experience. The amount of planning and upkeep required is mind boggling. Well worth the entry fee.

Each of our children chose something for our family to do while on vacation. Our Daughter chose the Japanese gardens & they were so worth it!!! What an amazing experience!

Very peaceful walk around the gardens. They were extremely well manicured. You will get some great pictures there and some headspace.

This garden has great review, no.1 in Tripadvisor review, but for me it's disappointing. No flowers at all, only greenery and small, more like forest than garden. I did not find elevator but many stairs. My husband just sit down next to gift shop after climbing many stairs to enter the garden. If you like greenery the zoo is way much better. There are trees, flowers and animals, complete for a view dollars more. Before I consider Huntington Garden Pasadena was expensive but after visiting Portland, that's a good deal. It's many times bigger and there are Museum, Italian, Australian, Japanese, Chinese and Rose garden in one place. I did not know Leach Botanical Garden until last week, early October. It looks prettier and bigger.

We 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.

Highly recomend the visit. Make sure to take the tour with a volunteer. Walk from there to beautiful Rose Gardens down from entrance. Due of tea at Japanese Gardens .

These beautiful gardens are on top of a hill you have to hike up from the parking lot. It is a paved walkway. Once you are on top, it is beautiful and tranquil. Even with a large number of people, the large grounds are spread out and lots to see. Traditional garden structures and gorgeous landscaping. Zen stone garden plot and more. Definitely worth the trip. Plan at least two hours. That is rushing it.

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?

Beautiful gardens but much smaller than we expected for the price of the daily admission tickets. The Bonsai trees were cool as was the koi pond.

First time at the Portland Japanese Garden and falling in love with it. Good to come early at 10 am. Not many people, you can get some nice shot and see the change when the sunlight come. I like the atmosphere here, simply garden, nice sound of nature, smell of fresh air and feeling of relaxation. It would be great to come with your love one.

Stunning gardens, nice tour guide. Visited in May lots flowers trees in bloom. Definitely worth a visit. Very well manicured gardens.

Very informative and blissful. The gardens, ponds, and grounds are beautifully maintained. The plants and information are well worth the visit.

We were visiting a friend who lives in the area and she wanted us to see this garden. We were very happy that she took us here as it seems to be quite authentic. Anyway, it was lovely and very well-maintained.

I recently visited the Portland Japanese Garden with a family member. It's the one site that made a real impression on me when I visited Portland nearly 30 years ago, and so I was excited go again with someone that had never visited. Plus, both of us had spent time in Japan this past year and thought it would be nice to experience a familiar space.

First, the garden is stunningly beautiful. There are an endless number of small scene, moments and spaces to take in from different perspectives. However, unlike a traditional Japanese garden, the space was loud and crowded with many visitors. When I purchased tickets online, it seemed as though daily ticket sales were limited. However, we arrived within a few minutes of opening on a timed entry ticket and there were already hundreds of visitors inside. As a non-profit, I celebrate their success, but it's something to be prepared for as a visitor.

Gorgeous, tranquil gardens. Nice way to spend a hot day. Very well maintained, friendly staff and an over great experience.

Surrounding by a lush forest to provide a gorgeous backdrop for this impressive garden. A must visit.

These gardens are not to be missed! they cover a hillside and require navigating steps and winding paths but are worth the effort. There are green gardens and rock gardens. Not to be missed is the Umami Cafe--try the daifuku mochi (soft mochi filled with red bean). The gardens are serene and a beautiful experience. Much of it is in the shade. There is also a koi pond with humongous koi definitely worth visiting.

This place is beautiful. We learn a lot of how Japan was during the late 1800, early 1900. It’s peaceful, and relaxing. Highly recommended.

Very pretty and pleasant, but small (12 acres), so you can easily see everything in 30 minutes. The admission price was $22 per adult, which is high considering. (In comparison, the Huntington Gardens near Pasadena is is $25 per adult during the week and there's 130 acres of botanical gardens plus the library and art museum.) The only food available is at a very small restaurant with a limited menu. We were there on a Monday at about 2:00 pm and there was a two hour wait for a table.

This garden is a quiet and peaceful place to spend an afternoon. It’s the highlight of the Washington Park part of Portland

This is a very peaceful and serene place to walk around you can even sit and read a book if you’d like. Very cool in terms of how well-maintained and up kept it is. It would’ve been cool during the fall time with the leaves changing. Overall a 7.4

This hillside garden was the perfect getaway for peace and quiet. The sounds of the water features permeate the air, and you cannot help but feel the calm. Beautifully shady, moss everywhere, wonderfully designed.

very tranquil place the imporovemnts from the last ime i was trere where excellent would recommond highly

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.

Beautiful grounds to wander around. Helpful volunteers who were around to answer our many questions. Really great place to visit - highly recommend!

We really tried to take our time and enjoy the beauty, but that being said, it was an hour at most. Parking was a hassle and had to keep circling to find a place on Sunday morning. If I would have found more things to do in Portland, I would not have come here.

Expensive. And a little small. $18 per adult plus $5.00 parking. I imagine it's a Zen experience for people from the city but it just wasn't worth the price of admission in my opinion. Went during a weekday during Covid so it wasn't crowded at all. Gift shops have cute wares but expect them to be expensive as well. Employees are friendly overall. Grounds are clean and well kept.

the most lovely garden, all the spaces and views were terrific. We even got a glimpse of Mt Hood as we were leaving! The gift shop is terrific as well. We arrived at 10:00 and the crowds were relatively light. As we prepared to leave around 12:30, the crowds were heavier (and louder). But the peaceful vibe in the early hours was much appreciated. Helpful and friendly staff. The free park shuttle helps you to maximize your enjoyment of the many points of interest within the Park.

Beautiful grounds. It's worth going to once, but I don't think it has to be visited at least yearly like the Zoo. Parking was limited, so we had to park down the street.

The front told us there would be stroller parking for the "no stroller" part, but there wasn't. That was disppointing. The place isn't really kid-friendly in general as I also heard people complaining about going there to meditate and the kids being too loud.

The energies r so beautifully instilled.Truly Zen magic.peaceful tranquil.souvenir shop to pick gift

The park was ticketed, and walking through it was enjoyable and relaxing, with the wonderful smell of nature, communing with nature, and seeing the scattered small waterfalls, koi fish, and squirrels.

Very expensive for the garden…which is beautiful and well-maintained. Enjoyable experience for our family who loves visiting gardens across the United States.

Lots of uphill walking, some of uneven ground. It is worth the walk. Beautiful gardens, falls, coy ponds and banzai plants along with some artwork in various studios. There is a mini- bus for those who need it. Very serene and peaceful.

Although 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.

We walked up the hill and saw the different gardens they had to offer I enjoyed it but I thought it would take longer to get through. If you need to burn an hour sure but it was a bit expensive.

A little pricey, but enjoyable. I signed up for the tour and lunch at the Umami Cafe.
Gorgeous grounds. Tour guide was very pleasant and knowledgeable. Gift shop full of wonderful "stuff", but not within my budget. If you have time and $$, the cafe is a plus to this experience. Lots of walking - even after the tour there is more to see. There was also a free artwork exhibit. A long line but it moved quickly. Plenty of photo ops.

Truly an amazing experience! Beautiful area ... very peaceful and relaxing. The history of the site is inspirational, and the various walkways / paths offered a sense of delicate environments for visitors. The gardens are located within Washington Park, overlooking the city and urban oasis.

My family enjoyed this experience, and we found ourselves nestled into the various gardens ... simply soaking up our time together and relaxing among the trees and beautiful shrubs.

NOTE: We visited on a cloudy and overcast day. Try to go on a sunny day, as the staff told us that Mount Hood can also be seen from the gardens.

The Japanese garden is beautiful at all times of the year and one of my favorite activities in Portland. It is different, but stunning, in every season, offering a wide variety of experiences that have only improved with recent building additions that blend into the surrounding landscape. On our most recent visits to the garden, we enjoyed making origami decorations for bamboo branches at the Tanabata festival and saw an art show by a Japanese artist who made shoes for Lady Gaga. And did I mention the tea house? The garden itself is as beautifully designed and maintained as many of the gardens we visited in Japan. Highly recommended!

This garden is an oasis of tranquility and calm. It was so breathtaking in the winter that it makes me wonder what it will look like in the spring and summer. I will definitely return. My only negative is the size. I wish it was double the size. Plan on spending at least 90 minutes here.

My wife who has been to many Japanese gardens in Japan said these gardens were amazing. Her all time favorite is the Japanese Gardens in SF, Calif. These gardens were spread over a large area and were so nicely laid out. The tea house was very nice with beautiful windows overlooking the outside.

This is a wonderful Japanese garden with lots to see. Getting into the garden is a bit of an uphill hike, but there is an ADA accessible shuttle for those who need it. At the top is the Cultural Village, which has a small cafe, gift shop, the bonsai terrace, and a small gallery of stunning traditional fukusa textiles.

The main garden areas are lush and beautiful. I particularly enjoyed the Stolling Pond Garden, with its lovely moon bridge and koi. The Natural Garden is a bit hidden and has several small cascades along narrow pathways. Be sure to enjoy the view of Mt. Hood behind the Pavilion Gallery.

I was surprised how calm and tranquil it was on a summer weekday evening. Admission was reasonable, and although parking is not free, it was easy to find a spot and pay. If you enjoy greenery and the outdoors, this is a must-visit spot in Portland.

This is in the top things to do in Portland for a reason. We were unsure with the cost going into the front of the gardens, but by the time we had walked up the path, we were so impressed and both agreed we would have a membership if we lived in Portland. So beautiful and relaxing.

Beautiful, serene Japanese garden. There was an iris display when we visited which also made it special. Beautiful grounds just as you would imagine for this type of attraction. Make sure to visit the rose test garden (free) which is adjacent to it.

This is a beautiful garden, but I don’t think it is as nice as the Japanese Garden in San Francisco. Although you needed a timed entry ticket, and I assume they had reduced capacity, it still felt crowded to me. We didn’t bother with the gift shop because there was a line wrapped around the building as we were entering the garden and a line wrapped around the building as we were leaving the garden. We went on a Friday and I felt like I was either being pushed along by someone behind me or waiting for someone in front of me to take photos. I can’t imagine how crowded it would be during non-Covid times or on a weekend. Many beautiful trees and flowering bushes and it would have been nice to have identifying signs occasionally.

Had a wonderful time exploring this beautiful garden. The admission is around 19.00 per adult and 8.00 for all day parking. The shady trees helped during the warm summer day that we went. This is a good and decent walk; not recommended for strollers and wheelchairs as there are many inclines and stairs. We loved this place. A little piece of heaven in Portland.

We were only able to visit for a little over an hour, but would love to visit again. The trees are very unique.

My wife checked this garden out on line and decided that she wanted to see it. Perhaps she missed it but she did not know how many stairs and rough areas there were. And she has bad knees. She made it up the steep ramp and many stairs to the top but then was only able to see a small part of the garden. I did quickly run around the rougher part and took some photos for her. However, $20 was a lot to spend for her to see almost nothing. Plus, parking was very difficult to find.
I thought that the gardens were OK but not that special.

A unique opportunity to see gardens you don’t see everyday in a peaceful environment. My only negative was a lack of food options, which would make for a better experience.

The Japanese garden is very well designed and featured many aspects of the Japanese gardens. It is a steep walk from the ticket office to access the main entrance. There is a gift shop, tea house and other buildings for demo and exhibitions. The gardens are quite big and it was nice to walk through them discover the different aspects of Japanese gardens.
There is a waterfall and koi pond.
Too bad the cherry blossom aren't blooming yet.

The garden is beautiful and there are quiet corners where you can look around, take breath and relax. Then you turn a corner and do it again. Those small quiet moments, and the mist from a light spring rain that is what I recall when I think of the garden. It is worth every penny!

Not loving this place. Beautiful but not worth charge. Very busy in winter can only imagine how crowded it would be in the summer.

Even at a leisurely pace, the garden only takes an hour or two to walk around, but it is so beautiful and well-designed. It's not nearly as nice or big as some of the gardens in Japan, but it's the best one I've been to in the States so far (and about a thousand times better than the one in Seattle).

Transitional Japanese Garden in America. So many spaces to absorb. A photographer's dream. We saw the change of seasons. So beautiful.

I have read that Portland Japanese garden is the best Japanese garden outside Japan and I will agree with it. Earlier my favorite japanese garden was one in Butchart gardens in Victoria, Canada. It is beautiful very Japanese and has a lot of interesting sections. I lobed small bonsai trees ( there was one small one 500-600 years old), traditional part, part with stones, part with ponds. We enriched our experience with Umami Japanese cafe traditional tea ceremony (need reservation usually).

There are not enough words to describe my reaction, but I will say that this was my first experience with the history and encounter with a Japanese garden. Hence, I'm guessing this was the best place to begin outside of Japan. I left there feeling calm and contemplating the goodwill among humanity that started this all and seemed to continue, especially with the massive undertaking for the upkeep. Well done!!!

The Japanese garden has many Japanese styles building. The garden is big and beautiful, There are also cafe and gift shop in it. The staffs are nice and friendly. Today is a rainy day . It has a special vibe to walk in garden in the rain. I like it very much.

We really had a nice time here. Very relaxing and lots of different things to see. There is also a tea house that I definitely recommend. I didn’t know anything about the tea or how to order, but the staff (Hamp in particular) was very helpful in explaining and making recommendations. If you really wanted to take your time and visit the tea house, give yourself about 4 hours of your trying to estimate how much parking you need.

Great experience. Gardens are beautiful and well manicured. History was provided throughout the walk through. Would recommend to anyone visiting Portland.

Very beautiful place to visit in Portland. We ended up going here in between activities during the weekend and glad we did.

We visited the Japanese Garden on a recent trip to Portland, and were glad we did. Walking around these beautiful, natural, surroundings in a near perfect climate was wonderful and very relaxing. The koi pond here was one of our favorite things with some many large and beautifully colored fish. We would absolutely return if coming back to Portland.

Helpful tip: Combine this with a walk around the free rose garden across the street. Breathtaking...