Portland Japanese Garden

While the Portland Japanese Garden is a popular place for tourists, it's also a favorite for Portland residents as it's located right in Washington Park close to trails and across from the Rose Garden. The Japanese Garden also just unveiled its Cultural Crossing expansion in April 2017, which included 3.4 more acres to the garden and modern buildings designed by famous architect Kengo Kuma. The buildings house a learning center, the Garden House and the Umami Cafe, a tea house. 

The garden has been open since 1967 and has been called among the "most authentic Japanese garden, including those in Japan," by Japanese ambassador to the U.S. Nobuo Matsunaga. This is impressive given that most traditional Japanese gardens normally take hundreds of years to evolve and mature.

The garden is about nine acres large with a few main paths snaking through it. There are 8 gardens: strolling pond, nature garden, stand and stone, flat garden, tea garden, entry garden, bonsai terrace and the Tsubo-Niwa. 

The park is open from 10 am to 7 pm in the spring/summer and 10 am to 4 pm in the fall/winter. Adult admission is $14.95, you can buy tickets there or online. But check their website to be sure of hours and entrance fees. There's paid street and lot parking around the gardens, as well as a shuttle. If you drive and its a weekend, come early because this is a busy place.