Finding Serenity in the Japanese Garden of Portland, Oregon
78The Japanese Garden of Portland, Oregon can be found in Washington Park and if one wishes to find serenity, this beautifully designed garden will provide the perfect place.
Vacationing one summer with my mother and niece, we had hoped to escape some of Houston's summer heat. So we planned a trip to Oregon which is in the Northwest part of the United States thinking that we would enjoy some cooler temperatures for our two week stay.
Alas!...a headline in The Oregonian which is the Portland, Oregon's newspaper read the following on August 4, 1987: "August sun roasts Oregonians..."
Despite some record breaking heat we started our sightseeing and were delighted to find the soothing and restful grounds of Portland's Japanese Garden.
Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon
- Portland Japanese Garden
Portland Japanese Garden
Even if the day was hotter than normal, walking through a garden filled with design elements including (but not limited to) artistically placed rocks, plants and trees of varying heights and color hues, shimmering fish in the tranquil ponds of water and other discoveries, it engaged us in something so enjoyable that the heat was almost forgotten.
There are five distinct garden styles within the Japanese Garden and the Strolling Pond Garden is one that is aptly named.
Portland, Oregon Japanese Garden
Portland's Japanese Garden
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The bridge pictured in these first three photos in the Strolling Pond Garden is called The Moon Bridge and was constructed from a typical Japanese design.
Wandering through this Strolling Pond Garden which is the largest of the five gardens within the Japanese Garden, the water reflections bounce back distorted images of the surrounding plants, rocks and even passing clouds in the sky. This provides great subject matter for plein air painters or photographers who wish to freeze some of these delightful images in place for remembering at a later date.
- 7 Photographs from the Japanese Gardens, Portland, Ore...the Camera's Best Friend!
Japanese Garden...Koi Fish Pond It's a beautiful August afternoon in Portland and I have one ticket to the Japanese Gardens. My husband suggests we use it today! Only one ticket to buy and heaven awaits. ...
Portland, Oregon / Japanese Garden
The crane in the photo above is a typical sculpture found in Japanese Gardens no matter where in the world the gardens are located. It seems to fit in nicely with this aquatic setting.
Crane birds
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Views / Japanese Garden / Portland, Oregon
The Flat Garden
In gardens like this the sand is carefully raked into patterns symbolizing waves in the sea and not a footprint is to be seen by the people who carefully instill these designs into the sand.
Professor P. Takuma Tono was the designer of Portland's Japanese Garden and the five distinct areas within the garden. He is internationally recognized as being an expert in Japanese garden designs and Portland's Japanese Garden (of all the hundreds in the world outside of Japan) ranks at the top in authenticity.
This Flat Garden was next to the Garden Pavilion of which I did not take a photo. The Pavilion is generally used for Japanese type events as well as Society functions. It is not typically open to the public.
On the East side of the Pavilion a panoramic view of the City of Portland as well as the snow capped Mount Hood can be seen from this elevated position. What a spectacular view!
View of Portland, Oregon from Japanese Garden
Japanese Garden / Portland, OR
The Natural Garden
In this portion of the garden one discovers small waterfalls splashing into streams of water with colorful fish swimming in the company of one another.
Trails lead one under native trees which form a protective canopy of shade for the ferns and mosses which thrive in this environment.
Other colorful shrubs and flowers as well as the occasional sculpture add punctuation marks to this serene setting.
Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon
- Japanese Garden, Portland - Things to Do - VirtualTourist
Japanese Garden reviews and photos from real travelers and locals in Portland, OR.
The other two gardens within the main Japanese Garden are called the Sand and Stone Garden and Tea Garden.
Portland's Japanese Garden sits on only five and a half acres which is not particularly large, but one is invited to linger...perhaps even meditate...in all of the various settings within this invitingly scenic garden.
Japanese Garden
Japanese sand and stone gardens
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Japanese tea gardens
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Japanese Garden / Portland, Oregon
Japanese Garden - Portland
Blossoms on trees, shrubs and flowers would make visiting Portland's Japanese Garden a treat for the senses and would offer variety from season to season.
I can just imagine the gorgeous colors of the azalea bushes in the Spring of the year or the multitudes of irises in bloom in early Summer and the spectacular colored Fall leaves which would adorn this garden! Winter, of course, would serve up its special kind of pristine beauty.
We were on a tour of the city and while sufficient time was certainly allotted for enjoyment of the Japanese Garden, my mother, niece and I had to keep up with our tour group in moving throughout the grounds.
Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon
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Portland Japanese Garden on the Travel Channel
Finding serenity in the Japanese Garden of Portland, Oregon would not be a difficult task. Hopefully you enjoyed this look at some of the beauty that we enjoyed on that day many years ago via these photos.
Would you wish to spend some time in this lovely garden?
See results without votingPortland, Oregon
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Portland, Oregon
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Thank you for the inspiration! I added this post to my Speaking of Serenity round up! http://blisshabits.com/?p=3823
Hello mljdgulley354,
Hope that you and your husband get to enjoy the Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon together soon sharing the experience. It is so lovely and such a great setting overlooking the city from high atop a hill. Thanks for your comment.
I'm so glad I came across this hub. I visited the Japanese Gardens in Portland with my family when the kids were very young. Since moving back to Oregon, this is one place I want to share with my husband
Hello trimar7,
Thanks for commenting on this hub about the Japanese Garden of Portland, Oregon and glad that you found the pictures enjoyable.
Gorgeous gardens. Beautiful pics - thank you for sharing.
Hello huggy3760,
Happy to hear that you enjoyed this hub about the Japanese Garden of Portland, Oregon. I've always enjoyed visiting beautiful gardens when traveling or even staying close to home. Thanks for your comment.
A very interesting well put together hub.
Greetings sirrot,
Took a look and have already linked your great photos and hub to this one about the Japanese Garden in Portland. Thanks for commenting!
What wonderful information. I will link to this page. I posted a hub with my photos taken last week. Take a look.
I agree with you, FirstStepsFitness. Portland's Japanese Garden is surely that!
Beautiful garden !
Hi epigramman,
Hahaha! No Geisha girls were spotted serving warmed saki rice wine in Portland's Japanese Garden the day that we visited. Maybe on special occasions? I suppose anything is possible! :-)
..lovely pictures you have put together ..... although I find my serenity through your hubs - and now that I've found a Japanese garden - I have the best of both worlds!!
So bring on the warm saki rice wine and my favorite Geisha girl!
Hi prasetio,
Japanese Gardens do seem to portray a certain feeling of calmness and serenity. This one in Portland, Oregon is a beauty and apparently very authentic. Thanks for the visit.
I always like Japanese Garden. I contain great philosophy about life. I am glad when it combine with beautiful pond, stone and other instrument which show that this was really Japanese garden. Nice pictures, I love it. I vote this Up.
Hi billyaustindillon,
...and the Rose Garden and Miller Outdoor Theatre, plus the public golf course. All of this is in the same vacinity in Houston just north of the Texas Medical Center in Hermann Park for those who might not know. Houston is a great city! Slightly off topic since this is about the Japanese Garden of Portland, Oregon which we really enjoyed visiting while on vacation. :-)
Yes it a great day out that the zoo and the new train ride around the park also with the museum of natural science nearby.
Hi billyaustindillon,
Glad you liked this Japanese Garden hub from Portland, Oregon. As to the Japanese Garden in Houston...I've been there several times and will visit it again in the future...especially with out-of-town company who may wish to see it.
Gorgeous Peggy - you do put together some great travel hubs. Have you spent much time at the Japanese gardens at Hermann Park?
Hi Deerwhisperer,
Had you visited the Japanese Garden in Portland since you lived nearby? I totally agree with you that Oregon is a beautiful state! Thanks for the visit.
What a beautiful garden! I used to live near Portland and thought it was a beautiful state.
Thanks jasper420,
Prayer and meditation would be a natural in the Japanese Garden in Portland. I agree...it is beautiful.
Beautiful pics i would love to go there and pray it looks so peacefull and you did such a great job with this hub
Hi suny51,
Glad you liked this hub about the Japanese Garden in Portland. We were introduced to it and other sites on a city tour of Portland, Oregon. When on vacations we generally did take tours as a matter of course when in a new place. After a tour, one can go back and spend more time in areas one enjoyed if time permits. Thanks for the comment.
Peggy I am really impressed with this japanese garden and the way you have presented it,beautiful as always.Thanks for sharing.
Greetings kgnature,
Nice to see you visiting here and I am happy that you considered these pictures from the Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon a treat. Thanks for the comment.
Nice pictures. I'm on the east coast and not likely to find an opportunity to visit, but your pictures are a treat.
Hello heymcs,
Happy to hear that viewing and reading about Portland's Japanese Garden was "just what the doctor ordered" for you this morning. Glad I could fill that particular prescription. :-)
Hi Mike,
So you have relatives in the area. Can I join your family as a member? Haha! Even though we had to see Portland and more of Oregon as tourists, it left lasting memories of its beauty. Glad to hear that you liked these pictures of the Japanese Garden. It ALMOST made us forget the heat! (Actually we are used to the summer heat living in Houston...just wished to escape it for our two week stay).
Peggy, Your hub was just what the doctor ordered for me this morning. I needed some beauty & serenity in my life and your hub (and those beautiful pics) did it. Thank you again for sharing your special adventures with us. Next time I am out west, I'd love to visit The Japanese Garden.
I had to chuckle when you started out by mentioning you visited Oregon during a heat wave. This beautiful place you saw could easily make one forget the heat. The bridges were beautiful, and the scenery was as well. I have some relatives in the area--might be time for a visit.
Oh, and as always, your photography was tremendous.
Mike
Hello Lee B,
When you visit the Japanese Garden in Portland, be sure and also visit the Rose Garden nearby. It is also a beauty.
Hello Om Paramapoonya,
Very nice to hear such positive comments about this Japanese Garden hub from Portland, Oregon. Thanks!
Your photos are so beautiful! I can hardly wait to visit Portland now. I'm not that far away, just don't know when I can get away, but I'm definitely motivated. Great hub!
What a gorgeous place! Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures, videos as well as your wonderful experience with us, Peggy. :)
Hi Micky Dee,
Glad to hear that you enjoyed this look at the pictures and videos of the Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon. Thanks for the comment.
Very nice gardens. I enjoyed the videos and your pictures! Thanks Peggy!
Hello Sally's Trove,
My husband and I have also visited the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco. Beautiful spot! Thanks for commenting about the Japanese Garden in Portland. With a world-wide rating of being the number 1 most authentic outside of Japan, it is well worth a visit!
Hi dahoglund,
You are always so complimentary! Thanks! Heading over to your Black Hawk hub now.
Greetings KoffeeKlatch Gals,
Love the name you have chosen! I used to enjoy doing that with some neighbors we had in Wisconsin way back in the 1970's. Fun!
Glad you liked these pictures of the Japanese Garden in Portland, and yes, I feel fortunate that we got to visit them. Thanks for the comment.
Hi Hello, hello,
Thanks for viewing the pictures of the Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon and commenting. Do you have any Japanese Gardens in your part of the world that you have visited?
Peggy, thank you for the lovely tour. It brought back memories of living in California and visiting the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco. I never ventured as far north as Portland, but should I some day, this beautiful Japanese garden you describe in words and pictures will be a destination.
You always do an excellent hub on scenic places. An essay of words and pictures.
I did a hub on Black Hawk if it interest you.
The Japanese looks beautiful and serenehow lucky you are to have visited it. Great pictures.
Thank you for your glorious pictures of a beautiful garden.
Hi nifty@50,
Your grandfather's house must have been beautiful indeed if it reminded you of the Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon! I am impressed! Thanks for the comment.
These pictures reminded me of my Grandfather's house! In his back yard, he had 20ft bamboo growing around his fence, for complete privacy and two large Gold fish ponds.
Peggy W Hub Author 5 months ago
Hi Kathy Sprinkle,
Thank you for adding this post regarding the Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon to your blog. Appreciate it!