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The Brilliant Autumn Colors of Portland Japanese Garden

From 2019: A Japanese lace leaf maple. Photo by Rebecca Saltonstall.

PORTLAND, Ore.—October 26, 2022— Portland Japanese Garden, the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan is known for its serenity-inducing shades of green. However, autumn is a special time of year when the Garden is transformed into a stunning display of color.

  • Art in the Garden: On October 1st, Portland Japanese Garden debuted its final art exhibition of 2022, Garden of Resonance: The Art of Jun Kaneko. Kaneko’s famously large and evocative outdoor ceramic statues are installed across Portland Japanese Garden, creating a stunning juxtaposition with fiery maples.
  • “The” Tree: From award-winning photography in National Geographic to the photo album on your smart phone, the Japanese Maple in our Strolling Pond Garden has become one of the most beloved trees of shutterbugs in North America. It is so popular people wait in to capture its timeless beauty.
  • Repeat Visits are Rewarded: Portland Japanese Garden’s hilly topography means each tree in the garden has its own “moment in the sun” and progresses towards autumn splendor on its own timeline. So literally and philosophically, you won’t get the same view twice throughout the month of October. We recommend Garden memberships so people can enjoy their stroll during special member hours, when it’s less crowded.
  • Take Your Time: The Garden’s meandering paths force you to stroll slowly and notice the exquisite colors, and textures in each of the eight different garden spaces. Says Chief Curator Sadafumi Uchiyama, “Autumn is like the last bit of excitement and you enjoy the last minutes of nature before things slow down.”
From 2013: The Moon Bridge surrounded by fall colors. Photo by Roman Johnston.

“Peak Fall,” when the leaves have reached the full potential of their display, is never the same time each year. While the City of Portland is vibrant and full of colors, Portland Japanese Garden takes just a few weeks longer to reach peak color, which typically lands in the last two weeks of October. In 2022, with an unseasonably warm beginning to fall, we have seen colors emerge later than in years past. Our website will be posting regular updates so visitors can plan their trips accordingly.

Portland Japanese Garden is open Wednesday-Monday and closed Tuesdays. Adult admission is $19.95, $16.95 for seniors (65+), $15.95 for students with ID, $13.95 for youths aged 6-17. Children under five are free. Tickets can be purchased at tickets.japanesegarden.org.

From 2017: The Flat Garden. Photo by Bruce Forster.

Autumn Photos of Portland Japanese Garden (photo credit in file name)

Media Contact:    

Will Lerner | 503-542-9351 | wlerner@japanesegarden.org

About Portland Japanese Garden:  

Portland Japanese Garden is a nonprofit organization originally founded in 1963 as a place for cross-cultural understanding following World War II. A hallmark in the City of Portland, the Garden was founded on the ideals of peace and mutual understanding between peoples and cultures. Portland Japanese Garden is considered the most authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan and the foremost Japanese cultural organization in North America.