PORTLAND, Ore.—September 5, 2023— Now celebrating its 60th anniversary, Portland Japanese Garden, has been proclaimed the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan by multiple visiting Japanese dignitaries. With a symphonic medley of verdant greens, the Garden invites year-round serenity through the contemplative tranquility of nature. However, autumn is a special time of year when Portland Japanese Garden is transformed into a stunning display of crimsons and golds. This vibrant scene will be complemented by some exciting events available this fall, including:
- 60th Anniversary Celebration: Founded in 1963 and opened to the public in 1967, Portland Japanese Garden has inspired peace and harmony for several generations with its lush and serene spaces. In Japanese culture, year 60 (kanreki) is seen as the beginning of a new chapter, or a rebirth, and is filled with hope and possibilities. The organization will celebrate this momentous occasion with a celebration on September 17th in the Garden. More details will be made available here.
- Art in the Garden: On September 24th, Portland Japanese Garden debuts its newest art exhibition, Takahiro Iwasaki: Nature of Perception. It will feature the work of Japan Institute Artist-in-Residence Takahiro Iwasaki, an acclaimed artist who gained recognition when he represented Japan at the 2017 Venice Biennale: an exposition often described as the Olympics of the art world. His work will feature a combination of an architecturally accurate model of a historic Japanese site alongside intricate sculptures crafted from everyday materials.
- “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 that people travel here from across the world to wait in queue to capture its timeless beauty.
“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. Our website will be posting regular updates so visitors can plan their trips accordingly: japanesegarden.org/fall-2023.
Portland Japanese Garden is open Wednesday-Monday and closed Tuesdays. Adult admission is $21.95, $18.95 for seniors (65+), $17.95 for students with ID, $15.95 for youths aged 6-17. Children under five are free. Tickets can be purchased at tickets.japanesegarden.org.
Digital Assets:
Autumn Photos of Portland Japanese Garden (photo credit in file name).
Media Contact:
Will Lerner | Communications Specialist | 503-542-9351 | wlerner@japanesegarden.org
About Portland Japanese Garden:
Portland Japanese Garden is a nonprofit organization founded in 1963 as a place for cross-cultural understanding following World War II. A hallmark in the City of Portland and the state of Oregon, 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 among the foremost Japanese cultural organizations in the world.