By Will Lerner
At the beginning of 2026, and after a series of events that had created a sense of unease in its home city, Portland Japanese Garden made the decision to offer free admission from 1:30 to 3:30pm on Friday, January 9 and Saturday, January 10 with the hopes that it might help bring calm and compassion to its community.
In a note sent to its newsletter subscribers, the organization noted, “Portland Japanese Garden strongly believes that through nature, culture, and the arts, one can cultivate inner peace that can then ripple to others. Whether it’s roaming our winding paths, hearing the soothing sounds of babbling water, taking in our inspiring art exhibition, or simply being in the Garden, we hope that you’ll join us and find comfort and solace here.”
On Saturday, I chatted with some of the people who were visiting us during this time to learn why they honored us with their presence.
Finding Something Bright
While some guests I spoke with weren’t aware of the free admission being offered, many decided to make an afternoon of it when they heard about it.
“I was the one who asked if [my fellow guests] would come with me to the Portland Japanese Garden,” one new member, Tina shared. “I feel it’s very peaceful here. Honestly, in all seasons, in rainy seasons, it’s so beautiful. … I feel like it’s a healing place. We’re all dealing with different ailments in our lives and it’s just very nice. It’s a very harmonious place.”
Related: Learn How to Become a Member of Portland Japanese Garden
“I saw it on the website,” a guest named Raiza shared. “Free is a plus, but I also wanted to see what’s changed and take stock of what’s happening and try to find something bright in a time where a lot of unrest is happening. I asked my friend to come with me, and she said sure.”
A Very Good Vibe
“It’s just absolutely beautiful with how it’s set up,” shared Khaled, a guest who hadn’t been aware of the free admission being offered. “I grew up here in Portland, but I live in Denver right now. …Any time that I’m back home, it’s like, ‘Ok, let me go see what’s crazy cool about where I grew up. And I can see [the Garden]…the landscaping is fantastic. Mt. Hood, looking fantastic. …This is the spot. Any time I’m in Portland, I might as well go to the place that’s my favorite place in the city.”
“I like coming to walk around the Japanese garden whenever I can,” shared Austin, who was joining his friend Khaled on the outing. “It’s a nice spot to come sit and just think for a while. It’s a very good vibe. I would say a lot of people come here for the tranquility and the calm atmosphere. I feel like a lot of people are very intentional with the way that they act when they’re here—they know why they’re here and why others are as well.”
Enhancing Peace and Reflection
“This is maybe our fourth time here, we moved here recently,” a new Portland resident named Nicole shared. “When we came here the first time, we were like, ‘Wow, this is beautiful. It’s so serene.’”
“Everything was designed with a lot of intention and thought,” shared her partner, Errol. “It fine tunes our senses—paying attention the sounds, like the ripple of the water, or noticing how each little piece here is very curated. That quiets our mind.”
“We’re visiting Portland for our anniversary, just over from Seattle,” shared Lili, a visitor from Seattle. “We just really wanted to see the Garden because we’ve never been here.”
“There’s a calmness and serenity you can feel just walking through,” offered Leo, the other half of the happy couple.
“For our anniversary, it’s a time to reflect on the past year of life with each other and hopes for the future,” Lili concluded. “Being in a place that enhances that peace and reflection feels fitting.”
Inspiring Harmony and Peace
“Portland Japanese Garden is a place where people can find calm, connection, and peace; we want to be that needed resource for the community at a time like this,” concludes Lisa Christy, Executive Director. “On Sunday, we continued with the festivities of O-Shogatsu [Japanese New Year] where our team hosted wonderful activities to help share this important Japanese holiday. Learning and celebrating one another is the heart of what connects us as humans and I’m so proud to work at a place that does this every day.”
Will Lerner serves as Marketing and Communications Manager for Portland Japanese Garden.
