2025 Fall Colors Tracker

Portland Japanese Garden has begun tracking its fall colors for 2025! Look below for more updated photos and information on how to prepare for this memorable season. Our tracker will start off with weekly updates before increasing in frequency in the coming months.

While factors like temperature, light, and water all affect the onset and duration of fall colors, one can expect to start to see the transformation become more noticeable throughout the month of October.

As a reminder, we encourage people to join Portland Japanese Garden as a member so they can enjoy exclusive hours every morning we’re open, when the grounds are quieter and are easier to photograph.

Become a Member Today

Updated: August 29, 2025

Welcome to the first update of our 2025 Fall Colors Tracker! We look forward to regularly sharing updated images of our landscape as it transitions from the lush greenery of summer into the fiery and royal crimsons and golds of autumn. As one might expect, the landscape is still presenting a very striking array of different greens, though there are some tiny pockets that are previewing the stunning show that awaits.

Red leaves popping up in front of a sweeping path

Strolling Pond Garden. Photo taken 8/29/25.

"The Tree." Photo taken 8/29/25.

Antique Gate. Photo taken 8/29/25.

Entry Garden. Photo taken 8/29/25.

a raked gravel garden with a stone lantern surrounded by pines

Flat Garden. Photo taken 8/29/25.

a deck of a building next to raked gravel and a maple

Flat Garden. Photo taken 8/29/25.

A bird's eye view of a raked gravel garden

Sand and Stone Garden. Photo taken 8/29/25.

Natural Garden. Photo taken 8/29/25.

Natural Garden. Photo taken 8/29/25.

A tall stone lantern next to a short maple tree

Strolling Pond Garden. Photo taken 8/29/25.

A waterfall next to a pond, irises, and small stone lantern.

Strolling Pond Garden. Photo taken 8/29/25.

Strolling Pond Garden. Photo taken 8/29/25.

Strolling Pond Garden. Photo taken 8/29/25.

Tea Garden. Photo taken 8/29/25.

Entry Garden. Photo taken 8/29/25.

Best of 2024

Visitors walk along a garden path lined with Japanese maple trees in peak autumn color, their leaves glowing in shades of red, orange, and yellow at Portland Japanese Garden.

Pathway to the Pavilion. Photo taken 11/8/24.

Autumn view of the Sand and Stone Garden at Portland Japanese Garden, with raked white gravel, moss-covered rocks, and manicured pines framed by brilliant yellow and orange maple trees.

Flat Garden. Photo taken 11/8/24.

A small Japanese maple with bright red leaves arching over a wooden bench, set against a backdrop of lush green shrubs at Portland Japanese Garden.

Bench near the Flat Garden. Photo taken 11/4/24.

Strolling Pond Garden. Photo taken 11/4/24.

Tea House. Photo taken 11/4/24.

Strolling Pond Garden. Photo taken 11/4/24.

"The Tree." Photo taken 11/1/24.

Stone pagoda lantern surrounded by moss, evergreens, and autumn foliage in shades of gold and orange at Portland Japanese Garden.

Sapporo Pagoda Lantern. Photo taken 11/1/24.

A Japanese garden with a stone lantern, green shrubs, and a tree with red autumn leaves beside a gravel pathway.

Overlook, photo taken 10/31/24

Flat Garden. Photo taken 10/28/24.

Two visitors sit on a bench beneath colorful autumn maples at Portland Japanese Garden, surrounded by mossy ground and lush greenery with a tea house in the background.

Pathway to the wisteria arbor. Photo taken 11/8/24.

Strolling Pond Garden. Photo taken 11/6/24.

Entry Garden. Photo taken 11/6/24.

Heavenly Falls. Photo taken 11/6/24.

Garden pathway lined with vibrant orange and red maples at Portland Japanese Garden, with a wooden trellis and tall evergreens rising in the mist.

Wisteria arbor. Photo taken 11/6/24.

Sand and Stone Garden at Portland Japanese Garden, with carefully raked gravel patterns, moss islands, and a golden-yellow tree framed by autumn foliage.

Flat Garden and Pavilion. Photo taken 11/4/24.

Visitation Tips

Arrive Early: Softer morning light makes colors glow, and you’ll find fewer people in your frame. Members get early morning access to the garden during Member Only Hours: 8-10am.
Chase the Light: Midday light often backlights maples beautifully and can give you that iconic starburst effect. After rain, leaves shine brighter, colors are more saturated, and reflections appear in ponds and pathways.
Dress & Pack Smart: Wear layers and sturdy shoes for comfort, and tuck a small lens cloth in your bag to keep your camera ready in any weather.
Tripod Use: Stable shots of waterfalls, streams, or “The Tree” are best with a tripod. Day-use tags and annual Photography Memberships are available through our website or at the Welcome Center.
Frame Creatively: Try low angles under maples, shoot through leaves for natural frames, and capture details as well as wide vistas.
Care for the Garden: Please remain on paths and be mindful when setting up gear so everyone can enjoy the view. We ask that camera accessories, such as tripods, also remain on paths.
Visit Often: Fall colors change daily; a Membership lets you return again and again to experience every stage of the season.
Stay Updated: Check the Fall Colors Tracker for the latest images to help plan your visit.

A Season of Stunning Transformation

In Japan, the transition of seasons is revered for their impermanence. The fleeting nature of Japanese maples reaching peak color only heightens the anticipation of fall. In a part of the world better known for its year-round greenery, once a year, the Pacific Northwest comes to life with exquisite tone and texture. Throughout this season, Portland Japanese Garden is active as the lush, full, and matured trees from the summer transform into their autumn splendor, revealing brilliant shades of red and gold. When fall hits Portland Japanese Garden, it is absolutely stunning.

Plan Your Visit

Japanese garden in autumn with vibrant red, orange, and yellow foliage behind green pines and manicured shrubs, featuring a traditional stone lantern in the foreground.

A Note on Fall Foliage Maintenance: Our gardeners maintain paths and garden spaces year-round, including the use of electric leaf blowers. In autumn, the heavy volume of wet leaves sometimes requires supplemental gas blowers to maintain the beauty of our grounds and provide a safe walking experience for our guests. As environmental stewards, we are committed to reducing the use of these gas-powered tools each year in line within county and city guidelines.

I catch the maple leaf then let it go
– John Wills, American haiku poet

Photographer capturing vibrant red autumn maple leaves with a digital camera, focusing closely on the intricate foliage and dark tree branches in the background.

Photography Membership

Advance Your Photography with Exclusive Access

Are you looking to sell your photographs of the Portland Japanese Garden? Our Photographer Membership is tailored specifically for both professional and amateur photographers. The Photographer membership includes:

Access to special Photographer Member hours, providing a quieter environment with fewer visitors
Permission to sell photographs of the Garden for commercial, advertising, or promotional purposes
Additional membership benefits

Become a Photographer Member!

Frequently Asked Questions

When is peak fall color?

Factors like temperature, light, and water all affect the onset and duration of fall colors. Typically, you can start to see the transformation throughout the month of October through early November.

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Where is “The Tree?” When is the best time to photograph it?

a Japanese maple with orange and red leaves on a dark foggy morning — “The Tree” in Portland Japanese Garden’s Strolling Pond Garden. Photo by David. M. Cobb.

[/caption] “The Tree” is a maple tree on the northern end of the Strolling Pond Garden. Among the many trees donated to Portland Japanese Garden throughout its history, The Tree became a beloved subject of photographers from all around the world when a Portland resident, physician Fred An, won a merit award from National Geographic for his shot of it in peak fall glory. Another image of The Tree was featured in an exhibition in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. Ever since, visitors and photographers alike have traveled great distances to see “The Tree” in-person. We ask that all guests be respectful of others and limit the amount of time spent at The Tree and avoid blocking it or the path leading to the occasion when the Garden experiences a sunny autumn day, the sun typically back lights the tree in late morning and through mid-afternoon.

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I’m traveling from out of state – when should I plan my visit?

Typically, we see fall color from mid-to-late October to early November. Planning a trip within this time frame should provide some fall color, but we cannot predict when peak color will be or what exactly the foliage will be like at any given time. If possible, plan a longer trip and visit often so you can experience changes over time.

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What are the policies around photography in the Garden?

We are honored that professionals and amateurs alike find inspiration at Portland Japanese Garden. To keep the Garden an accessible and enjoyable experience for all visitors, please be considerate when photographing our landscape by following these policies: Please do not block garden views, pathways, or elements for extended periods. The Garden does not allow portrait photography (e.g., engagement, wedding, graduation, or headshot photos). There is a $10.00/person charge for using a tripod for anyone who is not a Garden Member.

The best way to take photographs of Portland Japanese Garden is with a Photography Membership, learn more about the benefits of this level here.

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