Final Fall Color Update: November 15, 2022
These photos of Portland Japanese Garden were taken the morning of Tuesday, November 15 and marks the conclusion of our updates on our fall colors. While peak fall has passed and the red maples have become more muted, the golds of the Garden are still vibrant and illuminate the paths. We recommend scheduling your visit this week to see the last bits of our autumn splendor before the Garden transforms into its serene winter landscape.
The Strolling Pond Garden. Photo taken 11/15/22. 
The Flat Garden. Photo taken 11/15/22. The Flat Garden. Photo taken 11/15/22. The Flat Garden. Photo taken 11/15/22. The Flat Garden. Photo taken 11/15/22. The Antique Gate in the Entry Garden. Photo taken 11/15/22. Untitled work from Garden of Resonance: The Art of Jun Kaneko in the Atsuhiko and Ina Goodwin Tateuchi Foundation Courtyard. Photo taken 11/15/22. A wooden lantern on the path to the Pavilion. Photo taken 11/15/22. A view from underneath the Wisteria Arbor. Photo taken 11/15/22. Looking through giants to the Moon Bridge. Photo taken 11/15/22. The Sapporo Pagoda Lantern. Photo taken 11/15/22. The Wisteria Arbor. Photo taken 11/15/22. The path to the Wisteria Arbor. Photo taken 11/15/22. A red pine catching sunlight above the tiled roof of the Nezu Gate. Photo taken 11/15/22. An untitled piece from Garden of Resonance: The Art of Jun Kaneko on the East Veranda. Photo taken 11/15/22. The East Veranda next to the Pavilion. Photo taken 11/15/22. Jizo sits on the mossy hillside of the Natural Garden. Photo taken 11/15/22. The Heavenly Falls of the Strolling Pond Garden. Photo taken 11/15/22. Untitled work from Garden of Resonance: The Art of Jun Kaneko in the Strolling Pond Garden. Photo taken 11/15/22. The path between the Strolling Pond Garden and Tea Garden. Photo taken 11/15/22. The Entry Garden. Photo taken 11/15/22.
Scenes from 2022’s Autumn Splendor
“The Tree,” one of the most photographed trees in the world, in the Strolling Pond Garden. Photo taken 11/8/22. A maple in the Flat Garden. Photo taken 11/9/22. The Zig-Zag Bridge in the Strolling Pond Garden. Photo taken 11/8/22. Looking through the doors of the Pavilion out into the Flat Garden. Photo taken 11/7/22. The Flat Garden, with the deck of the Pavilion on the right. Photo taken 11/7/22. The koto-ji lantern in the Strolling Pond Garden. Photo taken 11/4/22. A maple frames untitled work from Garden of Resonance: The Art of Jun Kaneko on the East Veranda. Photo taken 11/4/22. The Wisteria Arbor. Photo taken 11/3/22. The deck of the Umami Café peers out over this view of green and gold. Photo taken 11/3/22. A maple on the outer edge of the Flat Garden. Photo taken 11/3/22. A slightly different angle looking at “The Tree,” one of the most photographed trees in the world, in the Strolling Pond Garden. Photo taken 11/8/22. On the East Veranda next to the Pavilion, an untitled piece from our final exhibition of 2022, Garden of Resonance: The Art of Jun Kaneko. Photo taken 11/8/22. Untitled work in our final art exhibition of 2022, Garden of Resonance: The Art of Jun Kaneko in the Atsuhiko and Ina Goodwin Tateuchi Foundation Courtyard. Photo taken 10/26/22. A maple bonsai on the Ellie M. Hill Bonsai Terrace. Photo taken 10/24/22. Autumn coloring on leaves soaking in the sun on the East Veranda. Photo taken 10/19/22. Bonsai on the Ellie M. Hill Bonsai Terrace. Photo taken 10/19/22. Jizo sits in shadow in the Natural Garden. Photo taken 11/8/22. A stone lantern on the East Veranda. Photo taken 11/7/22.
Autumn in Portland Japanese Garden
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.
While factors like temperature, light, and water all affect the onset and duration of fall colors, you can start to see the transformation throughout the month of October. Visit often to see Portland Japanese Garden transform throughout the season.
Fall Color Status Updates
We’ll be updating this space to inform our visitors about the status of our fall colors. Make sure to check back here and to follow us on Instagram!
These photographs below were taken in 2021 and may help give a sense of what is to come in 2022.
Moon Bridge (Oct. 26. 2021) On the path to the Strolling Pond Garden (Oct. 26. 2021) Strolling Pond Garden from the Moon Bridge (Oct. 26. 2021) Strolling Pond Garden (Oct. 26. 2021) Strolling Pond (Oct. 26. 2021) Natural Garden (Oct. 26. 2021) 
Our “famous tree”, the lace leaf maple at our Strolling Pond Garden (Oct. 22. 2021) Flat Garden (Oct. 22. 2021) Strolling Pond Garden (Oct. 22. 2021) Antique Gate in the Entry Garden (Oct. 19. 2021) 
On the Ellie M. Hill Bonsai Terrace (Oct. 19. 2021) View of the Strolling Pond Garden (Oct. 19. 2021) Entering the Strolling Pond Garden from the wisteria arbor (Oct. 19. 2021) Maple tree near the Pavilion (Oct. 19. 2021) Near the wisteria arbor (Oct. 19. 2021) A lace leaf Japanese maple near the exit of the Strolling Pond Garden (Oct. 19. 2021) Sapporo Pagoda lantern (Oct. 19. 2021) Maple leaves outside of the Pavilion (Oct. 19. 2021) A view from the path leading down to the Heavenly Falls and Lower Pond (Oct. 19. 2021) On the pathway leading down to the Heavenly Falls and Lower Pond (Oct. 19. 2021) Strolling Pond Garden (Oct. 19. 2021) Looking out at the Harp Tuner Lantern in the Strolling Pond Garden (Oct. 19. 2021) The Upper Pond in the Strolling Pond Garden (Oct. 19. 2021) 
The famous lace leaf Japanese maple (Oct. 19. 2021) Entering the Flat Garden from the Strolling Pond Garden (Oct. 19. 2021) The famous lace leaf Japanese maple (Oct. 19. 2021) Mushrooms growing near the Sapporo Pagoda Lantern (Oct. 19. 2021) Mushrooms growing near the Sapporo Pagoda Lantern (Oct. 19. 2021)
Fall Foliage and Maintenance: In order to maintain our paths and preserve the Garden environment and the level of cleanliness and grooming expected by all our members and visitors, our gardeners perform necessary maintenance, including the use of leaf blowers. In the fall, leaf blower use may increase in the mornings when the Garden is open.
“Seasons are the manifestation of the passage of time”
– Diane Durston, Curator Emerita
Videos
KGW NEWS
KGW NEWSKGW spotlights fall color and the significance of seasonal change at Portland Japanese Garden in 2019.
THE REGISTER-GUARD
THE REGISTER-GUARDThis segment highlights the serenity of the fall season with soothing music and beautiful captures of fall color.
PORTLAND JAPANESE GARDEN, FALL SPLENDOR TIMELAPSE
See the Garden transform before your eyes with this timelapse of stunning foliage.
AUTUMN AT THE PORTLAND JAPANESE GARDEN: AN HDSERENESCAPES PRODUCTION
AUTUMN AT THE PORTLAND JAPANESE GARDEN: AN HDSERENESCAPES PRODUCTIONSee the Garden’s most iconic views transformed from verdant summer foliage to vibrant, warm hues.
Must Visit Spots for Fall
Planning a road trip to admire fall foliage in the Pacific Northwest? Find your guides for local or regional fall-focused excursions.
TRAVEL OREGON
TRAVEL OREGONGUIDE TO FALL FOLIAGE IN OREGON
THRILLIST
THRILLISTTHE MOST BEAUTIFUL FALL FOLIAGE WITHIN DRIVING DISTANCE OF PORTLAND
TRAVEL PORTLAND
TRAVEL PORTLANDPORTLAND’S BEST SPOTS FOR FALL COLOR
Photographer Membership
Portland Japanese Garden Photographer Memberships are designed especially for professional and amateur photographers and include all the benefits of membership, including invitations to special Photographer Member hours, permission to sell photographs of the Garden for commercial, advertising, or promotional purposes, and more! Learn about the value of these photo memberships ahead of this picturesque seasonal time.