Portland Japanese Garden, Portland (must see)

Portland Japanese Garden occupies a wooded hillside and was created to strengthen cultural understanding between Japan and the United States after the Second World War. Professor Takuma Tono of Tokyo Agricultural University designed the original landscape, combining several Japanese garden traditions on one site. The garden opened to the public in 1967 on land once occupied by a zoo.

Its eight garden spaces show different approaches to arranging water, stone, plants and open space. The Strolling Pond Garden includes ponds, waterfalls, bridges and carefully placed rocks, while the Flat Garden uses raked gravel, clipped greenery and moss to form a restrained composition. The Tea Garden follows a quieter path through lanterns and stepping stones, and the Sand and Stone Garden relies on rock groupings and empty space rather than colourful planting.

Among the historic structures is the Kashintei Tea House, constructed in Japan in 1968, transported in separate pieces and reassembled within the garden. Visitors also pass through an antique wooden gate believed to be about 200 years old and originally brought from Sapporo. The Pavilion presents exhibitions of Japanese art, while the nearby bonsai terrace displays carefully trained miniature trees.

The Cultural Village, opened in 2017, was designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. Its low buildings, planted roofs and courtyard were planned to fit into the surrounding forest rather than dominate it. This area hosts craft demonstrations, performances and seasonal programmes, alongside a gallery, library, shop and café. Maples, cherry trees, moss and native vine maples give the grounds a different appearance in every season.