With five distinct garden styles, the Japanese Garden in Portland, Ore., has something for everyone. The 5.5-acre site was created in the 1960s when the mayor of Portland and business leaders decided they wanted a traditional Japanese Garden after an upswing of interest in the culture due to a new sister-city of Sapporo, Japan. Visitors can wander through the Strolling Pond Garden, the Tea Garden, the Natural Garden, the Flat Garden, and the Sand and Stone Garden. There are also formal tea ceremonies periodically at the Tea House, a structure created in Japan then reassembled in the Tea Garden. Special events at the garden in April include the Hana Matsuri Flower Festival and Ikebana Exhibition on April 5 and 6, and the Hokkaido Pottery Society Exhibition April 11 through 20. The garden is open 10
a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, and noon to 7 p.m. Mondays through Sept. 30. For more information, including directions, admission prices and the photography policy, visit www.japanesegarden.com.
