PDX - Japanese Gardens
For those of you who don’t know, Portland, Oregon is recognized as home to the best Japanese Gardens in the world outside of Japan.
Wow.
People travel from all over the world to see these gardens. So how had I lived in Oregon for 24 YEARs and not visited? Yeah, I’m not sure either. It's rather embarrassing actually.
Well, for my 25th birthday I decided to rectify this travesty of a situation. I packed up my camera, shoved my feet into my very much loved Nike Huaraches, and scooted along over to Portland’s West Hills.
Now Portland LOVES to hide things - It’s part of the magic you see. The best spots, be it food, beer, or entertainment seem to truly integrate with the fabric of the city, nestled away. One does not simply visit Portland; you discover it. The Japanese Gardens of course lived up to this expectation.
The journey up to the north edge of Washington Park is a lush and windy one through the forest, where visitors arrive at the base of a hill. Unfortunately things are a little less than picturesque right now at the base due to the construction of the new visitor’s pavilion. However, it’s all good people because it just so happens that the new pavilion is a design collaboration between Kengo Kuma(!) and Hacker (Previously THA Architects). This will be Kengo Kuma’s first public commission in the U.S. and hoooboy am I excited. The expansion has an expected completion date of April 1, 2017, so get ready architecture nerds.
Japanese gardens aim to “sculpt nature.” Everything is curated, everything is thought out. And yet, it feels natural. Water, stone, and plant intertwine throughout the five separate gardens. It’s an idealized nature. And let me tell you, it is STUNNING. If you're traveling to Portland, these gardens are an absolute must on your "things to do" list.
{Pro Tips }
I recommend either driving, or a combination of taking the MAX and walking. Good luck with biking.
The closest parking is about a 5 minute walk up a hill – maybe don’t wear heels? Of course, they do offer a shuttle service, but seriously, ascending this hill is part of the experience.
Go either early in the day, or towards the end. The softer light filtering through the trees makes everything just that much more magical.
Check out their website before you visit (http://japanesegarden.com/) It’s incredibly well thought out, detailed with visitor information, up to date events, and some light history about the gardens.
