Fall Colors at the Portland Japanese Garden

Photo by Adam Sawyer

Autumn has descended upon the city of roses, and it’s time to celebrate one of the Pacific Northwest’s finest seasons. It’s time for brisk air, football, pumpkin lattes, fall markets, and of course, time to get out and enjoy those changing colors. Topping pretty much every list for best places to view fall color is the Portland Japanese Garden. October and November are perhaps the most breathtaking months of the year to see the Garden, when a multitude of native and Japanese trees put on a stunning fall color display.

Photo by Adam Sawyer

Whether you visit with your sweetie for a romantic walk, journey alone for some peaceful meditation, or bring the family for a day of adventuring, the Japanese Garden is one of the most unique places to spend an afternoon. Kiddos are even provided with a special map of the Garden’s five distinct areas. There are a number of small statues and landmarks listed throughout the area to find while they explore. The objects range from easy to difficult to spot, though all can be found from the main trail.

Visit the Garden’s Hours & Admission page to check current pricing and hours of operation.

Photo by Adam Sawyer

Accessibility by bus:

Monday through Friday only:

SW Kingston & Japanese Garden Northbound: Stop ID 3276 – 0.07 miles away, Served by line 63
SW Fairview & Kingston Eastbound: Stop ID 1633 – 0.09 miles away, Served by lines 63, 83

Daily service, if you don’t mind walking about a mile:

W Burnside & NW 23rd Westbound: Stop ID 755 – 0.01 miles away • Served by lines 15, 18, 20
W Burnside & SW St Clair Eastbound: Stop ID 718 – 0.06 miles away • Served by lines 15, 18, 20

For easy trip planning assistance, visit TriMet.org and enter your starting location and the Garden’s address (611 SW Kingston Ave.) for a detailed trip itinerary.

Photo by Adam Sawyer