Portland, Oregon
It has been eight years since I have had the pleasure of visiting the Japanese Garden so I was overjoyed when Adrien suggested that we spend our Saturday walking through the beautiful landscape that is tucked away in the West Hills of Portland.
The garden officially opened to the public in 1967 and has since been renewed as “the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan” by His Excellency Nobuo Matsunaga, the former ambassador of Japan. It contains multiple water features, eight separate garden styles, and Koi of an unusual size across 12 acres of land.
There is a silence that covers the ground and humans seem to be one with nature under these trees. Visitors cozy up next to meandering streams with their books, chipmunks impose fearlessly on children enjoying their pre-nap snacks, and crowds gather to brainstorm the strategic way zen gardens are raked into the famous water-like patterns. Everywhere you look hidden treasures shepherd you along the delicate walkways, drawing you into a deeper sense of tranquility.
“This is a place to discard worldly thoughts
and concerns and see oneself as a small
but integral part of the universe”
I’d love to hear from you so please share your thoughts in the comments if you have ever been or plan to see the garden.
For more information, visit the official website for the garden Here.
The Anna Today 