In 1988, His Excellency Nobuo Matsunaga, Ambassador from Japan to the United States, visited the Japanese Garden of Portland, Oregon, and proclaimed it to be "the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan." Ten years later, His Excellency Ambassador Kunihiko Saito exclaimed over the beauty of the Garden and also agreed to its authenticity stating, "I believe this garden to be the most authentic Japanese garden, including those in Japan."

Nestled in the scenic west hills of Portland, the Japanese Garden is a haven of tranquil beauty. The Garden includes a formal Japanese Tea House, meandering streams, intimate walkways, and an unsurpassed view of Mount Hood.

The Japanese Garden Society of Oregon was formed in the early 1960s by Portland citizens interested in promoting a more intimate relationship between the peoples of Japan and our city and state. In 1958, Portland became a sister city to Sapporo, Japan. This created a broad interest in Japanese culture. Soon after, several business leaders and the Mayor of Portland decided it would be wonderful for Portland to have a traditional Japanese Garden. On June 4, 1962 the City Council created a commission to establish the Garden on the site of the former Washington Park Zoo.

In 1963, Professor Takuma Tono, head of the Landscape Architecture Department of Tokyo Agricultural University and an internationally recognized authority on Japanese landscape design, was commissioned to design and supervise the development of the Garden and he began landscaping the Garden that year.

In the summer of 1967, the Japanese Garden was formally opened to the public. Currently, the Garden is open all year except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Nearly 160,000 tourists visit the Garden each year.

At the heart of a Japanese garden is harmony with nature. Through the careful use of plants, stones, and water, areas of serene and quiet beauty emerge. These peaceful spots in the Garden lend themselves to meditation and contemplation. The 5.5 acre Japanese Garden is composed of five distinct garden styles: a Strolling Pond Garden, a Tea Garden, a Natural Garden, a Flat Garden, and a Sand and Stone Garden.

A special feature of the Garden is the Tea House, where formal tea ceremonies are periodically demonstrated. The Tea House was built in Japan, disassembled, and then rebuilt on its present site. Other sites often photographed in the Garden are the Antique Gate, the Moon Bridge, the Poetry Stone, and the Iyo Stone. The Garden's lovely Pavilion is the scene of special exhibits relating to Japanese culture and the arts. And finally, the Service Center was built in 1994 – it houses restrooms accessible to those with disabilities, and a nationally acclaimed gift store.

The Japanese Garden Society is a not-for-profit organization funded entirely by donations, membership, memorials, grants, and gate admissions. The land, which is leased from the City of Portland, is located in Washington Park near the International Rose Test Gardens.