Portland Japanese GardenvsForest Park
Both are praised by expert writers. On balance, Forest Park ranks slightly better than Portland Japanese Garden. Forest Park ranks #2 in Portland with endorsements from 8 reviews such as Frommer's, Michelin Guide and Condé Nast Traveler.
Portland Japanese Garden
Fodor's
Lonely Planet
Travel + Leisure
Afar Magazine
Not For Tourists
Michelin Guide Afar Magazine
Condé Nast Traveler
Frommer's
611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR 97205
From $0/night
Fodor's "The most authentic Japanese garden outside Japan takes up 5½ acres of Washington Park above the International Rose Test Garden." Full review
Lonely Planet Top Choice
"This tranquil, formal garden is made up of 5.5 acres of tumbling water, koi ponds, ornamental cherry trees, a ceremonial teahouse (no drinks served!) and a sand garden." Full review
Travel + Leisure "Five gardens—Flat, Strolling Pond, Natural, Tea, and Sand & Stone—span 5.5 acres of this Japanese garden located near the Rose Gardens in Washington Park." Full review
Afar Magazine "Highly recommend the Japanese Gardens in Washington Park." Full review
Not For Tourists "There's more to Japan than ninjas and sushi, you know."
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"One of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan occupies a 5.5-acre site directly above the rose gardens." Full review
Afar Magazine "The centerpiece is the Strolling Pond Garden, with thousands of Japanese trees and plants." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "Even Nobuo Matsunaga, former Japanese Ambassador, declared it “the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan"... spend at least an hour, preferably two, strolling" Full review
Frommer's "Considered the finest example of a Japanese garden in North America, this exquisitely manicured green space should not be missed." Full review
Forest Park Fodor's
Concierge Lonely Planet Not For Tourists Condé Nast Traveler Michelin Guide Travel + Leisure Afar Magazine Frommer's
NW 29 & Upshur to Newberry Road, Portland, OR 97210
From $0/night
Fodor's "One of the nation's largest urban wildernesses (5,000 acres), this city-owned, car-free park, has more than 50 species of birds and mammals and more than 70 miles of trails." Full review
Concierge "At 5,000 acres, it's the country's largest urban wilderness."
Lonely Planet Top Choice
"Not many cities have 5100 acres of temperature rainforest within their limits, but then not many cities are like Portland." Full review
Not For Tourists "Aptly named park. Great for picnics, sasquatch hunting."
Condé Nast Traveler "New Yorkers have Central Park, and Portlanders have Forest Park, a sprawling 5,100-acre wilderness that’s a short walk from the shops and restaurants of Northwest 23rd Street." Full review
Michelin Guide 0 Stars
"On a 1903 visit to Portland, landscape designer John Olmsted drew up a city park plan calling for "a succession of ravines and spurs covered with remarkably beautiful woods." Full review
Travel + Leisure "Much beloved by locals, this park is one of the largest natural areas in any city in the U.S." Full review
Afar Magazine "It was designed as a self-righting sailboat and carried a local family on adventures for a couple decades before it got away." Full review
Frommer's "One of the largest urban parks in North America, this forest is part of a 9,000-acre park system that forms a wildlife corridor to the Coast Range." Full review
