Portland Japanese Garden

This Park in Nagaizumi, Japan, Is the Smallest in the World

"Measuring just about 2.58 square feet—roughly the size of four standard U.S. sheets of paper—this micro-park sits atop a square of bricks in a residential patch near the town hall of a small community about two hours southwest of Tokyo. Despite its minuscule footprint it features verdant grass, stone carvings and a tiny bench that locals often use and visitors photograph; the town had already been calling it the "world's smallest" before Guinness World Records officially certified it on Feb. 25 after professional surveyors verified the dimensions. The idea dates back to 1988, when a municipal staffer visited a celebrated tiny park in Portland and inspired the creation of an even smaller green space, and local officials say they plan to keep maintaining the site with community involvement while making the landscaping more social-media friendly." - Rachel Chang Rachel Chang Rachel Chang is a travel and pop culture journalist who contributes to Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

10 Affordable Spring Break Destinations in the U.S. and Mexico

"A tranquil, carefully designed garden prized for its seasonal displays, serene landscaping, and opportunities to admire spring blooms in a contemplative setting." - Lauren Dana Ellman Lauren Dana Ellman Lauren Dana Ellman is a New York-based writer and editor who specializes in travel, lifestyle, food, and shopping content. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

This Pacific Northwest Amtrak Route Is the Ultimate Winter Adventure

"Its thriving cultural scene includes spots like Powell’s Books and the Japanese Garden." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"Find Inner Peace at Portland's Japanese Garden Portland is not lacking for parks and gardens—I've heard the Chinese garden in the Pearl district is a stunner—but I highly recommend the Japanese Gardens in Washington Park. Portland 's a relaxed place anyway, but the Japanese gardens, said to be the best example outside Japan itself, are a change of pace entirely, a shaded haven of trickling streams and artful horticulture. The day we visited there were a number of other visitors, some of them a little boisterous, and I was worried that we weren't going to get the full calming effect, but there are enough paths and Zen sculpture gardens that you can find your own spot to sit and contemplate. Don't forget to take a warm jacket."

"First opened to the public in 1967 and expanded in 2017, the Japanese Garden in Portland ’s West Hills is an essential stop on a visit to the city. After a $33.5 million expansion that included three new buildings designed by architect Kengo Kuma—a Japanese Arts Learning Center, a Garden House for horticultural workshops, and a café—the Japanese Garden now spreads across nine acres. A tea garden, a 185-foot “castle wall,” and a new welcome center were also added. The centerpiece is the Strolling Pond Garden, with thousands of Japanese trees and plants."