The Original Tao of Tea teahouse was built in 1997 in Portland, Oregon. It was our first step with tea and took eight months of craftsmanship to build the interior with black bamboo, old reclaimed wood, copper and stone. Veerinder’s oldest brother Harpreet and Bob, a friend, were instrumental in the making of the teahouse. The design was formulated without the use of any formal drawings. It was built as if a picture were being painted. Our philosophy was to work with a handful of materials and find a spot that best suited them. The teahouse includes a rock waterfall, wooden tea chest tables and bamboo shelves. The teahouse was awarded ‘best interior’ among 600 restaurants in the Pacific Northwest in 2000 by nationally known Zagat restaurant guide. It is consistently rated as the ‘Best Teahouse’ in Portland and offers one of the largest variety of teas in the country.
OUR OPINION:
This place has great tea. It has an interesting look, but it feels reminiscent of a set stage. It feels like you’re in India, but everything is shaky and feels like it’s about to fall. The staff is slow and stiff. You are lucky if they come by to take your order, and forget about any special requests. The best of their days was when Guru Hans worked there. There is no live music ever. Last we heard, it is owned by an eastern Sikh, however there is not much of a presence of the ten gurus.
The Nonmind Bonsai Yoga crew checked in with home-base to rest from the workshop tour, and of course spent time at the gardens. We did Qi Gong and yoga in the park outside the gardens. The Rose Garden is an excellent place to do movement therapy, as long as you don’t mind people staring at you. (Portland can be quite conservative, at least those who come to the rose garden. KEEP PORTLAND WEIRD! )
If you like asian culture, you may find my scarves interesting. We create shibori (Japanese tie-dye) naturally dyed silks. These pieces of art are one of a kind and in tune with nature. They are very traditional and a rare example of Japanese culture. These dyeing arts are living in Bonsai Nonmind Culture!
Street Address
Japanese Garden
611 SW Kingston Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97205
(Location details)
See contact information page for mailing address and department phone numbers.
Visitor Hours
The Portland Japanese Garden is open to visitors seven days a week year-round, closing only on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
Summer Season:
April 1-September 30
Tuesday-Sunday: 10am-7pm
Monday: 12pm-7pm
Shuttle from parking lot runs every day
Guided tours offered three times daily (Tour details)
6pm, Gift Store closes
6:30pm, last admission taken
Winter Season:
October 1-March 31
Tuesday-Sunday: 10am-4pm
Monday: 12pm-4pm
Shuttle from parking lot runs on weekends
Guided tours offered on weekends (Tour details)
3:30pm, last admission taken
4pm, Gift Store closes
Admission
Your admission gains access to the Garden, the Gift Store, and when offered, public tours and exhibits. Some special events are not included with admission. For more information, please see the events page.
Adults (18-61) $8.00
Senior (62+) $6.75
College Students (with ID) $6.75
Youth (6-17) $5.25
Children (under 6) Free
Tours
Guided Public Tours
Daily guided tours of the Garden are offered April-October at 10:45am, 1pm, and 2:30pm. (On Mondays the Garden opens at noon, with the first tour at 1pm.) Additionally, November through March, guided tours are offered at 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Public tours are generally 45 minutes to one hour, outdoors, and on foot. Visitors may join or leave the public tour at any time—no reservations necessary.
Private Group Tours
Request a Group Tour
We ask private tours and school groups to make a reservation in advance—we provide discounted rates and personal tour guides for qualifying groups. For details, please visit the tour page.
Location
The Garden is located in southwest Portland, directly above the International Rose Test Gardens in Washington Park, at 611 SW Kingston Avenue, Portland, OR 97205. For more contact information, including our mailing address, please see the contact information page.
Directions
The Garden is served hourly by TriMet bus #63 which stops in downtown Portland and at the Zoo/Washington Park MAX Light Rail station.
By Car
From I-405 (downtown Portland) follow signs for Highway 26 West. From Highway 26 West, take the Oregon Zoo & Forestry Center Exit. Bear right after the exit and follow signs for the Forestry Center. Continue up the hill past the Forestry Center and make a right turn onto Kingston Drive (there will be a wooden sign for the Japanese Garden and Rose Garden just before the turn). Follow Kingston Drive about two miles through Washington Park. At the stop sign, make a left turn onto Kingston Avenue. You will see our parking lot on your left
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