Japan Institute was established in 2022 as a global cultural initiative of Portland Japanese Garden. This sibling organization allows us to share and expand on the programs of Portland Japanese Garden more broadly around the world, deepen international partnerships, and continue to engage diverse people through shared experiences and conversations about peace, beauty, and connection of nature.

Japan Institute and Portland Japanese Garden share a vision – to be a leading global voice for cultural understanding, in pursuit of a more peaceful, sustainable world.

Simply put, Japan Institute is the next step in realizing the organizations’ shared mission: Inspiring Harmony & Peace

Japan Institute acts as an international hub for world leaders, artists, gardeners, and scholars, and organizes symposia, gatherings, and experiences through its three programming centers:

The core of these three centers is the Garden itself, informing and responding to the programs around it.

Japan Institute Campus

The campus for Japan Institute is located on a 3.65 acre satellite site only 3 miles away from Portland Japanese Garden. The property, previously owned by The Salvation Army, is located near Forest Park in Northwest Portland. It is a beautiful setting that includes a building designed by one of Oregon’s most prolific and important architects, A.E. Doyle. To learn more about the campus, including how it will feature new work from Kengo Kuma & Associates, please click here.

An early conceptual rendering of the Glass Theater and Japan Institute’s courtyard. By Kengo Kuma and Associates.

Path to Peace Campaign

The purchase of the property along with the renovation and programming for Japan Institute is made possible by generous Garden donors and fundraising is still ongoing. For inquiries on supporting Japan Institute, please reach out to our Chief Development Officer, Jennifer Baumann at  [email protected] or (503) 595-5225. The proposal can be viewed below.

Learn More

To learn more about the programming Japan Institute is doing through its three centers, its campus near Forest Park, and our Path to Peace Campaign, click any of the links below. To read articles we have published on Japan Institute, click here.