Group and School Tours

Visitors in groups of less than ten are encouraged to join our public guided tours of the Garden, included with Garden admission when offered: April-October, tours are offered Tuesday-Sunday at 10:45 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.; Mondays, 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.  November-March (during winter hours) tours are offered only on weekends at 1 p.m.  For details, please see the visitor information page.

Group Rates & Private Tours

You may qualify for a group discount and a personal tour guide if you:

• Schedule your visit at least three weeks in advance
• Have 10 or more paying visitors in your group
• Are able to make one payment for your group

We make every effort to accommodate your request and encourage you to book your group visit early. Requested group admissions/tours are always subject to availability.  All tours must be booked online using our tour request form below.  Our Tour Manager will review your request and contact you to confirm your dates, times, and rates. The Tour Manager may be reached at (503) 223-9233 or by email.

Discounted Group Admission Rates

• $8.50 Adult
• $7.00 Senior (62+)
• $6.50 College Student (w/ID)
• $3.00 Youth/Student (6-17)
• Children 5 and under free

Guided Group Tours

You are welcome to request a complimentary tour guide when booking your group tour.  Group tours and tour guides are always subject to availability.  Guided tours take about an hour, but we recommend planning for 1 1/2 hours in the Garden to allow for guests to organize, visit the gift store and use the restrooms.

All tours must be booked online using our tour request form below.

If you are late for your tour, you may forfeit your volunteer guide.  If you are going to be late, please call us at 503-223-1321.

Group Parking

Groups drop visitors at the Japanese Garden parking lot and park in either the Garden parking lot, Washington Park, or the Rose Garden bus parking.  From the parking lot, groups walk up a short path to the Garden admission gate, which takes as little as 5 minutes.  June-September guests may ride our Garden shuttle up to the admission gate from the Garden parking lot.  Groups with mobility issues are welcome to request alternate arrangements when filling out their tour request form.

Etiquette & Info

Click here to review the Garden’s Visitor Policies before your visit.

Youth and School Groups

You may qualify for the youth group rate if you:

• Schedule your tour at least three weeks in advance
• Have 10 or more paying youth under the age of 18 in your group
• Are able to make one payment for your group
• Tour the Garden with a Garden Guide
• Ensure that youth are chaperoned at all times while in the Garden
• Title 1 schools may qualify for special offers in 2013, please check the “Title 1 school” field on the group/school tour request form below

Please provide at least the minimum number of chaperones:

• Children ages 6-12 (or elementary school): one chaperone for every five children
• Youth ages 12-18 (or middle/high school): one chaperone for every ten youth
• Groups without the minimum number of chaperones will NOT qualify for the youth group rate

One chaperone for every five youth receives free admission ($3 each additional chaperone).

For tour bookings of 10 or more pre-schoolers or kindergartners, students get in for free, chaperones enter at $5/person, and the visit is self guided.

All tours must be booked online using our tour request form below.

Materials for School Tours

• School/Group Admission & Tour Infosheet (PDF)
• School Bus Directions (PDF)
• Garden Sense: Exploring the Five Senses (Grades K-2) (PDF)
• Haiku: Poetry in the Garden (Grades 3-5) (PDF)
• Mitate: To See with New Eyes (Grades 6-8) (PDF)