Without plants, there would be no oxygen and nothing to prevent bunnies from discovering that humans taste delicious. Celebrate our succulent saviors with today's Groupon: for $9, you get two single-day admissions to the Portland Japanese Garden (a $19 value for two adult admission tickets), located on Southwest Kingston Avenue.

Five distinctive gardens comprise Portland Japanese Garden's 5.5-acre site, nestled serenely in the rolling scenery of the west hills. In Japanese culture, gardening is considered a high art, and within these compositions of stone, water, and plant is a reflection of Japan's history and mindset. Upon entering, visitors encounter the Flat Garden, a garden intended to be contemplated from the pavilion or veranda to create a framed view similar to landscape painting, or a real landscape that has been safely confined within a cage. The Strolling Pond Garden invites visitors to walk along its yatsuhashi bridge, which zigzags through beds of iris near a tranquil waterfall and ponds connected by a stream. Relax amidst the Tea Garden's wooded setting and follow the pathway of stepping-stones and lanterns leading to the teahouse. The Natural Garden sports a steeper terrain paired with a lushness of trees and shrubs, while the Sand and Stone Garden contrasts with earthier elements for quiet reflection and geologist wooing. The Portland Japanese Garden itself is not only a work of art but also a venue for world-class art inspired by Japan with the Art in the Garden series.

Reviews

Frommer's calls the Portland Japanese Garden exceptional. More than 150 Yelpers give the Portland Japanese Garden an average of 4.5 stars. Eight Citysearchers give it a five-star average.

• Considered the finest example of a Japanese garden in North America, this exquisitely manicured green space should not be missed. Not only are there five different styles of Japanese gardens scattered over 5 1/2 acres, but there's also a view of volcanic Mount Hood, which bears a strong resemblance to Mount Fuji. – Frommer's
• Absolutely serene, peaceful, beautiful, and unreal. The Japanese Gardens should be visited by everyone in Portland. – Summer C., Yelp