PORTLAND — Tucked into the forested hills of Washington Park, the Portland Japanese Garden was originally founded in 1963 as a place for cross-cultural understanding following World War II.

“This was the time when our community still suffered from racism toward those of Japanese ancestry,” said garden curator Hugo Torii. “We were founded on the ideals of peace and mutual understanding between peoples and cultures.”

The 12-acre garden is the most authentic Japanese garden outside Japan, experts believe.

Unlike botanical gardens, Japanese gardens don’t prioritize the acquisition of many different plant varieties, Torii said. Instead, plants are carefully selected based on what will be environmentally suitable for the plant and its surroundings.

Visitors usually take about two hours to tour the garden. Admission is $22.

Torii explained that individual plants aren’t necessarily featured but instead are considered as part of a collective whole, just in the same way an orchestra relies on every instrument to create beautiful music.

The garden’s plants are not for sale.

The Cultural Village provides a place where visitors can immerse themselves in traditional Japanese arts through activities, performances and demonstrations in the Atsuhiko and Ina Goodwin Tateuchi Foundation Courtyard. It includes the Jordan Schnitzer Japanese Arts Learning Center, which has an art gallery and gift shop.

The village is the home of two terraces with bonsai collections displayed in warmer months and the Umami Cafe, a place for green tea from Japan, Japanese sweets and savory miso soup.

Torii explained why the garden is unique.

“There are more than 200 Japanese gardens throughout North America but one thing that makes us unique is that we have five distinct historical garden styles,” he said. “Our original designer wanted to create different styles — Sand and Stone Garden, Flat Garden, Strolling Pond Garden, Natural Garden and Tea Garden — so that Western audiences would have the opportunity to learn more about Japanese culture and how it’s shaped nature throughout the centuries.”