Experience one of Portland Japanese Garden’s most coveted cultural evenings: O-Tsukimi, the Moonviewing Festival, Sunday–Tuesday, October 5–7.

Stroll through lantern-lit paths, gather with tea in hand to await the moonrise, compose haiku, and savor a bento-style dinner provided by Obon Shokudo as the sounds of traditional Japanese instruments drift through the air.

Moonviewing, or O-Tsukimi in Japanese, is the practice of gazing at the full moon and enjoying its sacred beauty. Since 1990, Portland Japanese Garden has scheduled this beloved annual event to coincide with the harvest moon, which occurs anytime from September to early October. There is no better place in Portland to share the romance and mystery of this special custom than from the eastern overlook of the Portland Japanese Garden Pavilion with its views of the city skyline and Mount Hood.

The Moonviewing Festival is 5–7:30 p.m. (moonrise at 6:02 p.m.) Sunday, October 5; 5:30–8 p.m. (harvest moon moonrise at 6:22 p.m.) Monday, October 6; and 5:30–8 p.m. (moonrise at 6:44 p.m.) Tuesday, October 7.

The event will take place rain or shine. Photographers are asked not to bring tripods or use flash photography.

Cost is $55 for members, $70 for non-members. Children under 5 can attend at no additional cost and do not require a ticket, although they will not receive food or non-alcoholic beverage. Children ages 6 and older require a full-price ticket, which does include meals and non-alcoholic beverage.

For more information or to purchase tickets