2023 O-Tsukimi - The Moonviewing Festival Event (Dates Back to Ancient Times, Belief in Moon's Influence on Human Life, Agriculture, & Harvest..)NEW

Moonviewing, or O-Tsukimi in Japanese, is the custom of gazing at the full moon and enjoying its sacred beauty. Portland Japanese Garden schedules this beloved annual tradition to coincide with the harvest moon, which occurs anytime from September to early October.

During Moonviewing, people gather to appreciate the moon’s beauty and pray for good fortune and an abundant harvest. At this festival, one of the most beloved at the Garden, guests anticipate the moonrise with a cup of tea and an opportunity to compose haiku as shakuhachi and koto music wafts through the air.

Start the evening with an intimate and peaceful stroll through the lantern-lit Garden. Take in authentic Japanese music. Catch up with friends, old and new. Enjoy a cup of tea as you watch the harvest moon rise above the city. There is no better place in Portland to share the romance and mystery of the full moon than from the eastern overlook of the Portland Japanese Garden Pavilion.

In celebration of Moonviewing, the raked gravel in the Flat Garden is designed in a special, once-a-year checkerboard raking pattern; the alternating squares of white river gravel cast shadows in the moonlight. Experience the Flat Garden during Moonviewing through this video.

Due to the varying times of the moonrise, please note that the event start time may vary.

Event Details
• Tickets benefit Portland Japanese Garden cultural programming.
• There will be traditional Japanese musical performances throughout the event.
• This event will take place rain or shine.
• Please no tripods or flash photography.

Festival Date
Sept 28 - 30, 2023 (3 Days)

Time
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

About
The tradition of Moonviewing, also known as "Tsukimi" in Japan, dates back to ancient times, around the Heian period (794-1185 AD). It originated from the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival and was introduced to Japan during the Nara period (710-794 AD). The festival was initially celebrated by the Japanese aristocracy, and over time, it spread to different social classes and became a popular cultural event throughout the country.

The Moonviewing festival holds significance due to its ties to lunar appreciation and the belief in the moon's influence on human life, agriculture, and harvest. Additionally, the beauty of the moon and its phases have been a source of inspiration for poets, artists, and writers in Japan for centuries, leading to the incorporation of haiku composition and traditional music into the festivities.