Discover the Top 81 Historic Japanese Landmarks to Explore in the United States

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Begin your cultural adventure with the 81 most iconic Japanese landmarks across the United States. These timeless destinations offer a deep connection to Japanese history, art, architecture, and the legacy of Japanese Americans. From peaceful Zen gardens to historic temples and memorials, each location invites you to experience the richness of Japanese culture and resilience.

Japanese Landmarks Near Me (United States)

Arizona

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  Jerome War Relocation Center The Jerome War Relocation Center was one of ten concentration camps in the United States where Japanese Americans were forcibly detained during World War II. Located in southeastern Arkansas, it opera...
  
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  Poston Memorial Monument (Built 1992) The mission of the Poston Community Alliance is to preserve Poston’s incarceration history in order to uphold social justice for all Americans, regardless of race, religion and ethnicity. Through mu...
  

California

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  Japanese American National Museum (JANM), Los Angeles, Japantown Little Tokyo We share the story of Japanese Americans because we honor our nations diversity. We believe in the importance of remembering our history to better guard against the prejudice that threatens liberty an...
  
  JANM FestivalEvents (2)
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  Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) The Japanese Pavilion The PavilionThe Pavilion for Japanese Art is unique in America as a separate building dedicated to the display of Japanese Art within the complex of a large, encyclopedic museum....
  
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  Hakone Estate and Gardens (Japanese Garden) Hakone Gardens is one of the oldest Japanese estate and gardens in the Western Hemisphere - 18 acres. The gardens were originally the private estate of Isabel and Oliver Stine, San Francisco philanthr...
  
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  Japanese American Museum of San Jose (JAMSJ) The Japanese American Museum of San Jose showcases a unique collection of permanent and rotating exhibits chronicling more than a century of Japanese American history. Visitors will learn about early ...
  
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  Huntington Library, Art, Museum, and Botanical Gardens (Japanese Garden) After a year-long closure and a $6.8 million renovation, the historic Japanese Garden reopened in April, marking its centennial as one of the most beloved and iconic landscapes at The Huntington. Comp...
  
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  Balboa Park Japanese Friendship Garden, San Diego (Main) Balboa Park is renowned for the lush landscaping and lovely gardens on its 1,200 acres, offering a magnificent backdrop for the cultural attractions. The Park was ranked among the Best Parks in the Wo...
  
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  National Japanese American Veterans Memorial Court National Japanese American Veterans Memorial Court (JACCC)Facing San Pedro Street, in front the of the JACCC is the Memorial Court. It was been renovated several times in the history of the JACCC.The ...
  
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  Manzanar National Historic Site In 1942, the United States government ordered more than 110,000 men, women, and children to leave their homes and detained them in remote, military-style camps. Manzanar War Relocation Center was one ...
  
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  Go For Broke Monument (Next Door to MOCA-Museum of Contemporary Art) The fateful bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941 forever changed the lives of Japanese Americans.Japanese American soldiers in Hawaii, without forewarning, were segregated and shipped t...
  
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  San Francisco - Japantown (Peace Plaza) San Francisco's Japantown, nestled within the vibrant cityscape, offers a unique cultural experience that celebrates Japanese heritage and community. At its heart lies the Peace Plaza, a bustling gath...
  
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  The Tule Lake National Monument The Tule Lake National Monument includes both the the Tule Lake Segregation Center, the largest and most controversial of the sites where Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II, and ...
  
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  Japanese Tea Garden - San Francisco (Inside Golden Gate Park) Today, the Japanese Tea Garden endures as one of the most popular attractions in San Francisco, featuring classic elements such as an arched drum bridge, pagodas, stone lanterns, stepping stone paths,...
  
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  Go For Broke National Education Center (Next to JANM Museum), Los Angeles - Little Tokyo In 1986 World War II Japanese American veterans decided to create an organization committed to telling their story. A story shaped by the Nisei’s character, that of courage, honor, determination, an...
  
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  Terminal Island Memorial Monument San Pedro has a memorial that is overlooked in many of the tourist guides. It is a Memorial to the Japanese Fishing Village on Terminal Island.In 1941, 3,000 first and second-generation Japanese made ...
  
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  Japan House, Los Angeles JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles is located on the second and fifth floors of the popular Hollywood & Highland Center, a shopping and entertainment complex home to the Dolby Theatre, the world-famous venue...
  
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  Walerga Park Walerga Park is a California Historical Landmark.  Historic Site: Granite monument plaque marking the spot with cherry trees.  Japanese Americans who were held at the Walerga Assembly Center during ...
  
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  Isamu Noguchi's Garden of Stone - Artist Isamu Noguchi, Costa Mesa Discover Isamu Noguchi's California ScenarioCommissioned by the Segerstrom family in 1979 and completed in 1982, Isamu Noguchi’s California Scenario is recognized as one of the country’s preeminen...
  
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  The LAX Gateway Pylons: Ted Tokio Tanaka Architects The LAX gateway pylons, installed in 2000, were designed by the Los Angeles based team of Ted Tokio Tanaka Architects, Paul Tzanetopoulos, and Moody Ravitz Hollingsworth Lighting Design (the latter of...
  
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  San Mateo Central Park and Japanese Gardens The Japanese Tea Garden was designed by Nagao Sakurai and was installed in 1966. Plants featured in the garden include cherry trees, Japanese maples and bonsai. San Mateo set up a sister-city relation...
  
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  Little Tokyo Fire Tower, Japanese Village Plaza The Japanese Village Plaza Fire Tower is a replica of a traditional fire lookout tower in rural Japan. It was built in 1978 as part of a Little Tokyo revitalization effort. The tower is 60 feet tall a...
  
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  Historic Japanese Cemetery - 1908 This is a Historic Japanese Cemetery in Oxnard is Ventura County Historical Landmark No. 18.The Japanese Americans of Oxnard first created this cemetery in approx 1908. ...
  
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  1st Street, Los Angeles - 13 of the Oldest Historic Buildings on Little Tokyo (Since 1890's) Thirteen buildings on First Street were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 as a national landmark, this is significant in Japanese-American history.A stretch of 13 buildings al...
  
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  Wakamatsu Tea & Silk Farm Colony At the Farm Wakamatsu Farm is a community place to appreciate natural resources, sustainable agriculture,and cultural history.Visitors of all ages enjoy fun, educational, and enriching activities. Vol...
  
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  Yokohama Friendship Bell, San Diego - Japanese Friendship Bell on Shelter Island (1958) The Yokohama Friendship Bell, also known as the San Diego Japanese Friendship Bell, is a bronze bell located in beautiful Shelter Island, California. It was given to the city of San Diego by its siste...
  
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  Crenshaw's Japanese American History Source: KCETToday, the Crenshaw district of South Los Angeles is known as a predominantly Black neighborhood, while Japanese Americans are most commonly associated with Little Tokyo, Sawtelle, Torranc...
  
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  Tak's Coffee Shop (Est. 1996) Source: KCETA few blocks south down Crenshaw from the former Holiday Bowl is Tak's Coffee Shop, small and unassuming, with a gray and beige storefront accessible from the parking lot of Crenshaw Squar...
  
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  Otomisan Restaurant (Est. 1956) Boyle Heights Landmark Restaurant in January 2022 Otomisan is the last surviving Japanese restaurant in the Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. Otomisan, now owned by Yayoi Watanabe, is believed to be the city’s oldest continuously operating Japanese rest...
  
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  Dr. Jack Fujimoto Square, (Mississippi Ave & Sawtelle Blvd) - Japantown Dr. Jack Fujimoto Square is Dedicated in Sawtelle, JapantownOct 23, 2023.  The dedication of Dr. Jack Fujimoto Square is a fitting tribute to an incredible man who made immense contributions to his c...
  
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  Koda Farms (Est. 1928) Koda Farms is indeed a historic Japanese-American family farm that has played a significant role in rice cultivation in California. It is known for being one of the oldest and most influential Japanes...
  
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  Rotary Park (Japanese Monument in Rotary Park-Recognize the Japanese Immigrants Who Came to Winters in 1888) The Winters City Council approved the installation of a Japanese monument in Rotary Park, as proposed by Woody Fridae and Floyd Shimomura on June 20. The monument is meant to commemorate the city's Ja...
  
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  Gamble House The Gamble House, also known as the David B. Gamble House, is an iconic American Craftsman home in Pasadena, California, designed by the architectural firm Greene and Greene.The influence of Japanese ...
  
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  Venice Japanese American Memorial Monument (Est. 2017) The Venice Japanese American Memorial Monument (VJAMM) sits on the northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Boulevards. The 9′ 6″ tall solid black granite obelisk marks the spot where some 1,000 pe...
  
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  The Union Church Building (Est. 1923) - Union Center for the Arts East West Players’ current home is in the upper three levels of the Union Center for the Arts in the northwestern end of the Little Tokyo Historic District. The Union Center for the Arts was formerl...
  
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  Dodger Stadium's 1965 Japanese “Kasuga” Stone Lantern (Eight-Foot Tall, 3,921 Pounds) Location: Top Deck The Dodgers' 1965 Japanese 'Kasuga' Stone Lantern, an eight-foot tall, 3,921-pound monument, stands proudly at Dodger Stadium, symbolizing the rich connection between Japanese baseball culture and the...
  

Dist. Of Columbia

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  Washington Monument Grounds The Washington Monument is the most prominent structure in Washington, D.C. and one of the city's early attractions. It was built in honor of George Washington, who led the country to independence and...
  
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  National Japanese American Memorial The National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II is located at the intersection of New Jersey Avenue, Louisiana Avenue, and D Street in Washington, D.C. The closest Metrorail ...
  
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  Japanese Stone Lantern, Tidal Basin in D.C. (Carved in 1651) Just north of the Tidal Basin, in a grove of cherry trees south of Independence Avenue and just west of Kutz Bridge rests a centuries-old granite Japanese lantern.  NPS photoThe Japanese Lantern was ...
  
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  Japanese Pagoda, Washington DC, Tidal Basin The Japanese Pagoda is a stone statue in West Potomac Park, Washington, D.C. It is located next to the Tidal Basin, and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.The statue was a gift by the mayor of Yok...
  
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  Ippakutei Tea House Tour (Authentic Japanese Tea House Named Ippakutei) Just a short walk away from busy Massachusetts Avenue, hidden on the grounds of the Embassy of Japan, is an oasis of calm and ancient culture. Nestled among pine and cherry blossom trees, sits the aut...
  
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  Washington Monument Built to honor George Washington, the United States' first president, the 555-foot marble obelisk towers over Washington, D.C.
  
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  Tidal Basin, Washington DC The experience of the cherry blossom in Washington D.C.'s Tidal Basin is a breathtaking sight that attracts thousands of visitors each year. The pink and white cherry blossoms bloom for only a short p...
  
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  Sculpture 'Floor Frame,' by Artist Isamu Noguchi, White House Rose Garden (November 23, 2020) The sculpture unveiled in the White House Rose Garden on November 23, 2020, is 'Floor Frame,' created by the renowned artist Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988). This significant addition to the White House col...
  

Georgia

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  Carter Center to Dedicate New Japanese Peace Bell (1820) [Video] The Carter Center is a nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. He and his wife Rosalynn Carter partnered with Emory University just after hi...
  

Hawaii

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  Lahaina Jodo Mission (Est. 1912) The Lahaina Jodo Mission was founded in 1912 with the support of many Japanese immigrants then working in the sugar and pineapple plantations. After the original temple was destroyed in a fire in 1968...
  
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  Byodo-In Temple - Oahu The Byodo-In Temple is located at the foot of the Ko'olau Mountains in Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. It was established on June 7, 1968, to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the first Jap...
  
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  Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii (Est. 1906) Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii, Established in 1906.  The Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii (also known as “Hawaii Izumo Taisha”) is a branch of Izumo Taisha Grand Shinto Shrine (Izumo Oyashi...
  
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  Kyoto Gardens of Honolulu Memorial Park The Kyoto Gardens of Honolulu Memorial Park is a cemetery located in the eastern half of the Honolulu Memorial Park, 22 Craigside Place, Honolulu, Hawaii. Its three-tiered Sanju Pagoda, the Kinkaku-ji...
  
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  University of Hawai'i-Manoa - Authentic Japanese Teahouse (1972) Nestled in the idyllic East-West Center Japanese Garden, the tea ceremony house named Jaku’an, “hut of tranquility” is one of the first tea houses built outside of Japan.The blessing ceremony on...
  
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  Natsunoya Tea House (Est. 1921) Hawaii's Century-Old Japanese Tea House Natsunoya Tea House is a historic tea house located in Honolulu, Hawaii, and it is the oldest tea house in the United States. It was established in 1921 by Tadao Kurosawa, who was a Japanese immigrant...
  

Idaho

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  Minidoka War Relocation Center Minidoka National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in the western United States. It commemorates the more than 9,000 Japanese Americans who were imprisoned at the Minidoka War Relocation Cent...
  

Illinois

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  Anderson Japanese Gardens (12-Acre Japanese Garden) Anderson Japanese Gardens is a breathtaking 12-acre sanctuary of tranquility and beauty nestled in Rockford, Illinois. This world-renowned Japanese garden is a serene oasis, meticulously designed to t...
  
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  Japan House (Japanese Garden, Tea Garden, Tea Rooms, Dry Garden) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign It is the mission of Japan House to bring about cultural understanding, to offer exposure to new perspectives and, ultimately, to give a necessary refuge for all to embrace tranquility in an immersive...
  
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  Chicago Botanic - Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden At times 'when the gold ginkgo trees glow in the autumn light, for instance 'it’s easy to overlook the ways in which the Japanese respect for nature and age are revealed in the Elizabeth Hubert Malo...
  
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  American Legion Post 1183 Veterans Memorial, Montrose Cemetery & Crematorium The Japanese Memorial at Montrose Cemetery & Crematorium, located in Chicago, is a poignant tribute to the Japanese American community and their contributions, particularly those who served in the...
  

Michigan

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  Frederik Meijer Gardens, Japanese Garden It was more than four years in the making: June 13, 2015 the Richard and Helen DeVos Japanese Garden opened its magnificent Main Gate to visitors, welcoming a world of timeless tranquility.  Tranquil...
  

Minnesota

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  Enger Park, Duluth Japanese Peace Bell Garden & Zen Garden Celebrates Duluth's sister city relationship with Ohara Isumi-City, Japan.The Japanese Peach Bell Garden includes: 1) The Japanese (Ohara) Peace Bell (you can ring it)2) Japanese Zen GardenThe Japanes...
  

Missouri

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  Missouri Botanical Garden - Japanese Garden The Japanese Garden, dedicated in 1977, was designed by the late Professor Koichi Kawana, a native of Japan and lecturer on environmental design and landscape architecture at the University of Califor...
  
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New York

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  Japan Society, New York (Youngest Landmark After 40 Years) Japan Society is the leading U.S. organization committed to deepening mutual understanding between the United States and Japan in a global context. Now in its second century, the Society serves audien...
  
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  The Noguchi Museum, New York reated by Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988), The Noguchi Museum opened in 1985, presenting a comprehensive collection of the artist's works in stone, metal, wood, and clay, as well as models for public projec...
  
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  New York Botanical Garden (Brooklyn Botanic Garden) Cherry Blossom Trees, Garden The historic garden is one of the oldest extant Japanese gardens in the United States, and its collection of cherry cultivars was in lovely bloom during filming. Petry, a specialist in moving camera t...
  
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  The Japanese Peace Bell and Garden - North of the Secretariat Building at United Nations Headquarters The Japanese Peace Bell, located in the area north of the Secretariat Building at United Nations Headquarters. The Peace Bell was donated by the United Nations Association of Japan in June, 1954.Mr. C...
  
  Day of PeaceEvents (1)
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  The Japanese Garden at Pocantico This Japanese garden is at the country home of John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) which was built just north of Tarrytown in an area known as Pocantico (the word the Rockefellers used when referring to...
  
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  Katagiri Japanese Grocery Store (Opened 1907) Conveniently located in the heart of Manhattan, we have provided New Yorkers with Japanese groceries ever since Katagiri Brothers Inc. opened its doors in 1907....
  

Ohio

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  Packard Park Japanese Tea Garden (Est. 1915) Warren, Ohio - 2nd Japanese Tea Garden in the United States (Video) Packard Park Japanese Tea Garden in Warren, Ohio, Established in 1915, holds the distinction of being the second Japanese Tea Garden in the United States, following in the footsteps of San Francisco's...
  

Oregon

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  Portland Japanese Garden The Portland Japanese Garden is widely regarded as one of the most authentic and beautiful Japanese gardens outside of Japan. Here are some reasons why:1. Design and Layout: The Portland Japanese Gard...
  
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  Japanese American Historical Plaza Relief columns grace the formal entrance of this solemn site located at the south end of the Japanese Memorial at Waterfront Park. Haiku-engraved broken stones and 100 cherry trees line the walk. The ...
  
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  Japanese American Historical Plaza - Bill of Rights Memorial Japanese American Historical Plaza is located here. See the Japanese memorial plaques, Dedicated on August 3, 1990, the Japanese American Historical Plaza and Bill of Rights Memorial was created to ...
  

Pennsylvania

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  Shofuso Japanese House and Garden [Video] This shoin-zukuri (desk-centered) house, built in 17th century style, is located on the grounds of the Horticultural Center in the West Fairmount Park. The perfectly proportioned architecture of the m...
  
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Texas

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  The Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum - Samurai Collection The Samurai Collection is Dallas, Texas, was created in 2012 to house the Japanese Armor of Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller.  Their ever-expanding collection is comprised of almost 1,000 objects, man...
  
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  Fort Worth Botanic Japanese Garden The Fort Worth Japanese Garden was completed in 1973. It is a traditional stroll garden with winding paths through the landscapes and around ponds.  The Garden consists of 7.5 acres filled with cherr...
  

Washington

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  Maneki Japanese Restaurant (Established 1904) Maneki Restaurant is traditional Japanese cuisine located in the International District in Seattle, Washington. Established in 1904, the first sushi bar, tatami rooms (private matted rooms) and karaok...
  
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  Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House (Historic built in 1910) The Historic Panama Hotel built in 1910 by Sabro Ozasa, a Japanese Architect and graduate of the University of Washington. Through the years it has served as a home for generations of Japanese immigra...
  
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  Bainbridge Island Historical Museum The Bainbridge Island Historical Museum and the award-winning exhibit “Kodomo No Tame Ni-For the Sake of the Children.” It covers a century of history of pioneering Japanese immigrants and Japanes...
  
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  Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial The Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community (BIJAC) honors the heritage of the Issei (first generation Japanese) who came to the United States, and particularly to Bainbridge Island, to make a n...
  
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  Seattle Japanese Garden - Washington Park Arboretum (Main) The Japanese Garden is a 3.5-acre traditional Japanese stroll garden located within the Washington Park Arboretum. The idea for a Japanese Garden in Seattle had formed by 1909 but it wasn’t until 19...
  
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  Mukai Farm and Garden (Est. 1930s) The Mukai Farm & Garden celebrates Vashon’s Japanese American and agricultural heritage. With its historic Craftsman house, Japanese Gardens, acreage, and strawberry processing plant, Mukai is �...
  
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  Seike Japanese Garden - Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden Opened in June 2006, the Seike Japanese Garden is another one of the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden’s great treasures. It is located down the hill just past the Daylily and Iris beds.This beautifu...
  
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  Peace Park, Sadako Sasaki Statue Peace Park, located in Hiroshima, Japan, is a memorial dedicated to the victims of the atomic bombing that devastated the city on August 6, 1945. The park serves as a poignant reminder of the horrors ...
  

Wyoming

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  Heart Mountain Interpretive Center Heart Mountain is located 14 miles east of Cody, Wyoming. Take Hwy 14A to Road 19. A small road sign marks the turn. Look for tall red chimney to the north.In August of 2011, the Heart Mountain Wyomin...