Before World War II, there were over 80 Japanese communities across the United States, with at least 40 in California. The development of these communities was forced to remove Japanese people from their homes from their homes, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, forcing them to be imprisoned in concentration camps. Sometimes it stopped suddenly.
In response to the 1941 attack on Japan's Pearl Port, National Order identified Japanese-Americans as “enemy aliens.” As a result, around 120,000 people were detained, with over two-thirds of whom were born and raised in the United States. More than 1,800 Japanese-Americans have died while in prison.
In 2022, President Joe Biden declared the Day of Memory on February 19th to commemorate the imprisonment of Japanese Americans during World War II, to reflect the outcome. Executive Order 9066 not only disrupts the lives of individuals and families, but also destroys the entire cultural enclave. It is estimated that the Japanese lost an estimated $400 million while in prison.
Many survivors attempted to return home only to discover their belongings had been stolen, their property was destroyed or sold, effectively erasing their presence from the neighbourhood. Since the 1950s, Japanese communities have been further wiped out with urban renewal projects aimed at new investors and commercial development.
Dozens of people gather to learn how to make origami at Origami Palooza in San Francisco's Japantown area. Gabrielle Lurie, San Francisco Chronicle/AP Image Photo
Today, three officially recognized Japantowns in the United States are located in San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles. Below is their story. By visiting these important spaces and supporting businesses, travelers can contribute to the preservation of Japanese culture and heritage.
(Related: Restoration of Hawaii's Forgotten World War II Internment Site.)
Japan Town, San Francisco
In the 1940s, Japan Town in San Francisco was home to over 5,000 Japanese residents and 200 Japanese companies. Today it is the largest and oldest of the remaining three Japantowns in the US
San Francisco's Japantown is the largest and oldest of the remaining three Japantowns in the United States. Its history dates back to the 1800s, when San Francisco served as the main port of entry for Asian immigrants to the mainland of the United States. The Japanese established enclaves south of Chinatown and the market, which flourished until the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Not deterred, they moved to the addition of the city's western part. By 1940, Japan Town was home to over 5,000 Japanese residents and 200 businesses, making it one of the largest Japanese communities outside of Japan.
“Japantown used to occupy 40 blocks, but you can accomplish anything by making suits and making shoes shine,” says the Japan Town Task Force, a San Francisco nonprofit dedicated to preserving. says Dr. Emily Millers, executive director of JTF. And develop the neighborhood.
The bustling neighbourhood disappeared when residents were jailed as a result of Executive Order 9066. The Japanese tried to rebuild their communities upon their release, but faced a difficult battle. After World War II, city renewals became a major focus for America, and Japantown was one of the first areas to target large-scale projects known as additional redevelopment projects in the West. Half of the neighborhood was demolished by 1960 and was redeveloped until the 1980s.
Murase says that around six blocks of Japantown are still there today. It has evolved into a shopping, dining and entertainment district rather than a residential area, but it stands as a testament to the strength of the Japanese-American community.
“Japantown has been crushed not just once, but twice,” she says, referring to both the earthquake and the war. “The fact that it still exists shows the resilience of our community. This is our small village and we are proud of it.”
Things to do in Japantown, San Francisco
Murase recommends that visitors take the Japantown History Walk, a self-guided audio tour featuring historical and culturally important landmarks. One of the most important landmarks is the Peace Pagoda, a five-tier pagoda donated to San Francisco by the people of Osaka in Japan. For food, Udon Mugiso serves a bowl of homemade traditional Udon noodles, and the sushi delivers conveyor belt style sushi to a row of miniature bullets. Those looking for a unique gift can stop at Asakichi, an antique specialty store known for its traditional iron teapots, and at the family-run origami museum and shop that offer origami folding classes.
(Related: These lesser known sites help families connect with Asian American history.)
Japan Town, San Jose
In the late 1800s, Japanese foreigners began moving to the Santa Clara Valley, with plenty of opportunities to work on farms. They initially settled in Chinatown, San Jose, but continued to establish their own community with China and later with immigrants from the Philippines.
After the issuance of Executive Order 9066, all of Japanese ancestors were told to report their registration to the San Jose State Men's Gymnasium, unaware that they would be jailed for the next three years.
Historian Kurt Fukuda, author of San Jose Japantown: Journey says many Japanese people, including his parents, chose to settle in San Jose (after their release).
“There were still anti-morrow sentiments in the area, but they were resistant enough to feel safe,” he says. “After the war, Japan's population has doubled from its previous position.”
Today, the upward mobility of immigrant children and grandchildren is the result of many Japanese-Americans leaving Japantown. It remains a highly rooted community that caters to residents rather than tourists.
“Compared to Japantown in San Francisco and Little Tokio in Los Angeles, San Jose Japantown is very humble,” says Fukuda. “It's a living community serving that neighborhood.”
Things to do in Japan Town, San Jose
He recommends visitors take advantage of the city's no-frills food scene. “Nob is great, but you can't find it in San Jose Japantown,” he says with a laugh. For Japanese-style fried chicken and oysters, check out the port for katsu curry and gombe. Fukuda says the shuei-do manju shop is “essential” for the traditional Japanese confectionery Manju.
To explore the history of Japantown, we visit San Jose Betsin, a Buddhist church founded in 1902, gathering Japanese immigrants and visiting the Japanese American Museum. Family Living Quarterly Recreation at one of the Internment Camps.
(Related: Why are there so many Chinatowns in the US?)
Los Angeles, Little Tokyo
Artist Robert Vargas created an artistic homage to Shohei Ohtani, a pitcher and designated batsman for La Dodgers. Art lovers can find murals in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo area. Ted Soqui, Photos by Sipa USA/AP Images
Little Tokyo celebrated its 140th anniversary last year, but it has had to overcome many adversities over the years, like San Francisco and Japantown in San Jose. Recently, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has named it one of America's most endangered places.
“We have a long history of fighting for our neighborhood,” says Christine Fukushima, executive director of the Little Tokio Community Council (LTCC) in Los Angeles.
It is estimated that 37,000 Japanese-Americans from Los Angeles County were jailed during World War II, and more than a third of them chose to move elsewhere when they were released. The remaining residents and community activists united to maintain their neighborhoods amid urban development, leading to the revival of Little Tokyo in the 1970s and the designation of the National Historic District in 1986.
Things to do in small Tokyo in Los Angeles
Today, Little Tokyo has over 50 legacy businesses, and LTCC defines it as a business that has been part of the neighborhood for at least 20 years. These include Kouraku, America's longest-running ramen shop, and Sushi Shogun, a family-run sushi spot in a strip mall that is as popular with locals as tourists. Bunkado is a one-stop gift shop offering a wide range of traditional items, including ceramic and paper lanterns.
The Japanese-American National Museum is dedicated to educating the public about the Japanese-American experience and includes an exhibit on community imprisonment during World War II. (It is currently closed for renovations, but will resume later in 2026.) Other popular attractions at Little Techio include East West players, the country's first professional Asian American theatre organization; It includes Japan Guese, a clothing boutique specializing in Tokyo and Los Angeles-inspired streetwear. . In Street Art, Miyako Hotel has a 150-foot-high mural featuring Shoeheiya, a designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers Japanese baseball star.
“When people visit us, they can also think of it as supporting historic communities and being fought by many generations,” Fukushima says. “Without them we wouldn't be here yet.”
(Related: Travelers find “Second Seoul” in Koreatown, LA.
