Japanese American Museum of San Jose

Very interesting little museum, making a visible effort to present and preserve the history and heritage of the Japanese-American community, and also its influence and contributions to modern American society. Information is dense but well presented, the guides are very well informed and friendly. I warmly recommend visiting it.

Wow, the Japanese American Museum is amazing. Though it's not huge, there's a lot to see. There's information and photos from J-town in the past. The 442nd regimental combat team with their motto "Go For Broke". They were the most decorated combat team in WWll. They rescued "The Lost Battalion" from Texas. There's a lot of information and photos from the internment of Japanese Americans, including a replica of an internment barrack. There was also a Kimono exhibit when I went, but I think that the exhibit is over now. There's also a section on Redress with information and photos. It was very touching to tour the museum and I'd recommend that you visit the museum!!

What a wonderful experience! You have a choice of self guided or docent led tour. I highly recommend the docent led…you learn so much more and it’s all very interesting. Our tour was 90 min.

This museum is located in Japantown San Mateo. There’s street parking and they have a small parking lot. Tickets are $8 for adults and you are given a brochure and a map. Although the museum is small, it contains a lot of information and artifacts and explains the history of Japanese American in America. In the back, they have farm equipments and household items. It’s a very interesting and informative museum, check it out if you’re near Japan town!

There are ticket fee 12 usd for adult. Historic about Japanese in American since pre WW2. Show the stuff and stories from the past , during ww2 of Japanese community in America too. Only 1 floor, and the backyard for show agriculture stuff.

Clean and nearby JapanTown. The ticket menu says “Military Family Members Free” but should say “Active Duty Military: Free” since only the service member is admitted free, not their family members. Lost a star because of this. Aside from that, the museum is clean, items well described, and well organized. Excellent barracks display and farm equipment display. Heavy emphasis on FDR’s unconstitutional internment of US citizens following the “sneak” attack on Pearl Harbor. They showed case studies of three honorable US citizens of Japanese descent who filed lawsuits but lost their court cases because the FBI hid crucial evidence that they exhibited zero risk to the security of country prior to their internment. Politicians and the media should be doing all they can to prevent any U.S. citizen from being victims of this type of government conduct today.

Definitely worth the visit. The back area is built to resemble one of the barracks in an interment camp, and some of the tools and paraphernalia of the time. One is able to get close enough for a good view, and it was a refreshing surprise to be able to go into the recreation of a portion of the barracks, it felt like I was there.

The museum offered an in-depth and high quality retelling of the history of Japantown San Jose. The rotating exhibit was my favorite, it showed the impact of women and POC on history, so stop by soon to see that.

I've been fortunate enough to come here twice with a group of friends on guided tours with excellent docents! Both experiences were different, but just as meaningful and educational... after our recent tour, my friends and I actually decided to make this an annual event! Yes, we all enjoyed it that much! It's amazing what was kept by individuals who donated to the museum, the history behind the items and the foresight to hang onto these items, it still blows my mind! Especially the vintage automobile and farming equipment, very cool! The docents, at least the two we had, were extremely knowledgeable. They each came to the tour(s) with different approaches, which made you (at least me!) think about the struggles differently... and brought to home the challenges my very own relatives (grandparents, in-laws, etc.) faced. I interviewed my grandfather when I was a teenager, but the tours made me realize there were so many things I didn't ask him. If you are of Japanese descent, I encourage you to talk to someone who was incarcerated, even if you're not of Japanese descent too! It's extremely eye opening... I feel very fortunate to have such a historical gem so close by and encourage anyone to go! Note: private tours need to be arranged in advance and take place before the museum opens! The exhibits also change periodically, so no two visits will be the same...

A wonderful immersion in a part of San Jose history. Did you know that before there was Japantown in San Jose, there was a large Chinatown there? The docent was very knowledgeable and fascinating to listen to. My teenagers were attentively listening and interested. A great place to go for getting a sense of connection to San Jose and West Coast history.

This museum is in J-town, but not on the main street, so unless you know it is there, you would miss it; yet, it is a short walk from the shops and restaurants on Jackson Street. On our visit, we were given an introduction by the knowledgeable docent, Will, and his trainee, Sirya; both were informative and helpful. There are many, many exhibits in this museum, including a fascinating display out back in a huge barn that included farm equipment and a model T Ford. There is also a small gift shop. It is definitely worth a visit!

This review is for the museum as a rental facility. Our family has a long standing relationship and history in San Jose Japantown, so it seemed fitting to do a family reunion at the museum. I would like to shout out to Vanessa, Chris and the other docents for making the reunion a complete success. With a little under 40 people in the venue was perfect. Reasonably priced to buy out the museum as a private event. Tables and chairs available for 40 (I think this is their max), no exclusive catering limitations (thank you to Minato's in Jtown!), small extra insurance fee for beer & wine, we were able to bring everything in potluck style, but it was the accommodating staff that made everything work so smoothly. The museum was open for us to wander through, but the docents offered us the opportunity to have the full tour towards the end of the party. It was great that some of our younger generation cousins got a chance to see the museum and understand the impact of San Jose Japantown in our community. I got compliments from everyone at the party for the venue choice and the reunion itself!

great little museum in San Jose Japantown. in a modest space it covers the Japanese immigration experience from the late 1800s with focus on the WWII internment and military service (442/100 was the most decorated unit in US history) also has more history of the MIS Military Intelligence Service that I have seen. There are a great many displays of ORIGINAL artifacts from each era. There's plenty of narratives that explain each display along with video presentations. We carefully took in everything. There's a separate display outside in the back of everyday life and farming equipment from 1900 to 1940, including an original Ford Model T, farm truck and early tractors. There are also seasonal rotating displays. There's a recreation of an internment barracks and a summary display for each of the 10 interment camps. We saw where our parents were held: Rohwer, Poston, Topaz. took pictures of the display for Mom. We spent 3 hours there but a walkthrough can be done in a short time. Highly recommended, there's something for everyone as of July 2024 open Thursday to Sunday, 12:00PM - 4:00PM. Adults: $12 Seniors: $8 Students/Educators: $8 Children (under 5): Free For more information, please go to museum website

Tragedy and Resilience! This museum is extremely special highlighting an aspect of the American Experience that is heartbreaking and resoundingly hopeful at the same time. Reading about the internment of US citizens of Japanese descent in the second World War is a poignant and difficult experience. That old adage 'Those who don't study history are doomed to repeat it' also plays a major role in this well organized small museum of the Japanese American experience. The maps and artifacts of the Japanese American Experience in the Bay Area are enlightening. There is even a small room made up to look like where the internees had to live. A well done re-enactment of what it felt like for thousands of US citizens. Throughout the museum you can also find example after example of hope and resilience. They did not give up on the American Dream after this terrible experience. The community came back and rebuilt itself over the years. Japantown is one of my favorite neighborhoods today and such a strong sense of self where they honor the past for both its difficulty and bright future.

The museum described the Japanese American immigration experience. I appreciated that there was a display that explained the "No No" vs "Yes Yes" responses. This was an ill conceived questionnaire to determine if you were a loyal American. Unfortunately the responses fractured the community and we are living with the fall out of that today. The museum has acquired some farm equipment that belonged to a local farmer interested in preserving the equipment their family once had on the farm. It was interesting to see what used to be modern inventions. I would have appreciated a discussion somewhere about how he government tried to downplay the harshness of the conditions of the numerous sites in the interior of the country by using such words as: evacuation, internment camps, and assembly centers. Well worth a visit and it's not far to walk to get sushi and shaved ice (except on Sundays).

What a hidden jem! I love learning about different cultures especially Asian Culture! A few of my cousins are Japanese which definitely intensifies the feelings! We were offer a tour around the museum followed with a 50 minute presentation. The staff//volunteer people were extremely helpful and patient. Such a clean and tidy place. This place offers auethentic items throughout time. Also it's one of the 3 Japan Town left in the USA!! Parking is also provided so don't worry haha! Definitely a to go place you have to go visit!!

What I thought was going to be a quick visit ended being a six hour journey, and worth every minute. The museum offers a walking tour of Japantown, for a senior rate of a paltry $5. We had an informative tour filled with both the history of Chinatown and Japantown. I particularly enjoyed the small but significant tidbits of history and personal stories of our guide that made the experience most enjoyable and unique. While the guide was telling us about Japantown past, a little old lady overheard, stopped, and shared her many decades of local knowledge. This only reinforced what I sensed from the guide, that Japantown is a clean, close and vibrant community. After the tour was over we got the true Japantown experience by going to the mochi shop, had a shave ice AND a great lunch that tasted like mom's home cooking. For $5, senior museum admission, we were given a personal guide that has been volunteering at the museum for 14 years, AND her mother was in a camp in WWII. It doesn't get more real that that. The museum was much bigger than I anticipated, and covered everything from the heroism of the the WWII 442nd Infantry Regiment (composed almost of all second generation Japanese Americans and were the most decorated in US military history) to the agricultural immigrant roots of the first generation Japanese. I enjoyed the big picture of the Japanese American experience of resilience, in the framework of local San Jose history. A day well spent in San Jose. Support the museum and its hard working staff.

Truly a must visit if you can carve out the time! The educational experience is priceless. And i can't say enough about the kindness of the staff and volunteers! Thank you for a wonderful visit.

Honestly, I'm not typically interested in visiting museums. Call me uncultured, but I just tend to find them boring. It's very torturous not being allowed to touch things, so I usually like places such as the Exploratorium because it's interactive. We came here because we had an hour or so to kill. Since admission was only $8/adult, we figured it was small and wouldn't take us long to get through. I'm not sure if it was because it was a Sunday, but we were surprised to be taken on a guided tour with docent Rich. He was amazing and tried to make the tour more like a discussion than a lecture. The museum was small and homey, but that was actually refreshing because it felt like he was showing us a personal collection, rather than just a stiff set of displays. I did enjoy seeing the current exhibit of arts and crafts done at the internment camp. It was special seeing the beautiful work made despite their living condition. Honestly, I really wanted to touch the stuff, but rules are rules and my hand doesn't go through glass anyways. The tour lasted about an hour, and I just felt so inspired by not only Rich's passion, but also the thirst for knowledge I saw from the others that just happened to be in my tour group by chance. It was a beautiful thing to witness, and well worth the $16 my boyfriend spent on our tickets.

Not hard to find. Glad I went, I plan on going again very soon. My mother is Japanese. I grew up with many Japanese of different generations so the history was meaningful to me, especially the internship displays since I knew people that lived in those camps. The main thrust understandably is the history of Japanese in the San Jose area and the interment years. Very good displays about those years in the 1940's. At least one volunteer lived in a camp in Arizona and is willing to talk about it if you ask her. I didn't get her name. I couldn't help but keep looking for some historical tidbits of the Japanese in my area of the Bay Area. I mention it because if you're going to look for history outside of San Jose there isn't much (except for the intern displays). Nothing wrong with that, this museum is super if you have the high level of interest that I do. A must do is the guided tour. Gordon was our leader and had a lot of information. Also he will answer questions if you have any. This museum was special to me because of the connection I have as part Japanese and growing up with Japanese culture and people. I will go again.

The building that holds the Japanese American Museum of San Jose is lovely and clean; the museum itself is well organized. Visiting here recently, I learned about the lives of early 20th century Japanese immigrants, and how World War II completely changed their lives. There are a number of very well informed and passionate docents who lead guided tours through the museum. I strongly suggest that you take one of these tours, as the experience becomes much more powerful and thought provoking. A docent in her early eighties led the tour I took; she lived in an internment camp during WW II. She told a number of fascinating stories about her life in the camps; hearing the stories first-hand made all the difference! In the museum you'll see a number of different exhibits showing the daily life of Japanese American residents, and read interviews of those that served in the war. There's even a replica of a camp barrack, which illustrates the story of the Japanese internment period. Admission is very reasonable, and the experience is one you won't forget any time soon.

Very well done museum. Informative and moving. Worth the trip outside of town. Make sure to see all three areas of the historic site.

I encourage any family in San Jose with kids 10 to college age to visit this important museum. It is a gem of historic information on the Japanese-American Internment 1942-1945. Citizens of this great country need to understand our full history. Even the dark parts. To be an informed public will help preserve democracy and what makes this nation special. We need to understand our US Govt leadership mistakes so the next generation does not repeat them. The artifacts and an actual made to scale living quarters (barrack) give you a small idea of what it was like. It's the true stories of life disruption, detours, despair and some cases destruction of livelihoods and dignity that must be heard. As well as the determination, devotion, dedication and ultimate sacrifices made by Japanese-Americans for love of country in spite of the racism they faced.

A must-see if you are in San Jose. Definitely note the hours. It closes at 4 p.m. We arrived at 3:15 p.m. thinking we would just speed walk through the exhibits. To our surprise, they offered us a docent led tour. TAKE THE DOCENT LED TOUR. It will make this museum. We had the extreme pleasure of hearing from Yoshiko and Roy (both were internment camp detainees). Their knowledge and personal experiences made this museum. It is a small museum, basically a room, but the tour lasted an hour because of all the knowledge Yoshiko and Roy had to impart. The museum closes at 4 p.m., but they went fifteen minutes past closing because they wanted to give us (and the other two people who ran in at the same time as us) the full experience. I learned everything from the rise of Japan town in San Jose to life in the internment camps. I try to go to Holocaust Museum's in every city I visit, but I need to add Japanese American museums to that list when I find them. These are the facts that we must never forget (and as a half-Japanese Jew I feel like it's my personal duty to learn everything I can). There is a small gift shop in the front. You can stock up on some great books. The museum admission price has increased to $8, but it is so worth it. I hope everyone has the privilege of visiting this museum.

This is a smaller understated museum that details all the history of Japanese Americans in San Jose and beyond, but mostly San Jose. There is a small side lot along with a fair amount of street parking. Most days parking right close by will not be any kind of an issue. This is an elegant building architecturally speaking. It is an excellent blend of functionality and ascetics with nods to traditional looks. Inside the space while small is rich and well laid out. There is enough varied content to be of interest to just about anyone. The early immigration period and world war two are very well covered. There is also an excellent agricultural history section rife with trucks and tractors of the 1920's to 1940's. A small but thorough art section is included. While the history of the interment period is exhaustively covered this is more then just a museum about the camps. Docents are on hand at all times and can give tours of the whole thing or just the parts you have time for/are interested in. There is a small but well stoked gift store which if you are so inclined has a lot of books for you to learn more with, or just a cute postcard, bracelet, or small small trinket for memory. I highly recommend that either before or after you stroll around a bit. There is a street facing memorial garden two doors down and japantown - a block away or so- has gift stores, lunch spots and suchlike that allow for more learning or at least a great lunch should you so chose. Generally speaking you can cover the museum in an hour or so, throw in lunch in japantown and you'll kill two hours on the short side. The museum does have a cover charge of five dollars which is the best use you'll make of five bucks in japantown for sure. It's totally worth your time and effort to come here.

Roastin', Toastin' & Dustin' I don't know which camp my Mom was born in but to see the map of the camps was intense. The declarations were posted throughout various sections of the museum. I loved the Hinamatsuri dolls. The dolls were absolutely beautiful and were so beautiful. It was tough to sit there and just take it all in. I majored in Asian Am studies in college. My parents were born in camp. There was so much history there. I wish I had been able to spend more time at the museum but I think it's best in small doses, for me. These days of relocation are really something to learn about. I won't ever forget the stories my grandparents told me about their experiences in camp. It's amazing to believe that some camps had 17,000+ people in them. I just don't even know where to begin to tell you about the experience. I can tell you that there is a lot to be learned and absorbed here. I'd definitely suggest a trip here if you have the opportunity. The building is beautiful and I doubt you can miss it. There is parking along the side of the building as well as on the street. I think the docent led tour is the best as their descriptions will really give you the fuller feeling for the museum. There are lots of books and crafts that you can take home with you from their little shop. I would love to visit again the next time I'm in SJ, as I often visit the JANM in downtown Los Angeles.

Had an hour to kill so I decided to check it out. I have drove by so many times. It's small and not what I expected but very well laid out. People in front were all very nice. Admittedly it's not what I expected. I was expecting a museum about Japanese American accomplishments. Its predominately about the miss treatment of Japanese-Americans and the camps they were forced to durning WWII. My favorite part was reading about the 442nd infantry that was comprised of people that were forced into camps. Most decorated Army infantry ever!?!? Whaaaaaa? If you get a chance go check it out.

Cool little expression of Japanese history in the US, state , and of course San Jose Right in the horse of Japan town. Lots of books and souvenirs you can buy there and homemade crafts representing the Japanese culture and made by local Japanese patrons and art crafters! Very cool!

Excellent museum for a modest cost. My husband and I were in town for the weekend and since it was pouring rain we were looking for an indoor activity we could do on Saturday morning/afternoon to kill some time. I looked up nearby museums and it turned out that this was only 15 minutes from our hotel! I was extremely excited to check this place out, as I'm 1/2 Japanese and very proud of it. As the museum has such limited hours, we planned our day around this trip. We spent nearly 3 hours here, talking with the staff, looking at all the items and watching video clips. I was especially drawn to the cabin that was laid out exactly as many internment camp rooms were. It was cramped and had a lot of cots laid side by side, plus furniture made by the families that had stayed at Japanese internment camps (example: a cabinet made of empty cereal boxes). It was heartbreaking to see, but I was grateful for the experience. This is the hardship my family went through...it was very moving, and just trying to imagine the treatment they received brought me to tears. I'd recommend that anyone who is in the area should stop by at least one time to check it out, regardless of your nationality. It's an incredible piece of history they have tucked away here.

Being Japanese living in the Bay Area, I always wanted to visit here. However, due to limited open time, it was difficult. Finally visited but only we had an hour. Luckily a person there explained the exhibit and saw many pictures, equipment, model of their houses, cars they used. It was interesting and moving. Recommended.

This seems a weird review to write, and maybe I need to explain a couple of things. I was born in Japan, but my biological father was white, and I was adopted by white Americans who lived on the military base in the town where I was born. We moved to San Jose. I recently returned to California and this would be my 5th visit, and the first when the museum was open--I have really bad timing, though the museum is open something like Thursday through Sunday. As a Japanese, I was interested to see how life progressed for Japanese (Japanese-American or American-Japanese) people in the area. Plenty had been said in my American History and World History classes--all of it negative toward Japanese, even though these classes were taken in the 1970s. The museum requires a modest $5.00 admission fee, paid at the desk to the left of the entrance. All of the exhibits are downstairs, and some are in an exterior structure to the rear of the museum. There are photos and stories of prominent people from the community. A great deal of the museum deals with the unfortunate imprisonment of all Japanese-American citizens. This brought back old anger, unfortunately. War is wrong, but imprisoning innocent citizens is horrid. The museum's displays attempt to grand dignity to this unfortunate time. Yes, I am having a difficult time writing about this. They re-created the barracks with cots and lockers and luggage. They also had an agricultural exhibit outdoors, under shelter. They had quite a bit of old equipment that would have been used on farms. They also had a few old cars and trucks, as well as tractors. The two people working in the lobby area were friendly. There seemed to be a couple of people working in the exhibit room who were not. I'm not sure whether they were working for the museum or not but the woman almost bumped into me and acted as if I was a problem for her. I heard her say that she was looking for someone who spoke Japanese, and I almost insulted her in Japanese for being rude. The museum obviously was a mixed experience for me. I was uncomfortable early in my visit. I think that most people wouldn't feel this way, especially non-Japanese. It's a worthwhile visit, as much as the museums in Hiroshima are.

I went to the Japanese American Museum of SJ on my day off to check it out. It's $5 for adults; $3 for students, bring CASH. It's on N. 5th St not far from the Wesley United Methodist Church. Small museum, lots of interesting information about Internment - where they were forced to go. Forced Removal; Assembly Centers; WW2 Internment - I knew about Manzanar, but not about Crystal City, TX; Gila River, AZ; Poston, AZ; etc. Next saw a room they made to be like a Barrack Room. There was a huge quilt made by students - that was cool. Exhibit Camp Days 1942-45 by Chizuko Judy Sugita De Queiroz - watercolor artwork. Very colorful, sad stories. They have a small store to buy books, DVD, jewelry, etc. Separate bathrooms near the entrance on the Left. I recommend checking it out if you're in the area & have an hour or so. Pics allowed, that was nice. Hrs: Thurs-Sun 12-4 *Closed for the Holidays on Christmas Day and New Year's Day Website: http://www.jamsj.org/

Planned a day trip to see this museum. Parking was plentiful in a very busy neighborhood. We were greeted by Rich and given a tutorial on the museum. Rich was informative and knowledgeable on the layout and history of the people it represents. We were blown away on the history and the visuals that they had to offer. Leaving I was humbled and grateful for all I learned on our visit.

Quality museum in the SJ's Japantown. I actually liked this one even more than the one in LA. They have passionate docents who give true-to-heart and through provoking tours. Will Kaku was our docent and he gave an amazing 1-hour tour. He was so worried about boring us and talking too much, but everyone in the group loved it and was in tune for all of it. Learned about the "no-no's" and the resistance movement that I never learned about when in school. I'm just bummed that this museum is only open for such limited hours. You really need at least 2.5 hours here to appreciate it. I went to explore Japantown after the museum closed at 4PM last Sunday and was shocked to find out that most stores were CLOSED! Seems like the establishments really cater to the local businesses during the work week only... My only complaint is how long it took me to pay for admission with a credit card. The whole ordeal had me running back and forth between two desks and cost me the first part of the docent tour...so mad about that, but I left happy enough to not dock a star for it.

Came on a Sunday afternoon at 12:00 pm when they opened. After paying our entrance fee, we were offered a free guided tour. Rich, our docent, was EXCELLENT! He was knowledgeable and did a great job of sharing his expertise with us in a way that was interactive, thought provoking and engaging. We were in a small group with one other party from out of town (4 adults, a teenager and 2 children), and Rich did a wonderful job of including everyone, with varying degrees of background knowledge, in the conversation, including the 10 year old and 6 year old. Unfortunately we had to cut our tour short as we were meeting family for lunch and the other group had another appointment. Once Rich found this out, he gave us a condensed overview of the rest of the museum and answered any of our questions. I definitely want to return to learn more about the rest of the exhibits. If Rich is available, I would definitely request him. However, if he is not, the other gentleman (I've forgotten his name) that was volunteering that afternoon was just as knowledgeable and engaging. One of the most memorable exhibits was the replica of a barracks room in the internment camps. It was eye opening to understand the compact space that 6 people shared, with virtually no privacy. Definitely recommend to anyone interested in Japanese history in the United States, as well as the San Jose area.

It's a hidden gem in San Jose's Japantown, but this is one of those smaller museums where you can really learn more about the culture and especially what occured during World War II and the internment. The volunteer guide I interacted with shared a lot of first-hand experiences he and his family went through during the internment camps plus there are actual materials and real items on display from that era. As sad as some of the stories are, this is definitely a learning experience and one that is rarely mentioned or talked about in school. How could such stories not affect you, even if you didn't personally know anyone who was involved? You'll also find things related to San Jose's Japantown before and after World War II.

I came here initially for an extra credit project for my history class, so I was just planning to go in, read some signs, take some notes, and leave. I guess, on a light day, a volunteer/worker will give you a tour of the museum! I had the pleasure of having an old Japanese lady take me and my brother around along with a middle aged couple around the museum and tell us about her mother's experiences. The experience was very eye opening and I might even come again!

I was lucky enough to be in town during the grand opening weekend of JAMsj, and enjoyed visiting with my family. It's in a beautiful new facility and the volunteers are obviously and deservedly proud. The museum does an excellent job of telling the story of Japanese Americans, especially the history and impacts to the Bay Area. I challenge anyone to not be moved by the stories, especially with the photos and artifacts that help tell them. My favorites were the luggage tag (designed by Vicki Taniguchi from whom I received a nice note about the photo I took for Yelp) and camp sink installations that really hit home as to what it must have been like to be interned. In addition to the section on WWII, there are also exhibits on pre- and post-war, especially as it relates to SJ Japantown. While it's not a large museum, it's definitely worth a visit, especially if you're planning on visiting the surrounding neighborhood for a meal.

A little known gem in Japantown. We visited for the first time during the Nikkei Matsuri Festival and were pleasantly surprised to see all the great history in one small area. The donation fee (admission, lets be honest) is fair at $5 for people 13-64. Seniors were a dollar less I think and 12 and under were free. We found out a lot more about the Japanese internment that is just not told about in school. We left feeling educated (and a bit sad- seriously- that was just a BAD call on the 1940s government!). I don't know how often I will be back, maybe for updates or new exhibits, but I am glad I went.

Not everyone understands the black mark in American history by the name of FDR's Executive Order 9066, but once you go through this museum, you will. The docents do a good job of explaining the exhibits and contextualizing the historical background of the Internment of Japanese Americans during WW2. It is a fascinating subject. I'm glad I made time to visit this museum, and understand the evils of racial discrimination and the resiliency of Japanese Americans. I'm also glad to learn about the history of San Jose's Japantown, which is only one of three Japan towns left in North America.

One of the best museum experienced I ever had. My son had a class project and he picked this museum for the paper he had to write. The warmth we received from the docents was unprecedented. We were approached by two of them during our visit to answer questions. We were very moved by the displays showing the hardship that our government put on the Japanese American citizens. So thankful that we had the opportunity to see this wonderful museum.

This historic museum is a real labor of love by its founder whose many possessions are also on exhibit. Don't forget that there's more outside the backdoor in a garage full of old tractors and automobiles! The replica of an internment camp room as well as the many photographs and artifacts tell the important yet often forgotten chapter and population in US history. The guide/docent was knowledgeable and engaging as he led us through the floor packed with local and national stories of the Japanese Americans. Please visit!

The museum was great!! It was small, but had a lot of great Information. Only $5 entrance fee! My grandmother and other family members were at the internment camps, so it was interesting learning more about what they went through. My grandmother would tell me her stories, but I still learned a lot from the museum.

How have I lived here for 5 years without going here until this weekend? I went with a friend who is doing research on Chinese and Japanese immigrants. We had a docent, Will, take us through. He enriched the informative exhibits with stories about his family's experience and the camps they were sent to. He was also able to tailor his presentation based on the previous knowledge we had about the internment camps--which was great. In fact, we had so much fun learning at the museum with Will that we didn't even get a chance to go to the exhibit on immigration, which was our reason for being there! I will definitely be back, and then will walk around Japantown.

It's important to confront our past so we can recognize when it's happening again. Thank you for putting together this exhibit of our recent past.

This is a gem in San Jose's Japantown and the Bay Area as a whole. In addition to housing some fascinating historical archives, the people who work/volunteer here are amazing. It's likely that you'll be able to meet and talk to someone who was interned during WWII, or someone who has contributed to the collection at this museum. Whether you're looking to brush up on American History, need to do research for a paper or project, or just happen to be in the neighborhood, JAMsj is a wonderful stop! Step into a barrack, learn about the origins of San Jose's Japantown, see and hear the stories of those who came before us and endured one of the greatest injustices in U.S. history. They also have events on a regular basis so be sure to check that out! I went to one today and it was very good!

Although currently closed, an expanded museum in a new building is scheduled to open in November of 2008. 4 stars for its previous incarnation due to its small size, which should be solved with the new building. Some of the many exhibits covered areas such as the local Japanese baseball teams, farming (with a cool collection of old farm equipment), the internment camps, the little known Military Intelligence Service, and an interesting collection of cartoons by Jack Matsuoka relating his experiences as a teenager in the Poston, Arizona, Internment Center.

Went last year during summer on a Saturday and had a lovely docent led tour. I think our docent's name was Gilbert. He was very knowledgeable and I learned a lot more from him than I would have by just reading the plaques. Outside they have old farm equipment, which was a nice diversion from the WW2 stuff inside. A nice place to visit, near lots of restaurants, and has a good gift shop with handmade things for sale.

I learned so much visiting this museum. They have docents that can lead you around the museum to give you background information if you would like. We mentioned that we would prefer to walk around on our own but were given a docent anyways. He was a very sweet old man whose family had been relocated to a camp and was very passionate about sharing the history. They have many old photos, personal items, and even an old car. It isn't a huge museum, but its well worth a look if you have the time. Keep an eye out for the museum. It is located on a side street of Japantown in San Jose. They have a small lot, but frequently the street is easier to park on.

This is much smaller than the Japanese American National Museum in LA, but it does pack a lot of information and history of the Japanese Americans that moved to the San Jose area in the early 1900s. There is an emphasis on farming and agriculture, as well as information on the internment during WWII. Having a docent lead you through the exhibits is far more informative than going through the museum on your own. The staff was very friendly and good with kids.

This museum is an absolute gem. It tells the story in great detail of the history of the Japanese Americans that were eventually interned at camps as well as the history of Japantown during WW II. Do NOT try to roam around on your own. They have very qualified and knowledgeable docents both in English and Japanese that are free and take you through the exhibits where you can ask questions and hear stories and other known facts. Be sure to wait for one. They even have a replica of a barrack where they stayed in the internment camps. The museum is ver well organized. Do not miss visiting this gem that exhibits one of the most horrific breaches of our democracy.

for once a history museum that's very interesting for me! lots of artifacts, photos and information in this place. I highly recommend this place if you are interested in Japanese American history or writing a report. outside in the back, there's more history about farming/agriculture too. there are some buildings from photos in the museum you will recognize when you leave like the print shop :) adults $5 student with ID $3 PS watch out for moths because one flew out of no where in the luggages and i had a mini heart attack...

I have to agree with J.R.'s review - "staff just didn't seem very inviting". I was asked if I was a member and I told them "No", told me the price and took my money then she proceeded to go back towards the office where all the other ladies congregated and chatted. I walk around the gift shop area, no friendly smile or "hello"... nada. I didn't feel welcomed at all. I wished the exhibition had more information regarding the history of Japantown in San Jose. Found the museums in Kelly Park more interesting and the people working there are friendlier.

Small museum but spent an hour here on John's tour! He was very knowledgeable and was able to answer all of our questions. Great stop if you're in Japantown.

It's a small museum with a lot of exhibits. Quite interesting ! I went here for an extra credit assignment for history 15a and ended up enjoying the visit. Make sure you check the times before coming here since they're only open certain times. They have a few parking spaces in their lot. It's likely you'll have to park on the streets.

Somehow I've lived in the Bay Area all my life and never been here! I was glad to latch on to a tour that was just starting (ended up being about 90 minutes - which I think was the perfect amount of time). I also particularly enjoyed the Hapa exhibit.

Was here for a lecture/talk by my professor today, and in the process, discovered this little gem. This museum is situated in a suburban street alongside private homes in Japantown San Jose. I drove by without noticing the place until I asked a local across the street. Seriously, it looked like a regular house. I parked in two hour parking (relatively easy on a Saturday afternoon) and walked into the museum. I later notice a small parking lot to the side (I was clearly unobservant.). General admission is $5 (I think) but I paid $3 as a student (Seniors get discounts too). Compare this to admission to the deYoung or SF MOMA in San Francisco, which is ridiculous! The talk was upstairs in a meeting room, but most of the items for viewing, gift shop, etc. were downstairs. The museum is really small. Now, of course SF MOMA and the deYoung are easily 50x larger than the Japanese American Museum so I can't blame them for being too expensive. Through a poor college grad's point of view, I appreciate the low admission fee here. I really do. I stayed for a total of about 2.5 hours (lecture included). I learned a lot about economics and politics and how it shaped Japanese and Japanese Americans in the states. The people were so passionate, and eager to share their experiences. I was about to leave (fear of parking ticket) when I was introduced to Jimi, an elderly yet vivacious man, who is also the curator of the museum. Jimi quickly gave me a tour of the exhibits. There was a lot of stuff: my favs- OLD CARS FROM THE 1900s AND A REMAKE OF A BARRACK. Oh my gosh. It reminded me of a book I had read when I was young (Farewell to Manzanar). Jimi is still smiling throughout. I wish I had more time to enjoy the exhibits downstairs. Next time I am in San Jose.