Japanese American National Museum

Since its opening in 1992, the Japanese American National Museum has been shedding light on the Japanese American experience, while promoting understanding and appreciation of America's ethnic and cultural diversity. It is a privately funded nonprofit institution supported by nearly 60,000 members and donors.

The museum's renovated historic building was first built by Japanese immigrants in 1925 as a place of worship the Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. Today, it hosts an ever-changing schedule of historical exhibits and houses a permanent collection of over 60,000 unique artifacts, documents, and photographs. Also located here are the archives of the Manabi and Sumi Hirasaki National Resource Center and the state-of-the-art digital production capabilities of the Watase Media Arts Center.

In 1999, the new 85,000-square-foot Pavilion was added. Its design blends traditional Japanese influences with a contemporary American image, featuring several large halls as well as a tranquil stone and water garden. Major art exhibitions are held here, along with lectures, film screenings, concerts, and other large scale events.

The Japanese American National Museum is located at 369 East First Street, Los Angeles, California 90012. Rental space is available for corporate, community, or personal events, ranging from sit-down banquets for 200~250 and theatre-style seating for 300 to receptions for as many as 1,500 guests. Two education centers and a conference room can also be booked for smaller meetings, classes, and informal gatherings.