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Primary Menu 31 Events Near Me Search
  • Attractions
    • View All Attractions
    • Attractions Open Now
    • Museums & History
    • Parks & Gardens
    • Family Friendly
    • Shopping
    • On a Budget
    • EVEN MORE THINGS TO DO
  • Culture
    • View All Culture
    • Arts
    • Beer
    • Biking
    • Cannabis
    • Cultural Communities
    • Craft Spirits
    • Food
    • Makers
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Outdoors
    • Sports
    • Weird
    • Wine
    • MORE CULTURE
  • Neighborhoods
    • View All Neighborhoods
    • Alberta Arts District
    • Belmont
    • Central Eastside
    • Division/Clinton
    • Downtown
    • Hawthorne
    • Lloyd
    • Mississippi
    • Northwest / Nob Hill
    • Old Town Chinatown
    • Pearl District
    • St. Johns
    • Sellwood-Moreland
    • Williams
    • ALL NEIGHBORHOODS
  • Region
    • View All Region
    • Near the City
    • Columbia River Gorge
    • Mount Hood
    • Oregon Coast
    • Willamette Valley
    • ALL REGIONS
  • Plan
    • View All Plan
    • Maps
    • Where to Stay
    • Tours & Itineraries
    • Transportation
    • When to Visit
    • International Resources
    • Portland Weather
    • COVID-19 FAQ
    • Plan a Meeting
  • Events
  • Search
Culture / Japanese American Community

Japanese American Culture

Connect with Portland's rich Japanese-American heritage at sites around the city.

Know Before You Go

This section was produced in collaboration with The Asian Reporter, a community newspaper featuring international and Pacific Northwest news and events with an Asian focus.

Japanese American Historical Plaza and Friendship Circle

Thirteen stone markers commemorate the history of the Issei and their descendants in the Japanese American Historical Plaza. One hundred ornamental cherry trees link the plaza to the Friendship Circle, where you’ll find a “singing” sculpture created to celebrate Portland’s 30-year Sister City relationship with Sapporo, Japan. Guided tours are offered by Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center.

The Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center preserves and shares the culture and history of Japanese Americans in the Pacific Northwest with exhibits, events and talks throughout the year.

Nichiren Buddhist Temple of Portland

The Nichiren Buddhist Temple of Portland is a community center that hosts annual events, including a New Year’s celebration, an event for Buddha’s birthday, a spring festival and Obon services. Visitors welcome.

Oregon Buddhist Temple

One of the oldest religious centers for the Japanese community, the Oregon Buddhist Temple is especially noteworthy for its beautiful sanctuary altar. Portland’s Japanese Buddhists host a New Year’s party, celebrate the birth of Buddha and hold the annual ObonFest at the center. Visitors are welcome.

Oregon Historical Society

The Oregon Historical Society maintains substantial photo collections, news clippings and family history materials on Japanese Americans in Oregon. Collections include letters, diaries and objects from the internment.

Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center

The Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center is a Japanese-American history museum that preserves and shares the culture and history of Japanese Americans in the Pacific Northwest. The center features exhibits, events and talks throughout the year.

Cultural Happenings

Events calendar
Portland Taiko performs at many events around the city.

Japanese American Events

Portland's Japanese American community offers engaging activities all year long.

The Jade International Night Market is packed with multicultural performances.

Jade International Night Market

Thousands gather every August in Southeast Portland to celebrate the Jade District’s diverse immigrant community at the Jade International Night Market.

Celebrate Chinese New Year with colorful cultural activities at Lan Su Chinese Gardens.

Lunar New Year Celebrations in Portland

Portland hosts its own Japanese Mochitsuki Festival, Vietnamese Tet Festival and multiple Chinese New Year events.

Portland Art Museum

The Portland Art Museum has six galleries dedicated to its extensive collection of Asian art. The Japanese galleries include many prints, painting and decorative arts from the Edo and Meiji periods, and contemporary art. Open Tuesday through Sunday.

Portland Japanese Garden

Acclaimed as the most authentic Japanese Garden outside of Japan, this is an ideal retreat for meditation and contemplation. Covering nearly 12 acres, the Portland Japanese Garden features eight different gardens, replete with exquisite plants, carefully placed stones and relaxing pools.

Portland Taiko

Asian-American drum ensemble Portland Taiko, established in 1994, performs throughout the year. In addition to community performances at festivals, libraries and many other venues, the group also holds seasonal shows at the Portland’5 Centers for the Arts. Taiko combines rhythm, movement, energy and culture into a single art form.

Resources

Japan-America Society of Oregon

A private, non-profit, membership organization, the Japan-America Society of Oregon is dedicated to promoting business, education and cultural exchange and enhancing mutual understanding between the people of Japan, Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Cultural Communities

Arts, Eats & History

More Japanese Community
Chef Mayumi Hijikata prepares ramen at Marukin Ramen.

The Portland-Japan Connection

Many of the best Portland goods and restaurants are popping up in a surprising place: Japan. (And vice versa!)

The Portland Art Museum\'s two buildings are separated by a public sculpture garden.

Portland Art Museum

The Portland Art Museum is central to the city's cultural district, housing a large and wide-ranging collection of artworks.

Japanese American businessman Bill Naito coined the name \"Old Town.\"

Japanese American History

Japanese Americans have been a critical part of Portland's past and present.

The Portland Japanese Garden offers over 5 acres of tranquility and a tea house.

Portland Japanese Garden

An authentic example of Japanese landscaping, the Portland Japanese Garden is a haven of tranquil beauty with an unsurpassed view of Mount Hood.

Tokyo ramen restaurant Afuri opened its first international located in Portland, selecting the City of Roses because of its excellent water quality.

Portland Ramen Restaurants

The Portland ramen scene has exploded in recent years, spurred by the arrival of two authentic eateries straight from Tokyo.

Popular offerings on the menu at Takahashi include the \"Cholesteroll,\" Jo Roll and vegetarian sushi.

Eight Great Sushi Spots Around Portland

Portland is only an hour away from the Pacific Ocean, so it should come as no surprise that the city’s sushi options are both delicious and expansive.

An Ota Tofu employee hand-cuts tofu into blocks.

Ota Tofu: America’s Oldest Tofu House Calls Portland Home

This local family-run shop has been making tofu by hand for over a century.

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