Japan Field Trips in the Seattle Area

Washington State Japan Field Trips
Here is a list of Japanese field trips in Washington State- because that’s where I homeschool my kiddos. Even if you don’t live in my state you may still find this list helpful or inspiring and it will give you some ideas of field trips to plan in your area. One example, the Japanese dollar store called Daiso and Asian markets are scattered all over our country, so you may be able to find one near you to visit.
 
Bloedel Reserve
(206) 842-7631
bloedelreserve.org
7571 NE Dolphin Dr
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Children $6, Adult $17
This place has a beautiful Japanese garden and tea house. They often have a Japanese musician who comes to play the koto by the zen garden. You can look up their schedule of events on their website. I don’t recommend taking a big group of students to this place because it’s a “quiet and calm” atmosphere where you can immerse yourself in nature, however, it’s a great place for a family or small group to go and enjoy. There are many trails, landscape, water views and even a beautiful home to walk through. We loved our trip here and my kids even got an opportunity to play the koto and talk with the musician one-on-one.

Panama Hotel
(206) 223-9242
panamahotel.net
607 S Main St
Seattle, WA 98104
This hotel was built by Sabro Ozasa, a Japanese architect in 1910. During World War two, Japanese Americans stored their belongings here when they were forced to move to the internment camps. The current owner has preserved this history of the building. You can still see some of the items that were never claimed when the war was over. She left the items as they were found and has placed a hole covered with plexiglass in the floor, so you can view these untouched Japanese items. You can also tour the only remaining Japanese bathhouse in America here too.

Playing the koto! A koto I a Japanese zither which is a traditional stringed musical instrument. It is about 6 feet long, has 13 silk strings, and is hollow.

Enjoying the zen garden at Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.

Uwajimaya
(206) 624-6248
uwajimaya.com
600 5th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98104
This is a large Asian market with many Japanese cultural foods, clothes, and items- I love this place! They have locations in Seattle, Renton, Bellevue, and Beaverton. The website has a knowledge tab with facts and recipes. Be sure to check out the events tab on their website too.

Daiso
daisojapan.com
710 6th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98104
This is a Japanese dollar store. They have locations all over the west coast and Midwest of America. There are numerous locations in and around Seattle area too. I filled my basket to the brim with all sorts of goodies from this store: candy, cute rice molds, traditional Japanese toys, tiny erasers, and a Japanese umbrella which is called wasaga. This is a must-see store for you and your kids. The location at 710 6th ave. is next to Uwajimaya.

Bainbridge Island Mochi Festival
islandwood.org/event/mochi-festival
4450 Blakely Ave NE
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
There is an annual Mochi Festival around the new year, January 1st, that is held at the Islandwood campus. They have mochi-making, taiko drumming performances, and information about the Bainbridge Island Japanese American community.

Hakata
(360) 698-0929
hakatasilverdale.squarespace.com
10876 Myhre Pl NW
Silverdale, WA 98383
This is an authentic Japanese restaurant. Yoshiyuki and Chiyuki immigrated to the United States in 1969. They were inspired to open Hakata in Silverdale in 1991 because of the lack of authentic Japanese cuisine in the Kitsap peninsula.

Japanese American Remembrance Trail
There is a lot of Japanese history and culture scattered all around Seattle. There is a Japanese American Remembrance Trail Map available at the Japanese Cultural Community Center or you can print one here http://www.wingluke.org/japanese-american-remembrance-trail/ This map will show you many Japanese stores, theaters, tea houses. museums, businesses, and parks throughout the Asian district in Seattle. You can follow the map by walking to find all 42 sites. You can also schedule a guided tour by visiting wingluke.org

Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience
wingluke.org
719 S King St
Seattle, WA 98104
Features art, history and cultural exhibits on pan-Asian Pacific American community.

Peace Park
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/find/parks/peace-park
NE 40th St. & NE Pacific St
Seattle, WA 98105
This park is in the university district of Seattle. Here you will find a statue of the Sadako and the Thousand Cranes, created in 1990 by artist Daryl Smith. The statue is a life-size bronze of Sadako Sasaki, the young Japanese girl who survived the Hiroshima bombing only to die of radiation sickness at age 12. She passed away on October 25, 1955. Many people make origami cranes and lay them at the statue in honor of her life.

Seattle Japanese Garden
seattlejapanesegarden.org
Seattle Japanese Garden is located within the Washington Park Arboretum, at 1075 Lake Washington Blvd E
Seattle, Washington 98112. Parking is free.
They have beautiful 3.5 acre urban Japanese gardens. Events are held every month.

Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial
bijaema.org
4192 Eagle Harbor Drive
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Located at Pritchard Park
This is an outdoor exhibit commemorating the Japanese Americans from Bainbridge Island. It is a unit of the Minidoka National Historic site in Idaho- this place would be another great place to visit.
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Japanese Cultural Community Center
jcccw.org
1414 S. Weller St
Seattle, WA 98144
This community center is a great resource. We stopped by one afternoon and they were very friendly and knowledgeable, and they even gave us a private tour of the facility and explained the art, history and cultural items that are found all over the campus. You can also visit Hosekibako which is located at the community center. It is a Japanese resale thrift shop that sells gently used Japanese items. It is only open Thursday through Saturday. They have many events at this community center so be sure to visit their website. One that we are looking forward to in November is the Japanese Culture Day festival. They have a Facebook page which is a great way to stay connected with events.