The first Asian American immigrants landed in Seattle in the 1860s, just a decade after the city’s founding in 1852. Seattle is plentiful with sites that tell crucial stories about Seattle’s Asian American community, whether you choose to learn about historic neighborhoods and buildings in the International District or browse sculptures and paintings at the Seattle Asian Art Museum housed in Volunteer Park. While you’re at Volunteer Park, make a stop at Black Sun, a sculpture by Japanese artist Isamu Noguchi commissioned in 1967 that offers views to the Space Needle and Olympic Mountains.

Dragon Tamer Luohan in wood, Seattle Asian Art Museum.

Photo courtesy of Seattle Asian Art Museum

May is Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and the perfect time to plan a visit to one — or all — of these notable spots in the greater Seattle area that honor the city’s AANHPI community and history.

Seattle Chinatown-International District’s notable spots

Established in the late 1880s, Seattle Chinatown-International District is one of the oldest Asian American neighborhoods on the West Coast and has been the center of Seattle’s Asian community for well over a century. Facing challenges from modern-day transit and infrastructure projects, in 2023 the neighborhood was placed on The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. It is the only neighborhood in the continental United States where Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, Vietnamese, and African Americans settled together and created a single neighborhood.

While it is common to pass through for hot pot or a trip to Uwajimaya, on your next visit, take time to explore more of the neighborhood’s historical and cultural elements. Stop and admire Pai-Lau, the Seattle Chinatown Gate completed in 2008 to commemorate more than 150 years of Chinese contributions in Seattle. Visit Hing Hai Park, a popular spot for morning mediations, martial arts classes, and cultural festivals, and explore the Danny Woo Community Garden, a 1975 project that now includes Kobe Terrace, fruit orchards, an outdoor kitchen, and plots cultivated by elderly Asian immigrants in the neighborhood.

Hing Hay Park located in the heart of the Chinatown-International District Neighborhood.

Photo courtesy of Seattle Park and Recreation

The Panama Hotel is a landmark in the neighborhood, built in 1910 by a Japanese architect for single Japanese men seeking work in the United States. Book a room at the hotel and stay in the heart of Japantown or simply pay it a visit to learn about its history, have a tea at the café, and glimpse at Hashidate-Yu Bathhouse, the last remaining onsen (Japanese-style public bathhouse) in the U.S (though unfortunately closed for usage). Another important building is the Nippon Kan Theatre. Constructed in 1909, Nippon Kan was a central gathering space for the Japanese community for theatre and arts up until World War II.

The Panama Hotel is a historic landmark for Japanese American heritage in the Pacific Northwest.

Photo courtesy of The Panama Hotel

The museum in the Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee.

Photo courtesy of The Panama Hotel

Unmissable on a visit to the International District is the Wing Luke Museum, the only community-run museum in the United States dedicated to capturing the experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. For more art, browse fine crafts at KOBO, a gallery featuring the work of Japanese and Northwestern artisans in a historic Japantown building, where many of the vintage features have been preserved.

While you’re in the neighborhood, don’t forget to eat! Book a table at Maneki, a spot dating back to 1904, serving traditional Japanese fare on low-to-the-ground tables and tatami mats. Grab Filipino-inspired baked goods like ube cheesecake and blueberry calamansi brioche at Hood Famous Bakeshop or grab a bowl of steaming pho at Pho Bac Sup Shop.

Assorted Pho and Goi Cuon summer rolls at Pho Bac Seattle.

Photo courtesy of Pho Bac Sup Shop

Visit Seattle’s Japanese and Chinese-inspired gardens

Ideal quiet spaces for meditation and reflection, escape the busyness of the city in one of Seattle’s Japanese or Chinese gardens. Japan has a centuries-old tradition of gardens, considered to be an art form essential to life. Stroll gardens — a specific style of Japanese gardens designed to encourage walking — follow a path around a central pond and incorporate varying landscapes from Japan, including islands, forests, and waterfalls.

Tucked into the Washington Park Arboretum, the Seattle Japanese Garden opened to the public in 1960 and has continued to receive acclamation for its detailed design blending Japanese and native Northwest plants. Wander through the winding garden slowly and mindfully, taking in the details of stones, lanterns, bridges, and plants, everchanging in color and scent throughout the seasons.

In Rainier Beach, get lost among the landscapes of Kubota Garden. This south Seattle Japanese garden is a maze of Maple forests, creeks, bridges, and ponds. Also, in the south part of the city is the Seattle Chinese Garden at South Seattle College. Designed around the philosophy of yin and yang, the 4.6-acre garden incorporates the four elements through water, stone, plants, and architecture to align with the universal energy of qi.

Learn about Japanese history on Bainbridge Island

It is impossible to explore Seattle’s Asian roots without acknowledging the dark period in history during World War II. One of the best spots to learn about this is at the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial, a place designed with the intention of fostering healing and community. On March 30, 1942, the more than 200 Japanese American residents of Bainbridge Island became the first in the nation to be forcibly removed from their homes during World War II.

Located in Bainbridge Island’s Pritchard Park, the memorial is more than 20 years in the making and was developed with the goal of acknowledging the wrongdoings of the pass and solidifying the community. The wall includes wooden, carved paintings and paper cranes to pay tribute to the exiled community members.

Visit Seattle’s historic Buddhist temples

Not simply a place for Japanese Buddhist practice, the Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple holds a lot of history as well. Japanese Betsuin tradition in Seattle dates back to 1901 when the first Jodo Shinshu Buddhist service took place in the Pacific Northwest. After many iterations of the temple, a more permanent temple complex was constructed in 1941, which is still standing today.

During WW II, the Seattle Betsuin Temple was used as a Maritime Commission Office. Today, the temple serves its original purpose: as a gathering place for Betsuin Buddhist practitioners. Whether you’re simply curious about some of Seattle’s Japanese history or are interested in learning more about this line of Buddhism, the temple runs regular readings, discussions, and festivals.

Another central spot for Seattle’s Buddhist community is Sakya Monastery, a temple for Tibetan Buddhism. Formed in 1974, Sakya opened with the intention to share the teachings of highly regarded Tibetan Lamas and preserve Tibetan culture. Sakya Monastery’s current location in Greenwood continues to be a staple for preserving Tibetan culture in exile and centuries-old Tibetan Buddhist practices and teachings.