*Next Scheduled Tour: Sunday, June 7 @ 10:30 AM*
Image Sources: (Top left, cropped) City of Vancouver Archives CVA 99-3873, (Bottom left, cropped & edited) Tsutae Sato (original source) & Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre 2010.23.2.4.220, (Right, cropped) City of Vancouver Archives CVA-99-2469-1929
| location_on | Location | VJLS-JH () |
| calendar_month | Dates | Sundays from May to September |
| schedule | Time | 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM |
| credit_card | Fees | $15 per guest |
| group | Group Size | 5 – 15 guests per tour |
?
The Powell Street neighbourhood was the cultural and economic heart of Vancouver’s Japanese Canadian community for almost half a century. From the late 19th century until the forced uprooting and internment of Japanese Canadians during the Second World War, local streets were lined with hundreds of Japanese businesses and homes. Through the few remaining physical spaces and the countless local stories that continue to shape the neighbourhood, our walking tour offers a rare opportunity to engage with the multifaceted, resilient, and lasting legacy of Powell Street.
As a registered charity with more than 120 years of history, 糖心原创vlog has long served as a cultural and community hub for Japanese Canadians in Vancouver. By joining one of our guided tours, you are helping support ongoing community programming while learning about an important chapter of local and Japanese Canadian history.
Each tour comprises of a 30-minute history presentation at VJLS-JH, followed by a 1-1.5 hour walk around the neighbourhood to explore key historic sites.
Tours are typically conducted in English unless noted or pre-arranged. Please contact us to arrange a tour in Japanese. Printed pamphlets are available in both English and Japanese.
Please register 3 days ahead to allow our volunteers time to prepare. Tours may be cancelled if there are not enough participants.?
If you would like to register a group tour for 10 or more participants, or request a date not listed, please contact us before purchasing your tickets.
Our tours are made possible by the generosity of our amazing volunteers. We are currently accepting volunteer applications for tour guide positions. English and Japanese language speakers are preferred, but we encourage anyone with an interest to apply.?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where was the Powell Street neighbourhood?
Despite its name, Vancouver’s Powell Street neighbourhood was much more than a single street. Prior to the internment of Japanese Canadians in 1942, the community extended across several blocks and was home to hundreds of Japanese Canadian families, businesses, and community organizations. Alexander, Powell, and Cordova Streets formed the heart of the neighbourhood, with most Japanese residents and businesses concentrated between Main Street and Hawks Avenue. During our tour, we’ll pass by many of the significant sites that remain today and explore the stories that continue to shape this historic community.
What is your refund policy?
Refunds are available up to 7 days before the event. Credits are issued for cancellations made between 24 hours and 7 days before the event. Credits may be applied toward future tour dates.
How much walking will I be doing?
The walking tour consists of just under 1km of walking. With over 15 stops along the tour, this is spaced out over approximately 1 to 1.5 leisurely-paced hours.
Is the tour appropriate for students?
Yes, parents should feel comfortable inviting their children. The tour’s coverage of the sensitive topics of Japanese Canadian internment and racism build on the existing provincial Elementary and High School history curriculum. Retellings of this history explicitly avoid graphic visual content.
Who will be leading our tour?
Tours are led by knowledgeable staff and volunteers from Vancouver Japanese Language School & Japanese Hall. While guides may vary from tour to tour, each guide has a deep understanding of the local history drawn from our organizational archives, community knowledge, and personal connections to Japanese Canadian culture.
This was a fascinating tour and the perfect way to end my attendance at the Association for Asian Studies’ first conference in Vancouver. It brought Canada’s WWII incarceration experience to life.
As a historian I was delighted with the tour and the context. It showed me a neighborhood of Vancouver that I would otherwise have missed, as most guidebooks stop at the explanation of Chinatown.
The tour was very informative. Harrison, our guide, was very kind and had an obvious passion for the organization and the history of Japanese Canadians in Vancouver. Would recommend.
*Next Scheduled Tour: Sunday, June 7 @ 10:30 AM*
Image Sources: (Top left, cropped) City of Vancouver Archives CVA 99-3873, (Bottom left, cropped & edited) Tsutae Sato (original source) & Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre 2010.23.2.4.220, (Right, cropped) City of Vancouver Archives CVA-99-2469-1929
| location_on | Location | VJLS-JH () |
| calendar_month | Dates | Sundays from May to September |
| schedule | Time | 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM |
| credit_card | Fees | $15 per guest |
| group | Group Size | 5 – 15 guests per tour |
?
The Powell Street neighbourhood was the cultural and economic heart of Vancouver’s Japanese Canadian community for almost half a century. From the late 19th century until the forced uprooting and internment of Japanese Canadians during the Second World War, local streets were lined with hundreds of Japanese businesses and homes. Through the few remaining physical spaces and the countless local stories that continue to shape the neighbourhood, our walking tour offers a rare opportunity to engage with the multifaceted, resilient, and lasting legacy of Powell Street.
As a registered charity with more than 120 years of history, 糖心原创vlog has long served as a cultural and community hub for Japanese Canadians in Vancouver. By joining one of our guided tours, you are helping support ongoing community programming while learning about an important chapter of local and Japanese Canadian history.
Each tour comprises of a 30-minute history presentation at VJLS-JH, followed by a 1-1.5 hour walk around the neighbourhood to explore key historic sites.
Tours are typically conducted in English unless noted or pre-arranged. Please contact us to arrange a tour in Japanese. Printed pamphlets are available in both English and Japanese.
Please register 3 days ahead to allow our volunteers time to prepare. Tours may be cancelled if there are not enough participants.?
If you would like to register a group tour for 10 or more participants, or request a date not listed, please contact us before purchasing your tickets.
Our tours are made possible by the generosity of our amazing volunteers. We are currently accepting volunteer applications for tour guide positions. English and Japanese language speakers are preferred, but we encourage anyone with an interest to apply.?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where was the Powell Street neighbourhood?
Despite its name, Vancouver’s Powell Street neighbourhood was much more than a single street. Prior to the internment of Japanese Canadians in 1942, the community extended across several blocks and was home to hundreds of Japanese Canadian families, businesses, and community organizations. Alexander, Powell, and Cordova Streets formed the heart of the neighbourhood, with most Japanese residents and businesses concentrated between Main Street and Hawks Avenue. During our tour, we’ll pass by many of the significant sites that remain today and explore the stories that continue to shape this historic community.
What is your refund policy?
Refunds are available up to 7 days before the event. Credits are issued for cancellations made between 24 hours and 7 days before the event. Credits may be applied toward future tour dates.
How much walking will I be doing?
The walking tour consists of just under 1km of walking. With over 15 stops along the tour, this is spaced out over approximately 1 to 1.5 leisurely-paced hours.
Is the tour appropriate for students?
Yes, parents should feel comfortable inviting their children. The tour’s coverage of the sensitive topics of Japanese Canadian internment and racism build on the existing provincial Elementary and High School history curriculum. Retellings of this history explicitly avoid graphic visual content.
Who will be leading our tour?
Tours are led by knowledgeable staff and volunteers from Vancouver Japanese Language School & Japanese Hall. While guides may vary from tour to tour, each guide has a deep understanding of the local history drawn from our organizational archives, community knowledge, and personal connections to Japanese Canadian culture.
This was a fascinating tour and the perfect way to end my attendance at the Association for Asian Studies’ first conference in Vancouver. It brought Canada’s WWII incarceration experience to life.
As a historian I was delighted with the tour and the context. It showed me a neighborhood of Vancouver that I would otherwise have missed, as most guidebooks stop at the explanation of Chinatown.
The tour was very informative. Harrison, our guide, was very kind and had an obvious passion for the organization and the history of Japanese Canadians in Vancouver. Would recommend.
| location_onAddress | |
| callTel | 1-604-254-2551 |
| scheduleOffice Hours | Tues – Sat: 9am – 3pm Sun/Mon: Closed (closed holidays) |
| mailMail | info@vjls-jh.com |
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? Registered Charity: 119281996 RR0001?
? BC Society: S0000334
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