Nihon Go Gakko

Nihon Go Gakko is a two-story red brick building on South Tacoma Avenue with large windows and traditional architectural details. The structure contains multiple classrooms, administrative offices, and community gathering areas that were arranged for both group and individual instruction.

The building was founded in 1902 as North America's first Japanese language school, beginning with just four students. Over the following decades the enrollment grew substantially, making it a major educational center for the expanding Japanese community.

The school served as a gathering place where Japanese immigrant families could pass language and cultural knowledge to their children while adapting to American life. Visitors walking through can sense the dual purpose it held in bridging two worlds.

The building sits on a well-traveled street in Tacoma that is easy to locate and observe from the outside. Visitors benefit from taking time to examine the exterior architecture and read any available historical markers or information about the site.

During World War II the building was repurposed as a registration center for Japanese-American evacuees facing forced relocation. After the war it operated as a hotel providing shelter for survivors returning from internment camps.

Location: Washington

GPS coordinates: 47.24780,-122.44200

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:14