Throughout the Big Island, you will find landmarks, cultural experiences, and local businesses rooted in Japanese culture.
Sit Under a Cherry Blossom Tree
These trees typically bloom from February through March in Waimea. Celebrate nature, cultural heritage, and community at the Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival. Experience Hanami 花見 (flower viewing) at the Big Island's annual festival in February, or visit the JCCH's annual flower viewing event on Oʻahu in March.
Stroll through Liliʻuokalani Gardens
Known as one of the largest Edo-style gardens outside of Japan, Liliʻuokalani Gardens features 24 acres of bridges, rock gardens, pagodas, stone lanterns, and a tea house. Dedicated in 1917, this garden in Hilo serves as a tribute to Hawaiʻi Island's first Japanese immigrant sugar cane field workers.
Soak in a Wooden Hot Tub
Tucked away in South Kona is Mamalahoa Hot Tubs & Massage, a lush Hawaiian spa that offers a variety of massage treatments and private naturally sanitized six-foot teak hot tubs. You'll find this experience to be very similar to an onsen 温泉 (hot spring) or sento 銭湯 (public bath).
Munch on Mochi and Manju Confections
Two Ladies Kitchen is a popular hole-in-the-wall mochi and manju shop on Kilauea Ave in Hilo. You'll find a selection of traditional Japanese ingredients (tsubushi an, kinako, shiro) along with contemporary flavors (Oreo, brownie, lilikoʻi). We recommend calling ahead to place an order!
Have a Meal at a Japanese Restaurant
Teshima's Restaurant (Kealakekua), IZAKAYA SHIONO / SHIONO-YA (Kailua-Kona), and Miyo's Restaurant (Hilo) offer teishoku 定食 (set meal) or izakaya 居酒屋 (Japanese bar) food. For a casual deli-style experience, stop by an okazuya 御菜屋 (side dish shop). If you're in Hilo, go to Kawamoto Store and Hilo Lunch Shop.
Learn About History at the Hawaii Japanese Center
Our friends at the Hawaii Japanese Center (HJC) in Hilo are dedicated to preserving the rich history and traditions of Hawaiʻi's Japanese immigrants. Their campus features exhibition spaces, a gift shop, library, meeting rooms, and events.
Visit a Japanese Temple or Shrine
Hawaiʻi Island is home to some of the state's oldest temples and shrines, including Hamakua Jodo Mission (1896), Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin (1889), and Daifukuji Soto Mission (1914). Early Japanese immigrants gathered at these places to discover faith and cultural practices as they adjusted to life in a new country.
