Japanese American Museum of San Jose Presents

Hidden Histories of San Jose Japantown

Augmented Reality Art on the Streets of San Jose Japantown

Scroll Down to Learn How to Take a Self-Guided Tour

What makes san jose japantown so special?

Lots of people come to the neighborhood for food, shopping, or cultural events. But did you know that San Jose Japantown used to be called “Chinatown” and that its past includes a bustling Filipino business and social community on 6th Street?

Hidden Histories is a live experience that connects you to the underlying beauty and historic riches of this remarkable neighborhood. Through Augmented Reality (AR) technology, your mobile device becomes a gateway to visions inspired by the milestones that shaped Japantown. You will see and interact with the art, which is overlaid on current-day Japantown.

Hidden Histories debuted in June 2021 — nine AR art installations produced by artists selected by our advisory panel of scholars, historians, and activists. Visit this website for regular updates on the project developments, the artists involved in the project, and the evolving technology of AR art.

How to Explore

To optimize your enjoyment of our Augmented Reality (AR) artwork we recommend the following:

Download the AR-vos app to your mobile phone. It’s easier to do over your home WiFi, and will save you some time when you arrive. The app can be found both in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Visit this site for more information: ar-vos.com.
Bring a portable battery charger and your charging cable, as well as earphones/earbuds (some pieces have audio tracks).
Prepare for the heat! Remember to bring your sunscreen, hat, and water bottle.
Wear good walking shoes. The AR artwork is scattered all across Japantown. There is a lot to see and you will probably not see everything in one day. Please plan for a return visit!

Please remember that Hidden Histories is a community art experiment. More-recent smartphones (three years old or newer) should have no problem viewing the exhibit. Some older phones will also work. For best results, we are recommending that you come with family and friends and be sure that someone in your party has a newer phone. On the day of the exhibit, we will also have roaming docents available with devices that can see the AR art.