Here are the steps to booking a tour with JAMsj:

1. Read the JAMsj Tour Policy and Information Sheet on our website to learn more about our tour policies and about our tour program. 

2. Choose the Right Tour for Your Group
   Visit the Group Tour page and select a tour that best fits your group’s size and interests.

3. Check Availability
   Use the Tour Availability Calendar to see which dates are open for requests. If your preferred date does not have an event listed, tours are not available that day.

4. Submit a Tour Request
   If your preferred date is labeled "Open for Requests", fill out the Tour Request Form located at the bottom of the calendar page. Please note that this is a request, not a confirmation.
   If you would like to customize the tour, please select a custom tour.

   Please note that this step is a tour request, not a confirmation of your tour as we have to confirm docent/presenter for your requested date. 

5. Our tour coordinator will reach out to you after coordinating with the docents. 

6. Approximately 5-7 days after submitting the Tour Request Form, you will be contacted by our Tour Coordinator who will send you a link to the payment portal for your tour where you can complete payment by credit card, our preferred method of payment. 

7. Once you process payment, your tour is officially confirmed and on the books! You will receive a confirmation email and a calendar invite that will include reminders and the contact information for your docents. 

After you submit your JAMsj Group Tour Request Form, the Tour Coordinator will send you a payment link to process payment by credit card, which is our preferred method. If you would like to pay by check, please notify the Tour Coordinator and make the check out to “The Japanese American Museum of San Jose” with a note in the Memo of the tour date. Checks can be dropped off or sent check to:

The Japanese American Museum of San Jose

℅ Tour Coordinator

535 N. 5th Street, San Jose, CA 95112

Yes. Please let us know in advance if you would like the option for individuals to pay their own tour admission fees. We will send you the payment portal link, which you can distribute to the individuals in the group to process payment. Please note that full payment must be received 3 weeks prior to the tour date.

Many of our volunteers are elderly and considered in a high-risk category for complications with Covid-19. The health and safety of our Volunteers and staff is our highest priority. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding! 

We don’t have a lunch area at the museum, but we recommend Heinlenville Park, just a block away at 650 N 6th St in Japantown! This charming park sits on the historic Chinatown site, the birthplace of Japantown San Jose. It’s a peaceful, scenic spot to enjoy your lunch while soaking in a bit more history—it’s the perfect way to continue your day after visiting the museum!
We also highly recommend visiting the local restaurants and businesses located a block away along Jackson and 5th Street! 

Yes! Please contact our Tour Coordinator (tourcoordinator@jamsj.org) and request an onsite speaker. Please note we might availability fully depends on our speaker. 

We do! We have a handful of docents who are able to give Museum Tours in Japanese. If you would like to request a Japanese language Museum Tour, you can indicate this on the JAMsj Japanese Language Group Tour Request Form.

Yes, they are! We try to include former incarcerees in as many tours as possible as they are invaluable sources of first-person knowledge and experience, but it depends on their availability.

4th grade onward is ideal for the content of our tours, however we can adjust for younger groups if needed.

Please contact JAMsj Tour Coordinator via email.
tourcoordinator@jamsj.org