County
Salt Lake
Year Built
Late 1880s–1930s (original Japantown development); most remaining buildings 1900–1935; significant losses occurred during 1960s urban renewal
Architect
Built by local builders
National Register?
No district designation. The Japanese Church of Christ (268 West 100 South) is individually listed on the National Register (listed 1982). The Salt Lake Buddhist Temple is not individually listed. Neither building has local historic landmark designation.
Status
Endangered: Monitoring
Status Explanation
The Japanese Church of Christ and the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple are the last two main sites in Salt Lake City's historic Japantown. Both are still active and serve their congregations. Some important planning has happened: the Salt Lake City Community Reinvestment Agency is moving forward with an $11 million project to improve the 100 South streetscape, cherry trees are set to be planted in spring 2026, a mural artist has been chosen for a major project this summer, and The Ritchie Group will put 10% of tax increment from Block 67 toward public improvements on Japantown Street. Representatives from both churches have joined in design talks and are cautiously hopeful. Still, neither building has formal historic protection. Partial demolition of the Salt Palace Convention Center, which originally destroyed most of Japantown in the 1960s, could start as soon as 2027, along with possible changes to 300 West. The main worry for the community is whether construction will block access to the churches or disrupt their activities, and whether the area's cultural identity will be truly respected as the neighborhood changes.
About the Threat
Japantown is facing the same kind of large-scale redevelopment that destroyed most of it before. The nearby blocks are being rebuilt in ways that could overwhelm what is left. The Salt Palace Convention Center will be partly demolished and rebuilt as part of the new Sports, Entertainment, Culture, and Convention District, possibly starting in 2027. Block 67, which is just west of the Japanese Church of Christ and Salt Lake Buddhist Temple, is now part of the Convention Center Reinvestment Zone. The Ritchie Group's West Quarter project there already has two hotels and a luxury apartment tower, with more development planned.
People in the community are mainly worried about practical issues. They want to know if years of construction will block access, reduce parking, or make it hard for the churches to hold services. They also hope the planned streetscape improvements will happen before or at the same time as the other construction, not after. In the long run, there is concern that Japantown could become just a backdrop for the new sports and entertainment district, rather than remaining a real, active community. The Japanese Church of Christ holds the ashes of several generations of Japanese American immigrants, so it cannot be moved.
Access
Both the Japanese Church of Christ and the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple are open and active. Japantown Street, which is the 100 South corridor, is open to the public and is the site of the annual Nihon Matsuri Japan Festival. This area sits just west of the Salt Palace Convention Center and east of the Delta Center.
History
Both the Japanese Church of Christ and the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple are open and active. Japantown Street, which is the 100 South corridor, is open to the public and is the site of the annual Nihon Matsuri Japan Festival. This area sits just west of the Salt Palace Convention Center and east of the Delta Center.
What can be done? What was learned?
The most important thing right now is for the community to stay involved in planning for the Convention Center Reinvestment Zone and the Japantown streetscape project. Groups like Utah Japantown Advocates have made sure their voices are heard in design meetings, and this needs to continue as construction and Entertainment District plans become clearer in 2026. Supporters can reach out to the Japanese Church of Christ to learn more about how to get involved.
It is also important to seek formal preservation protections for the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple. The Japanese Church of Christ is already on the National Register, but the Buddhist Temple is not, and neither building has a local landmark status. Getting both buildings recognized as local landmarks by Salt Lake City would add a formal step before any demolition could happen and would help protect them.
The community, led by Utah Japantown Advocates, wants more than just streetscape improvements. Their vision is to bring Japanese businesses, restaurants, and artist spaces to 100 South. If this happens, Japantown could become a lively place again, not just a memory. Pushing for commercial spaces along Japantown Street to be set aside for culturally relevant tenants is a real goal in the Entertainment District planning.
What is the timeline?
Partial demolition of the Salt Palace is expected to start as soon as 2027. Smith Entertainment Group plans to share more details about the entertainment district by summer 2026. In November 2025, the Salt Lake City Community Reinvestment Agency said full funding for the streetscape could be added to the next budget. Cherry trees are set to be planted in spring 2026, and mural artist Cole Eisenhour was chosen in April 2026 for a summer project. Bigger streetscape changes, like rebuilding the whole 100 South corridor, are still being planned and do not have funding yet as of May 2026. The GSBS Architects streetscape plan is at 40% design.
What has been the public discussion?
Since 2024, the community has stayed organized and active in advocating for Japantown's future. Utah Japantown Advocates, co-founded by Marisa Eng, whose family has roots in Japantown since the early 1900s, has led petitions to include Japanese businesses, restaurants, and artist spaces in new developments along Japantown Street. Rolen Yoshinaga from the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple and Lynne Ward from the Japanese Church of Christ have spoken up at city and county meetings. Both churches joined design events in 2025 that helped shape the streetscape plan, and Lisa Imamura and Jan Aramaki represented them at the November 2025 CRA board meeting. The annual Nihon Matsuri Japan Festival in April 2025 brought more attention to Japantown's situation, including a visit from the Japanese consul general. A City Weekly article in March 2026 gave a detailed look at the community's concerns and hopes. The mural commission announced in April 2026 was a real step forward, but community members are still watching to see if the coming construction will protect what is left.
Links to more information and articles.
Deseret News, April 30, 2026 — mural commission announcement: https://www.deseret.com/entertainment/2026/04/30/salt-lake-city-hopes-mural-will-elevate-one-of-its-forgotten-historic-neighborhoods/
City Weekly, March 25, 2026 — "Lost in Translation" in-depth feature: https://www.cityweekly.net/news/lost-in-translation-c44479ec
Deseret News, November 19, 2025 — streetscape design update: https://www.deseret.com/utah/2025/11/19/salt-lake-city-has-a-clearer-vision-for-historic-japantown-as-part-of-downtown-changes/
KSL, November 18, 2025 — streetscape design update: https://www.ksl.com/article/51407199/salt-lake-city-has-a-clearer-vision-for-historic-japantown-as-part-of-downtown-changes
KSL, June 3, 2025 — "Japantown advocates watchful as redevelopment plans proceed": https://www.ksl.com/article/51323737/japantown-advocates-watchful-as-redevelopment-plans-around-delta-center-salt-palace-proceed
KUTV — "Historic Salt Lake Japanese Church works to preserve existence during uncertain times": https://kutv.com/news/belonging-in-utah/historic-salt-lake-japanese-church-works-to-preserve-existence-during-uncertain-times
Utah Japantown Advocates / SLC Japantown: https://www.slcjapantown.com/