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.