The 1910 National Historic Landmark and heart of Seattle's Japantown

The Panama Hotel was finished in 1910 by Sabro Ozasa, the first Japanese-American architect to practice in Seattle. Ozasa designed the hotel to resemble a Buddhist monastery. It became a hub for the local Japanese community, housing businesses, restaurants, and sleeping quarters.

The hotel includes the Hashidate-Yu, one of the most well-preserved bathhouses in the U.S. It was one of four bathhouses, or sento, in Seattle during the early 20th century. Because most residents lacked plumbing at home, these baths were essential for the community. The Hashidate-Yu was split into two zones - one for the men and one for the women and children. It remains the last remaining Japanese bathhouse in the United States.

Then came 1942 and Executive Order 9066. The Japanese community was interned, and many families never returned. Most of their lives stayed behind in the basement. Today, owner Jan Johnson keeps the basement locked to the public to protect those belongings. He did install a glass panel in the floorboards, though, so visitors can view the artifacts from above.

The building survived the era and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 2006. Located on South Main Street, the property served as a focal point in Japantown before World War II and remains a significant influence on local place, culture, and community.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons