Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre
Deer Lake Park is located in the centre of Burnaby, BC. It is a large and beautiful suburban park with wetland areas, grassy and forested areas, and a sizable lake. With many scenic views and trails, this park provides an easy escape from city life, without youThe Mission of the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre is: “To honour, preserve and share the history and heritage of Japanese Canadians and Japanese culture in Canada.”
In 2000, this museum and Japanese Canadian garden opened in Burnaby, BC. It was created to showcase unique historical exhibits. NNMCC has also become a place for special events to take place. Learn about the vibrant, enduring Japanese Canadian culture and experience the warmth of the Nikkei people.
Nikkei is a Japanese word that relates to the Japanese diaspora. It refers to those who have left Japan to live abroad and to the people living outside of Japan who are of Japanese heritage.
Permanent and travelling exhibits at the museum offer unique perspectives on the lives of the earliest Japanese immigrants to Canada, as well as their descendants.
A permanent exhibit, called, TAIKEN: Generations of Resilience, will take you through the experiences of early Japanese settlers, followed by the forced dispersal of established Japanese communities during wartime. You will learn many stories relating to civil rights, and how to better understand and appreciate Japanese heritage in Canada.
Another permanent exhibit, Women of Change: Celebrating Japanese Canadian Leaders, explores the lives, careers, and impact of six important Japanese Canadian women as they upheld their community over the past 100 years.
In addition to the wonderful exhibits found at the NNMCC, there are gardens on the grounds of the museum and rooms available for private rentals. There is also a Japanese language school for children and teenagers onsite.
The Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre has a delightful gift shop, too. It is filled with books, children’s gifts, clothing, teas, soaps, wrapping papers and cloths, jigsaw puzzles, artwork, greeting cards and stationery, and much more.
While you are there, visit the Japanese grocery store located beside NNMCC, called SuzaYa. At this store, you can pick up Japanese-style snacks, rice, drinks, condiments, and other grocery items.
The Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre is easily accessible by transit. If you are driving, there is a large underground parking lot underneath the museum. The NNMCC is located just off Kingsway at Sperling in Burnaby, BC. This location makes it easy to get to from anywhere in Burnaby of BC or the Lower Mainland.
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Next in this series, learn more about Burnaby Mountain Park.
