FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I qualify for free busing and admission to the National Museum?
In order to qualify for the National Museum’s free busing/admission program, groups must be Title 1 or be able to demonstrate financial need; they must also reserve in advance a guided group visit to the National Museum. Click here to download the Free Admission/Free Transportation (PDF).
Does my group qualify for group rates?
To qualify for student group rates ($3/student, $5/adult chaperon), school groups must make reservations for a guided group visit. Self-guided and/or unreserved school groups do not qualify for group discounts.
How do I arrange for free busing to the National Museum?
When booking your visit, you must mention that you would like to use the Bid for Education grant. After booking your visit, you must submit a transportation application and arrange for all transportation logistics. Please download this pdf page for information about this program. To apply, download and print this application pdf form, then mail or fax it at least one week prior to your visit.
Do you have a place where we can eat lunch?
The National Museum does not have group dining facilities at this time. Groups are welcome to sit on the Plaza outside of the Museum to enjoy their lunches or go to any number of restaurants in the Little Tokyo area, including the National Museum’s Garden Café. A list of restaurants can be provided upon request.
How many chaperons do I need when I visit the National Museum?
The National Museum’s volunteer docents rely upon chaperons to monitor students during programs so that they can concentrate on conveying information. Regardless of how well-behaved a group of students may be, one adult (21 years and older) must accompany every 10 students and remain with them for the duration of the visit. Additional adults are always welcome.
Do you have docents who are veterans or former inmates that my students can talk to?
Many of our tour docents have first-hand experience with the American concentration camps. We cannot guarantee, however, that your group will be led by a WWII veteran or former camp inmate. All of our docents are well-trained and will be able to provide their own unique perspectives. We are not able to arrange for individual interviews. To access oral histories online, visit www.DiscoverNikkei.org.
Do you have Japanese-speaking docents?
Yes, the National Museum has docents who speak Japanese and can be made available with advanced notification. Please let us know if you need a bilingual docent at the time of your reservation.
Will this visit be age appropriate for my students?
National Museum visits are designed to meet the needs of K–12th grades plus adult and college groups. Please tell us as much information as possible (what your students are studying, what books/materials they have read, etc.) when booking your reservation. We will be happy to make sure that your visit is tailored to the appropriate grade/age level.
Do you have pre- or post-activities that I can do with my students?
Students who come to the National Museum with a basic understanding of the Japanese American story have a better and deeper experience while they are here. The Education Unit has a guide that includes suggested pre- and post-visit activities that educators can use in their classroom. This educators’ guide will be sent with your confirmation letter, free of charge.
What happens if my group arrives late?
Please contact us at 213.830.5601 as soon as you become aware of a delay. We understand that due to traffic or other unforeseen delays, your group may arrive late. Our schedule is normally fully booked; we may not be able to accommodate your group if you arrive more than 20 minutes late.
Do you have a cancellation policy?
The National Museum would like to continue its practice of not charging a cancellation fee; however, each year many groups do not show up or cancel their reservation. Please cancel your reservation one week in advance if you can no longer come to the National Museum. Not only will this allow us to refrain from instituting a cancellation fee but it will also give other educators the opportunity to bring their students to the National Museum in your place. Failure to cancel your reservation in advance may make your school ineligible for future free admission/transportation grants.
Why does the National Museum use the term "concentration camp" when speaking of the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans?
The terms used to describe what happened to 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II—relocation, evacuation, incarceration, internment, or concentration camp—vary among scholars, government officials, and even Japanese Americans themselves. While most people associate “concentration camp” with the Holocaust and many Americans feel more comfortable with milder terms like internment camps, the National Museum uses the term “concentration camp” because by definition a concentration camp is a place where people are imprisoned not because they are guilty of any crimes, but simply because of who they are. The U.S. government, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt, used the phrase “concentration camp” in speeches and written documents during World War II.
What other things can I do or see with my students in Little Tokyo?
Little Tokyo is filled with shops, restaurants, monuments, public art, and plazas. There are many organizations that you can visit within walking distance of the National Museum:
- The Go For Broke Monument -- Reservations for veteran-led talks. 310.328.0907, www.goforbroke.org
- Museum of Contemporary Art -- The Geffen Contemporary. 213.626.6828, www.moca.org
- The James Irvine Garden -- Japanese American Cultural & Community Center Japanese garden, admission free. 213.628.2725, www.jaccc.org
- George J. Doizaki Gallery -- Japanese American Cultural & Community Center exhibition gallery. 213.628.2725, www.jaccc.org
- Chinese American Museum -- Book tours or learn more about educational programs. 213.473.5306, www.camla.org
- El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, Olvera Street -- 213.628.1274
The National Museum provides these suggestions for your convenience and is not affiliated with the organizations listed here. Please contact organizations directly for more information. The Bid for Education program does not cover transportation to and from organizations other than the National Museum.
