By Prerna Kapoor, CLHMS | REAL Brokerage | March 22, 2026
If you’ve ever walked through Sakura Square in downtown Denver, you know it feels different from the rest of the city. The Buddhist temple on the corner. The smell of fresh produce at Pacific Mercantile. The annual Cherry Blossom Festival drawing thousands every spring. It’s a pocket of cultural heritage that’s been here for more than 50 years.
And right now, it’s at a turning point.
Sakura Square is the last remaining block of Denver’s historic Japantown, and community leaders have submitted a $30 million proposal to the Denver Downtown Development Authority to preserve and expand this cultural anchor. Whether you’re Japanese, Japanese American, or simply someone who values what makes a community unique, this is a story worth paying attention to.
As someone who serves Colorado’s Japanese-speaking community as a bilingual real estate advisor, I want to share why Denver’s Japanese heritage matters, what’s happening with Sakura Square, and what this means for people considering a home in Colorado.
Denver’s Japanese Heritage Runs Deep
Japanese immigrants began arriving in Colorado in the late 1800s. They worked on railroads, in coal mines, and on farms across the state. By the early 1900s, a small but vibrant Japanese community had formed in downtown Denver.
What happened next is a part of history that Colorado can be proud of. During World War II, when Japanese Americans on the West Coast were forced into internment camps, Colorado’s Governor Ralph Carr publicly welcomed them. It was an unpopular stance at the time, but it meant that thousands of Japanese American families found refuge in Colorado. Many stayed and built lives here.
That legacy is still visible today. Denver’s Japanese community has grown through generations, and it extends well beyond downtown. You’ll find Japanese cultural organizations, restaurants, grocery stores, and community groups throughout the metro area, from Aurora to Highlands Ranch to Parker.
Sakura Square: What’s Happening Now
Sakura Square sits on one city block bounded by Larimer, 20th, Lawrence, and 19th streets. It opened in 1973 and includes the Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple (originally built in 1947), Pacific Mercantile grocery, Tamai Tower (a 199-unit affordable housing building), shops, and a community plaza.
After more than 50 years, the buildings are showing their age. The temple’s boiler is broken. Scaffolding holds up crumbling concrete near the plaza. As Sakura Square CEO Nozomu Tim Higashide has explained, the aging infrastructure is becoming unsustainable for the community to maintain.
In October 2025, Sakura Square leaders applied for $30 million from the Denver Downtown Development Authority’s voter-approved $570 million fund. The plan includes rebuilding the Buddhist Temple and Pacific Mercantile, creating 46,500 square feet of improvements across two new buildings, adding ground-floor cultural retail space, a new outdoor public plaza at 19th and Lawrence, and educational and community programming spaces.
About $404 million of the DDA fund remains available, and Sakura Square is among more than 80 applicants competing for the next round. The applications in the arts, culture, and activation categories were put on hold pending a new program phase launching in March 2026.
Why This Matters for Japanese Families Considering Colorado
When Japanese families relocate to the United States, one of the biggest concerns is community. Will there be people who understand the culture? Will there be shops where you can buy the ingredients you need? Will your children have access to Japanese language education?
Colorado checks those boxes in ways that might surprise people who think of it as just a mountain state.
Cultural organizations. The Japan America Society of Colorado (JASC) hosts events throughout the year. The Japanese American Resource Center of Colorado (JARCC) preserves history and connects community members. The Denver Cherry Blossom Festival at Sakura Square draws thousands annually.
Japanese groceries and restaurants. Pacific Mercantile in Sakura Square has been family-owned for over 80 years, now entering its fourth generation of the Inai and Noguchi families. H Mart locations in Aurora and Denver serve the broader Asian community. You’ll find authentic Japanese restaurants throughout the metro area.
Schools. Colorado has strong public school districts, especially in the south Denver suburbs. Douglas County School District, Cherry Creek School District, and Littleton Public Schools consistently rank among the best in the state. Several offer world language programs, and private Japanese language schools operate on weekends for families who want their children to maintain fluency.
Professional opportunities. Major employers with Japanese connections include Panasonic’s North American headquarters in Denver, Arrow Electronics, and various tech and aerospace companies along the I-25 corridor. The Denver Tech Center is home to many international companies with ties to Japan.
Where Japanese Families Are Buying Homes in Colorado
Based on my experience working with Japanese and Japanese American clients, here are the areas that tend to be the best fit:
Aurora. One of the most internationally diverse cities in Colorado. Close to H Mart, Asian restaurants, and cultural amenities. The Cherry Creek School District covers parts of Aurora and is highly rated. Median home prices in Aurora currently sit around $485,000, making it one of the more accessible suburbs in the metro area.
Centennial and Highlands Ranch. These south Denver suburbs offer excellent schools, parks, and a family-oriented lifestyle. They’re well-connected to downtown via I-25 and C-470. Median prices range from $575,000 to $650,000 depending on the neighborhood.
Parker and Castle Pines. For families wanting more space and a quieter pace, Parker and Castle Pines offer newer construction, larger lots, and Douglas County schools. Median home prices in Parker are around $620,000, while Castle Pines tends to run higher, closer to $750,000 or above.
Cherry Creek and Greenwood Village. For buyers looking at luxury properties with proximity to top-rated schools, shopping, and dining, Cherry Creek and Greenwood Village are the gold standard. Prices here start in the $800,000 range and go well above $2 million for larger homes.
Real Estate Investment and the Sakura Square Effect
Cultural districts have a measurable economic impact. Sakura Square leaders point to comparable districts as models: Seattle’s Chinatown generates 76% of its spending from non-residents, and L.A.’s Little Tokyo attracted 8.5 million visitors in 2023.
If the DDA funding comes through and the revitalization plan moves forward, Sakura Square could become a stronger cultural and economic anchor for downtown Denver. That’s good for the broader community and good for property values in the surrounding area.
For Japanese families considering Denver, having a cultural center like Sakura Square in the heart of the city is something few other metro areas outside of California and Hawaii can offer. It’s a tangible connection to heritage in a state that has welcomed the Japanese community for more than a century.
Making the Move: What to Know
If you’re a Japanese-speaking family considering a move to Colorado, or if you’re already here and looking to buy your first home, here are a few things to keep in mind:
The spring 2026 market is showing signs of life. New listings across Colorado are up 6% from last year, and pending contracts are up nearly 12%. Mortgage rates for a 30-year fixed loan are currently around 6.14% in Colorado. Homes are taking about 80 days on average to sell, which gives buyers more time to make thoughtful decisions.
Down payment assistance programs like CHFA (Colorado Housing and Finance Authority) are available to first-time buyers and can help with both down payment and closing costs.
And if you need someone who can walk you through the entire process in Japanese, I’m here. From the first showing to the closing table, everything can be explained in the language you’re most comfortable with.
Thinking about buying or selling a home in Colorado?
Your home journey should feel exciting, not overwhelming. As your trusted advisor, I am here to make sure it does.
📞 720-949-5450
📧 info@prernakapoor.com
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Prerna Kapoor is a REALTOR® and Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS) with REAL Brokerage, specializing in residential real estate across Parker, Aurora, Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Highlands Ranch, Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, and Centennial. She is fluent in English, Hindi, and Japanese (native) and is recognized as an International
Related: Japanese Speaking Realtor Colorado
Sterling Society Award winner (2023, 2024, 2025). Prerna holds the RENE (Real Estate Negotiation Expert), PSA (Pricing Strategy Advisor), and ABR (Accredited Buyer’s Representative) designations.
