Japantown in Salt Lake City began to take shape around 1910, following the arrival of Japanese immigrants in the late 1800s who came to work on railroads and in agriculture. The community grew steadily until the 1960s, when nearly all of Japantown was demolished through eminent domain to build the Salt Palace—displacing residents and closing approximately 90 Japanese-owned businesses. Today, only the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple and Japanese Church of Christ remain on 100 South.

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In the early 2000s, the Japanese Community Preservation Committee (JCPC) was formed to preserve Japantown’s heritage, leading efforts such as establishing a memorial garden and officially naming 100 South as Japantown Street. Streetscape redesign plans were also developed to reflect cultural elements.

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In 2024, Senate Bill 272 established a Capital City Revitalization Zone—from the Delta Center to Japantown (100 S between 200 W and 300 W)—and introduced a 0.5% citywide sales tax to fund the Smith Entertainment Group’s (SEG) Sports, Entertainment, Convention, and Culture District (SECC). The project directly affects Japantown Street and the daily operations of both the Japanese Church of Christ and the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple.