Entry No. 29 — the Boulder file — filed under: Japanese-American history
Tower of Compassion (Kanemoto Peace Tower)
In a quiet Longmont neighborhood park, a five-story traditional Japanese pagoda rises above soccer fields and a splash pool — completely unexpected and entirely genuine. The Kanemoto brothers, Jimmie and George, commissioned it in 1972 as a gift to Longmont, expressing gratitude for a community that refused to turn against their family during WWII. Their father Goroku had emigrated from Hiroshima in 1908 and settled here in 1919; when Japanese internment swept the West, Colorado's Governor Ralph Carr was the only Western governor to resist it, and Longmont held firm. Each of the pagoda's five levels is inscribed with a virtue: Love, Empathy, Understanding, Gratitude, and Selfless Giving. Believed to be one of the first traditional Japanese pagodas built east of California, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2026.
The move: Walk the Left Hand Greenway into Kanemoto Park at dusk, when the pagoda catches the last light and the park empties out. Read the plaques on each level, then sit on a bench and talk about the history — it's a surprisingly moving and intimate spot.
📍 Before you go The park is open from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset, year-round. No admission, no reservations needed. Free parking in the lot off S. Pratt Parkway. The Left Hand Greenway runs along the southern edge and connects to the St. Vrain Greenway — arriving by bike is easy. Restrooms on site. The activity pool nearby is seasonal (summer only). The park flooded badly in 2013 and was fully restored.
- 📍 Longmont, CO
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1151 S. Pratt Parkway, Longmont, CO 80501 (Kanemoto Neighborhood Park)
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4
last checked: 2026-06-11