Hand carved and decorated in gold and lacquer, a massive 150 foot replica of the famous portal in Nekko, Japan greeted the fairgoers to the Fair Japan attraction.
Beyond the huge gate was an original old 42 foot high gate from Nio Mon (a Buddhist temple), which was elaborately carved out of wood.
Over 40 stores and booths comprised the exhibit where all sorts of Japanese fare could be purchased. There were candy-makers, carvers, artists, acrobats, weavers, fine jewelers, eateries, etc., all vying for the fairgoers attention (and money). Rickshaw bearers scurried to carry weary guests around the ponds and lakes full of carp.
Besides containing two tea houses, served by 24 Geisha Girls in authentic wear, Fair Japan housed a 500-seat restaurant of traditional fare.
Actors performed traditional combat techniques in authentic armor in the theater.
After the Fair closed, the 150 foot welcoming decorative gate was relocated to Forest Park Highlands (a St. Louis amusement park), where it was used as a bandstand until it was destroyed by fire in
the 1960’s.
A very popular and sister attrac
tion to Fair Japan, was the Fair Japan Bazaar. This was a free area that opened directly onto the Pike.
Merchants sold a multitude of Japanese fineries such as ivory, china, jade, silks and souvenirs. The bazaar alone grossed- 85,937.87 dollars.
65,000
