Is Japantown San Francisco worth visiting?

A great place to visit any time , Japantown offers many festivals throughout the year, including the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, “Kodomo No Hi,” or Children's day in May, and the Nihonmachi Street Fair in August.

Does San Jose have Japantown?

San Jose's Japantown grew from the site where Japanese immigrants first settled in Santa Clara Valley. More than a century later, it remains one of the last three historical Japantowns in the United States.

What is the No 1 tourist destination in Japan?

1. Mount Fuji . Mount Fuji is one of Japan's most famous tourist attractions and arguably one of the most impressive. The highest peak in Japan, Mount Fuji reaches 3776m above sea level.

What time does SF Japantown close?

Generally the shops close by 7:00 PM ; some 6:00PM. Grocery stores close at 7:00 PM, but some non-food related shops may have more extended hours until 8:00PM.

What is the rich part of San Jose?

Calvert . With a median home price of $2,448,545 and a median rent of $3,233, Calvert is the most expensive neighborhood on our list. Based on the growth in home prices in Calvert over the last 3 years, it ranks No. 1 among all the neighborhoods in San Jose.

What is the name of the biggest market in San Jose?

San José Central Market (Spanish: Mercado central) is the largest market of the city of San José, Costa Rica.

Where is the biggest Japantown in the US?

Japantown (Nihonmachi) (population 7,845), located in San Francisco, California , is the oldest and largest Japanese community in the country.

Is it worth visiting Chinatown in San Francisco?

Chinatown is mostly one long street on which are a lot of shops along with some grocery stores and restaurants. Many of the shops are souveneir shops, but there are also a lot of jewelry and scarf shops. All in all, it is well worth a visit to walk around . I have been to many Chinatowns.

What is the significance of Japantown?

North Strathcona, including Powell Street Area (Nihonmachi, or 'Japantown'), is the site of Vancouver's earliest beginnings and a place that was an ancient indigenous seasonal camp . As a settlement and waterfront industries grew up around Hastings Mill, Japanese immigrants were attracted to the area.

What is special about San Francisco's Chinatown?

Exploring San Francisco's Chinatown allows you to step back in time, to the city's early days. Established in the mid-19th century, it's the oldest Chinatown in North America and one of the largest Chinatowns outside of Asia .

Is Treasure Island San Francisco worth visiting?

Reasons to Visit First and foremost: the view. San Francisco's entire northern waterfront from bridge to bridge is picture-perfect here. The island is also home to public art, flea markets, and festivals throughout the year .

How to Spend 24 Hours in San Jose’s Japantown (2024)

San Jose’s “J-Town” gets overshadowed at times by its more metropolitan counterparts in San Francisco and Los Angeles. But this historic cultural hub has become an interesting mix of older traditions and newer trends thanks to a new generation of Asian Americans eager to keep this area thriving.

More recently, the emergence of Hawaiʻi food has become popular in this tight-knit community, going beyond the more common Japanese fare you can now find all over the Bay Area.

Here’s a list of spots to hit up if you decide to visit Japantown in San Jose for a culinary tour, along with a few places where the area’s history and culture are alive and well.

11 a.m. Loco moco lunch at Santo Market

245 Taylor Street, San Jose

Start with an early lunch from family-owned Santo Market, which has sold Asian grocery staples since 1946. These days, however, they’re more known for their to-go counter where you can order items like their poke by the pound or a beef teriyaki sandwich. But for a real treat, order a Hawaiʻi local food dish like the loco moco or the kalua pork plate, served with a choice of macaroni, potato, or cucumber-ocean salad.

12 p.m. Explore the Japanese American Museum of San Jose

535 North Fifth Street, San Jose

A visit to the Japanese American Museum of San Jose will help you appreciate the neighborhood’s culture and pride, and set you up for a more insightful walk around Japantown. Established in 1987, it was originally known as the Japanese American Resource Center. The facility showcases many of the community’s notable small businesses, historic sites, and important events that are a part of the neighborhood’s long and varied history.

2 p.m. A sweet stop at Shuei-do Manju Shop

217 Jackson Street, San Jose

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No stroll through J-Town is complete without a visit to the long-standing Shuei-do Manju Shop. Started in 1952, this is one of the last manju shops left in California. Specializing in manju (wheat flour) and mochi (rice flour) confections, they sell anywhere from 700 to 2,000 of these soft and chewy sweet treats every day. Current owners Tom and Judy Kumamaru still make everything by hand and offer a large selection of regular and seasonal flavors, along with their filled varieties using azuki (red) or lima (white) bean paste. Like many of the small businesses in this neighborhood, they have very specific hours so check before you go.

2:30 p.m. Shop handmade items at Moment Japantown

208 Jackson Street, San Jose

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Enjoy some shopping at creative retail space Moment Japantown which highlights the best of Asian American artists and crafters. One of a few locations around Silicon Valley, this store is more of a rotating collection of handmade items from four or more different artisan makers who would not otherwise have a permanent store. Developed by the company SJ Made which specializes in large-scale events and pop-ups, think of it as Etsy in real life. If you’re a fan of all things “kawaii” (“cute” in Japanese), this is the place for you. You’ll find keychains, cards, stickers, artwork, and stuffed animals. There’s so much pop culture cuteness in here it could put any Sanrio store to shame.

3:30 p.m. Look for maneki nekos at Kogura Company

231 Jackson Street, San Jose

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Since 1928, family-owned Kogura Company has been a treasure trove of fun finds from traditional Japanese kitchenware and home decor to fun trinkets and stationery. And if you’re looking for a maneki neko, the lucky cat figurine you see at the entrance of almost every Japanese restaurant, there’s a wall full of them here. It’s the perfect place to find yourself a distinctive gift or souvenir.

4:30 p.m. Cool off with Pau Hana Shave Ice

248 Jackson Street, San Jose

Take a break and enjoy Hawaiʻi’s answer to the snow cone at Pau Hana Shave Ice. They offer plenty of options for customizing your own shave ice including syrup flavors like li-hing mui (sour plum), POG (passionfruit, orange, guava), or ube (purple yam). Toppings like boba, fruit-flavored jelly, or fresh mochi can also be added. Can’t decide? You can choose from their menu of specialties like the “Dole Whip,” consisting of creamy pineapple syrup, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, crushed pineapple, and condensed milk.

5 p.m. Grocery shop at Nijiya Market

240 Jackson Street, San Jose

Before you leave for the day, visit the popular Japanese chain grocery store Nijiya Market. They carry everything you need to make your own Japanese dishes at home as well as a plethora of snacks, candies, and beverages you never knew you wanted to try. Pick up Japanese curry to make an easy weeknight meal or fresh ramen from Sun Noodle. You’ll also find specialty produce, meat, fish, and sashimi here to stock your fridge.

6 p.m. Make a poke stop at Aloha Fresh

225 Jackson Street, San Jose

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Finish off your trip to Japantown with a bowl of fresh poke from Aloha Fresh, known for its fresh fish caught directly from Hawaiian waters. This eatery takes pride in serving fish that is never frozen or treated with carbon monoxide and it is flown to the Bay Area within hours of being caught. Add a side of salt and vinegar chicken and wash it all down with a li-hing lemonade to finish your day right.