Getting to Japantown
SF Muni features numerous bus lines running through the neighborhood.
Find yourself in San Francisco’s historic Japantown
1. Start the morning in Japantown by walking towards the Peace Plaza. It's the heart of Japantown – a spiritual center, a gathering place. Watch the Peace Pagoda catch the morning sun and slowly bring warmth onto the Plaza. Join community members taking part in the daily "radio taiso (exercise)". Say "Hi" to one of our Japantown Community Ambassadors who keeps our neighborhood sparkling each and every day.
2. Head towards the Japan Center West Mall, straight over to Anderson Bakery. Order a simple cup of coffee to go with your ube brioche. Don't forget to pick up a half loaf of the creamy Japanese milk bread. It's perfect for French toast or enjoy it plain.
3. Walk over the Webster Street Bridge and stop by the Kinokuniya Bookstores of America. You'll find a variety of Japanese books, magazines, and the largest selection of Anime "mangas" in San Francisco. Godzilla fans will be ecstatic! You'll find shelves filled with publications about Japanese culture and lifestyle. And don't worry they have many magazines and books in English as well. "Tachiyomi" (standing while reading) must have gotten its start at Kinokuniya!
4. Drop by ChaTo, a family owned business that specializes in Japanese tea. They have a wonderful selection of Japanese teas and a beautiful display of tea ware. A great place to buy quality tea from Japan and learn about the regions they come from. With the holiday's around the corner, the perfect spot to buy a special gift!
5. For a refreshing snack, stop at Matcha Cafe Maiko for a matcha and vanilla mixed soft serve ice-cream cone, or go all out for the Maiko Special Matcha Parfait! There are a number of delicious matcha items to satisfy your sweet tooth.
6. Japanese woodblock prints span across different eras. From traditional Ukiyo-e to the more modern almost graphic styles, is a glimpse into history. Tokaido Arts is part of Japantown's history. This family owned business has been here since 1971. Rob Hsu is not only knowledgeable about Japanese woodblock prints, but he can also provide background history of our neighborhood.
7. For some family entertainment, walk over to the West Mall and stop in at the Kiddleton arcade. Here your family, and especially the kids, can enjoy some Japanese arcade games. With some luck you may win a wonderful prize!
8. Next on the trip is a visit to Mochill Mochidonuts. Their mochi donuts come in a delectable variety of flavors, such as matcha, fruity pebbles, black sesame and cinnamon sugar. And for a little savory to go with the sweet, grab some takoyaki at the next door window to round out your snack time!
9. Origami, the art of folding paper into decorative shapes, is the name of the game at Paper Tree on Osaka Way. Another family owned and operated Japantown staple business, you can find a vast assortment of Japanese merchandise. There are origami papers in a dazzling assortment of colors and designs. You can also stop in to see the numerous origami art pieces in the mini museum within the store, as well as instructional books to learn how to origami yourself. In addition to origami, Paper Tree also has art supplies, unique gift cards and other items perfect to bring home as gifts.
10. Right across from Paper Tree is sf76 a Japanese home goods store where they feature a rotating selection of created by artisans. Each piece is timeless yet useful.
11. For dinner treat yourself to an amazing kaiseki sushi dinner at Sasa in the East Mall. The perfect ambiance where you'll be immersed in an innovative Japanese culinary experience. Ask for a recommendation for a bottle of sake to round out your meal!
12. After dinner, walk across Post St to the Fermentation Lab Japantown. One of the newest small businesses that have opened in Japantown. Take a seat at the beautiful bar and chat it up with the friendly staff and bartenders. It's time for an after-dinner or dessert cocktail. Ask Dolly the mixologist to create something special. Don't forget to order churros. Yes we have churros in Japantown!
About Japantown
San Francisco’s Japantown has been the center of the Bay Area’s Japanese and Japanese American community since 1906. It continues to an exciting place to explore and find authentic Japanese culture, restaurants and shops. If you’re in San Francisco Japantown, you’re lucky as there are only three Japantown’s left in the U.S. (and San Francisco’s is the largest, and oldest). All three are in California; Little Tokyo in Los Angeles and Nihonmachi in San Jose.
In a way, visiting Japantown is like taking a quick trip to Osaka and immersing yourself in Japanese culture, old and new. Anime, ceramics, kimonos, sushi, manga, Japanese fashion, and sweets… there is a wide variety of Japanese items to be appreciated. San Francisco’s Japantown (aka Nihonmachi) tends to be overshadowed somewhat by SF’s more famous Chinatown, but there’s a lot to see and do in a small area.
A six-block area of shops, restaurants, and small businesses along Post and Sutter streets, Japantown is located in the Western Addition neighborhood of San Francisco. Many of the shops are in the malls of Japan Center, as well as the pedestrian-only block of Buchanan Street. The area was, at one time, the center of the Japanese community in San Francisco prior to World War II.
It’s easy to spend hours admiring architecture, trying out different ramen places, or shopping for teapots, origami paper, and cute, anime-inspired toys and much, much more!
A Perfect Day in Japantown is curated by the Japantown Community Benefit District
About
Shop Dine SF is an initiative of the Office of Small Business, and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development.
Its aim is to bring attention to the local businesses and neighborhood corridors.
Spending money at local small businesses helps merchants, creates jobs, and is critical to San Francisco's economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shop local. Even a small increase can have a big impact.
Questions? Email shopdinesf@sfgov.org