About Japantown
History About Japantown
日本町の歴史
The Japan Center opened in 1968, and became a San Francisco ethnic enclave in cosmopolitan tradition that made way for Japanese businesses to launch in the United States such as Kikkoman, Sony, Hitachi, Kinokuniya and Datsun (Nissan). It also housed the Consulate General of Japan and JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization). Although Japan Center no longer contains these businesses, today, the Japan Center has become a fascinating array of shops to get that special unique gift, restaurants for authentic Japanese cuisine including ramen and udon with Benihana at the forefront for teppan-yaki, a Japanese bookstore for those with a yearning for anime and manga, a spa and an art gallery. The AMC Kabuki 8 Theaters was the first multiplex theater in the United States breaking barriers for the way we watch movies at a theater. It later became a Sundance Theater, their first actual movie theater and resold to AMC. Japantown also includes two chic, boutique hotels. The Hotel Kabuki and Hotel Buchanan were recently renovated and beautifully decorated in contemporary Japanese fashion. They are connected by the Buchanan Mall, a traditional Japanese village-styled cobblestoned path resembling a flowing river lined with shops and restaurants. Buchanan Mall also has two Ruth Asawa’s origami water fountains and concrete benches displaying sculptures created by students of Ruth Asawa’s School of Arts.
The Japantown Peace Plaza between the East and West malls is handsomely landscaped, towered by the 100 foot, five tiered Peace Pagoda, a gift from the people of Osaka, Japan. The Peace Plaza hosts the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, spanning two weekends in April attracting over 200,000 people to Japantown. A must for those interested in Japanese culture that includes a food bazaar, Sakura 360 stage for younger visitors and a grand parade culminates the four day event. Nihonmachi Street Fair is an Asian American festival where local artists display their beautiful works of art and performances from Bay Area musicians and dance groups. To learn more about Japantown, please go visit www.sfjapantown.org. To find out more about the Cherry Blossom Festival, visit www.sfcherryblossom.org and for the Nihonmachi Street Fair, visit www.nihonmachistreetfair.org.
Explore Japantown
日本町を探検しましょう
San Francisco Japantown is the foundation for the cultural, educational and spiritual ties that bind the Japanese and Japanese American community. In the heart of San Francsico, this nine block area houses culturally themed cuisine, service, shops, chruches and temples as well as an authentic tea house used for traditional tea ceremonies.
Events in Japantown
日本町エベント
Besides other festivals and events, one of the foremost showcases of traditional Japanese customs and culture is the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, which takes place over two weekends in April. For over 50 years, the festival has attracted hundreds of thousands of people from all over the country. It has been recognized by numerous publications and one of the top ten events. The festival recently added Sakura 360 for the young adult attendees.
Another popular event is the Nihonmachi Street Fair. An Asian American Festival that features Bay Area artists and musicians. The festival also has a day for dogs.
This roughly six-block area is centered around San Francisco’s Post Street, branching out to Fillmore and Laguna streets one way and Geary and Pine Street the other, with a pedestrian-only walkway in the middle. Shops and restaurants dot side streets, but you’ll find most of them in a series of connected indoor malls that run for several blocks with uniquely Japanese businesses. There are eateries, of course, plus clothing boutiques, bookstores, and anime and kawaii knickknack and gift shops. (Kawaii means “cuteness” – think the ubiquitous Hello Kitty.) ~ San Jose Mercury News
