Six Places to Visit in San Francisco's Japantown

Also known as "Nihonmachi" by the Japanese, San Francisco's Japantown is a cultural powerhouse that has been around since the early 1900s. Displaced Japanese American people who were left without homes after the 1906 Earthquake made a new home around Japantown and built churches, shrines, stores, and restaurants. After the great rise in American interest in Japanese Culture following World War II, Japantown has become a popular destination for people of all cultural backgrounds. The popular Cherry Blossom Festival (April 9th) attracts many people to Japantown as well. Here are six must-stops in Japantown:

Isobune Sushi
Love sushi? Isobune Sushi was the first sushi boat restaurant in the United States when it opened in 1982. The sushi boat concept allows you to diversify what you eat and pick and pay by the plate instead of by the roll (rolls are still available a la carte). Isobune Sushi was the first place I tried sushi when I was five years old and repeat visits over the years have all proven satisfactory with fresh fish and quality service on every visit. The aroma of the restaurant when you walk inside will awaken your nose to heavenly bliss and make your mouth water. Each time I return to this restaurant, I fall in love with sushi all over again. Japantown has many sushi restaurants inside, but Isobune is the crème de la crème.

 

Japan Center Kintetsu Mall 1737 Post Street (415) 563-1030

Kinokuniya Bookstore: There are very few Japanese booksellers in the United States and one of these is located inside San Francisco's Japantown. Kinokuniya is your one-stop shop for Japanese literature, manga, magazines, and imported toys and goods. The children's books they sell are perfect for Japanese language beginners who want to practice their reading skills and they also sell books for Japanese study as well. Japanese software, music CDs, and DVDs are also for sale. It is possible to spend hours looking at all the things they have to offer on these two levels of Japanese reading goods. No stop to Japantown is complete without browsing the shelves at Kinokuniya.

Japan Center Kinokuniya Bldg. 2nd Floor, 1581 Webster Street (415) 567-7625

Japan Video and Media, Inc: If you're looking for Japanese anime or Asian films then Japan Video and Media is perfect for you. They have a huge collection of the latest products imported from Japan and anime-related merchandise as well. If there is that one movie you can't seem to find anywhere else, this store may be just the place to visit. One cool thing outside that I always stop to observe is their collage of cosplay pictures from people who dress up as anime characters every year. Near this collage are flyers with the latest things going on around town.  
 

 
Daiso & Ichiban Kan: Daiso is essentially a Japanese convenience store offering all kinds of Japanese goods from soap and shampoo to art supplies and kitchenware. Most things in the store are around $1.50 (rare to find in Japantown because of the imported goods) and the things they sell are actually quality products. Whatever you cannot find at Daiso can be found in another convenience store called Ichiban Kan inside of Japantown.

Daiso: 22 Peace Plz Ste 400

Ichiban Kan: 1625 Post St. Miyako Mall 22 Peace Plz, Ste 540 (415) 409-0472

Nippon-Ya: Nippon-Ya (translated as Japan store) is the perfect place to pick up gifts for people while traveling. They sell tons of authentic Japanese confections and gift items including phone charms and various other goods. Mochi and Bean Paste cakes are popular items here as well. The prices are a little expensive, but more affordable then some other places in Japantown. The employees are friendly and helpful, the store itself is cute and characterizes Japan quite well.
Japan Center Kintetsu Mall 1737 Post Street (415) 346-0332


Carlos Hernandez is an avid traveler whose adventures can be followed on Facebook, Twitter and his blog.