Street sign pointing the way to Japantown, San Francisco

Things to do in Japantown San Francisco

By <a href="#author-bio">Stuart Bak</a>
By Stuart Bak

One of just three remaining Japantowns in the whole of the United States, this diminutive San Francisco neighborhood packs a mighty punch in spite of its small size. Squeezed into its six blocks, you’ll discover swathes of superb sushi, shabu-shabu and ramen restaurants, a riot of ultra-kitsch gift shops, Japanese sweets and more manga and anime merchandise than you can shake a samurai sword at. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Japantown San Francisco.

Get to Know San Francisco’s Japantown

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Japantown radiates out from its central hub, the Peace Plaza, a major focal point for events and festivals throughout the year and a great place to just sit and watch the world go by. Towering over the plaza is the Peace Pagoda, a striking five-tiered concrete structure with a spire on top that was designed by Japanese architect Yoshiro Taniguchi and gifted to San Francisco by Osaka in 1968. It’s from here that you can start the Japantown History Walk, a short stroll through the district’s storied past, guided by 16 signs featuring maps, photographs and information.

The walk provides a nice introduction to Japantown and will help you find your bearings. As well as the Peace Pagoda, it also takes in pedestrianized Osaka Way, Ruth Asawa’s beautiful Aurora and Origami Fountains and the colorful Sensu folding-fan sculpture.

Shop ‘Til You Drop

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A visit to the Japan Center, a trio of malls crammed top to bottom with Japanese shops and restaurants should be considered an absolute must on any list of things to do in San Francisco’s Japantown.

Start in the east mall, where the famous Japanese dollar store Daiso offers a mind-boggling variety of products at rock bottom prices (generally $1-2). Looking for kitsch Hello Kitty trinkets? Stationery supplies? Japanese fans? Beauty products? Bookends? Chopsticks? Kawaii (cute) Japanese designs? Then Daiso is surely the place for you. It’s also at this end of the mall that you’ll find one of Japantown’s most Instagrammed attractions: the arched red Moon Bridge.

Head to the west mall for the iconic Kinokuniya Bookstore, a stalwart of San Francisco’s Japantown since the late 1960s. It’s here that you’ll find all things manga and anime: books, comics, DVDs, t-shirts, toys, tote bags, Studio Ghibli merchandise, you name it and they’ll probably have it here! There’s even an intricate artwork by legendary Japanese illustrator and cartoonist Katsuya Terada, painted at the entrance to the store during his visit in 2013. Upstairs, you can browse Japanese and English literature and attend occasional readings and signings; authors who have appeared at the store previously include Japanese historian David Keene and actor George Takei.

Food, Glorious Food!

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After all that shopping you’re sure to have worked up a mighty appetite. Fortunately for you, the Japan Center also boasts some of the best eating in town. Head to the aptly named Restaurant Row in the west mall for a veritable smorgasbord of dining options. Restaurants here run the full gamut of Japanese specialties. There’s sushi, of course, and plenty of it. This is also the place to try okonomiyaki, delicious savory Japanese pancakes stuffed with fillings of your choice and topped with pickled ginger, mayonnaise and umami Japanese sauces. Ramen or noodles more your vibe? You’ll find both well represented here, too. For a real taste of Japanese culture, hit the shabu-shabu joints, where you cook your own beef and vegetables at the table before gobbling them up along with rice and a rainbow of zingy dipping sauces.

Something sweet? Sophie’s Crepes is a dessert shop of some local renown, where freshly made crepes are served cone-style with fillings of your choice. Whipped cream and fresh strawberries. Green tea gelato with red bean paste and matcha sauce. Mandarin and Nutella. The only problem you’ll have here is deciding which to go for. Mosey over to Matcha Cafe Maiko which, as the name suggests, is your stop for everything matcha. There’s shaved ice, tea, and matcha lattes. Or try a crispy homemade cone piled high with soft serve matcha ice cream. For an ultra-decadent treat, you can also have yours topped with gold leaf!

A Spot of R’n’R

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Tucked away behind an unassuming pair of wooden doors inside the sprawling Japan Center is the Kabuki Springs & Spa, where a traditional onsen-style Japanese bathhouse offers multiple methods of achieving a state of pure zen. Buy a day pass to access the steam room, sauna, muscle-soothing hot pool and bracingly cold plunge pool. There’s sea salt for body scrubs and green tea for maximum refreshment, and you’ll get a discount on your day pass if you also book a treatment at the adjoining spa, where a deluxe 80-minute Eastern Shiatsu massage might leave you so relaxed you’ll want to remain horizontal for the rest of the day.

Cherry Blossom Festival

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The annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, held in honor of the photogenic pink blooms, is one of San Francisco’s most popular, drawing thousands of visitors to the neighborhood for its two-weekend run every April. This riot of color and sound celebrates all things Japanese. Highlights include taiko drumming, when men and women in traditional dress beat huge tribal drums in an effort to ward off evil spirits. There’s street food, ancient Japanese tea ceremonies, karate demonstrations, origami displays and Japanese folk music and dance, with many of the more popular performances taking place on the main stage at Peace Plaza.

The festival culminates in a grand parade, when drummers, dancers, and beautifully decorated floats weave their way through cheering crowds between City Hall and Japantown, leading the way to a huge closing party in the shadow of the Peace Pagoda. Pro-tip for cherry blossom die-hards: some of the finest in San Francisco are found not in Japantown but at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.

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Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Freelance travel writer

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

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T-rex skeleton in the lobby of the natural history museum at the California Academy of Sciences
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Best Museums in San Francisco

From the de Young Museum’s striking copper facade to the enormous steel cube that forms part of the Contemporary Jewish Museum, many of San Francisco’s museums are as much a marvel from the outside as they are from the inside. There’s something for everyone here, with plenty of great art, science and historical treasures to keep even the most fatigued museum-goer entertained. Read on to discover our pick of the 10 best museums in San Francisco. De Young Museum Slap-bang in the middle of Golden Gate Park, the de Young Museum cuts a striking figure with its burnished copper skin and 144-foot observation tower. Inside, the extensive collection of American art dates back to the 17th Century, with highlights including Salvador Dalí’s mesmerizing portrait of San Francisco philanthropist Dorothy Spreckels Munn, George Caleb Bingham’s 1846 masterpiece Boatmen on the Missouri and several Ruth Asawa wire sculptures. An impressive collection of art, textiles and costumes from Africa, Oceania and the Americas completes the picture. Be sure to ascend the tower for 360-degree views of Golden Gate Park, downtown San Francisco and the Bay. Walt Disney Family Museum Enter the magical world of Walt Disney at this Presidio museum that's a stone’s throw from the Golden Gate Bridge. Here’s where you can view Walt’s earliest drawings and experience the evolution of Mickey Mouse via sketches, models and toys. There are over 40,000 square feet to explore, with exhibits including artwork that spans the Disney dynasty, from Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, Walt’s debut 1937 feature, up to the present day. There are over 200 screens showing cartoons, movies and archive footage, as well as listening stations that include narration by Walt himself. There’s even a 12-foot model of Disneyland! Exploratorium Hands-down the best interactive museum in town, the Exploratorium on Pier 15 is chock-full of amazing art and science exhibits that come to life as soon as you get involved. Say hello to Albert as you enter this trippy universe, where you can – deep breath – dance with your very own animated doppelganger, create sandstorms, step inside a tornado, get lost in the fog, explore an enormous model of San Francisco made from thousands of toothpicks and get a whole new sense of perspective in the Distorted Room. And that barely scratches the surface of what to expect here. Don’t miss the Sun Painting, a huge kaleidoscopic work of art made by reflection and refraction of the sun’s rays. Museum of the African Diaspora One of just a handful of US museums that exclusively showcase contemporary art by native Africans and their descendents, the MoAD is a celebration of Black culture and identity that seeks to entertain, challenge and educate visitors in equal measure. Set in San Francisco’s downtown Yerba Buena Arts District, its regularly rotating exhibitions have featured artists as diverse as Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett and Alison Saar, while the emerging artists program also supports upcoming talent from the Bay Area. USS Pampanito Docked at Pier 45 in Fisherman’s Wharf, the USS Pampanito is a designated National Historic Landmark. This huge submarine was in service during World War II, making patrols of the Pacific and sinking several Japanese ships. Step aboard to learn more about the vessel’s storied history, explore the living quarters, see the torpedoes and check out onboard equipment that has been restored to working order, including the engines, periscope and... ice-cream machine. Legion of Honor Located in Lincoln Park, the Legion of Honor is easily one the best art museums in San Francisco, boasting a fine collection that spans over 5,000 years of ancient and European art. There’s a particularly impressive variety of pieces from France, including paintings by Impressionist masters like Degas, Renoir, Monet and Cézanne. Check out the collection of nearly 100 Rodin sculptures and get up close to some of his most famous pieces: The Thinker, The Kiss and The Gates of Hell, to name but a few. The Hall of Antiquities and mummy room are your one-stop shop for mummified Egyptians, ancient and definitely-not-cursed carved figurine, as well as all manner of well-preserved sculptures, ceramics and jewelry from millennia gone by. Musée Mécanique Relive your misspent youth (depending on your particular vintage) at the Musée Mécanique on Fisherman’s Wharf. This curious place is crammed full of coin-operated arcade games, automata and other such strange devices, with some dating as far back as the early 20th Century. Play classic pinball machines and video games, test your strength against a masked arm-wrestler, find out where you rank on the kiss-o-meter (from passionate to disappointingly clammy), see what is perhaps the only steam-powered motorbike on the planet, and be charmed by not-at-all-creepy Laffing Sal, a florid six-foot cackling automaton with a missing tooth. Asian Art Museum A well-preserved bronze Buddha statue that’s nearly 2,000 years old, Chinese Jades from the Neolithic period and Persian ceramics are just some of the highlights to be found in the vast Asian Art Museum. The 18,000-strong collection is largely Chinese in origin, usually representing around half of the 2,000-ish pieces on display at any given time. It’s one of the biggest and most important Asian art collections in the world and can be found inside a gorgeous Beaux Arts building in the San Francisco Civic Center. Not to be missed. California Academy of Sciences This sprawling museum in Golden Gate Park is an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest and one of the world’s largest natural history collections all rolled into one. Inside its epic 400,000-square-floor space are 46 million specimens and residents that include blacktip reef sharks, an elusive giant Pacific octopus, Madagascan chameleons, poison-dart frogs and a towering t-rex. Equally striking is the museum’s architecture: its roof topped with rolling green hills is home to nearly two million plants! San Francisco Museum of Modern Art SFMOMA is the daddy of all art museums in San Francisco, boasting thousands of important works from household names including Jackson Pollock, Henri Matisse, Georgia O’Keeffe, Frida Kahlo, Louise Bourgeois, Andy Warhol, Edward Hopper, Gerhard Richter and Paul Klee. There’s a largely open-air rooftop sculpture garden that’s accessed via a glass-and-steel bridge and, also outdoors, a vast living wall. This dense forest of foliage changes with the seasons so you’ll get a different sensory experience depending on which time of year you visit. Save on the best museums in San Francisco Save on admission to San Francisco attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
San Francisco getting around
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Getting Around San Francisco

Heading to the City by the Bay? We put together a go-to guide packed with information for getting around San Francisco and beyond, including getting to and from the airport.
Katie Sagal
Downtown views from Dolores Park in The Mission, San Francisco
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Things to do in The Mission San Francisco

Located just south of Downtown, San Francisco’s Mission district – or just plain Mission for short – is a colorful and eclectic neighborhood that’s brimful of vibrant murals, fantastic Mexican-inspired cuisine and epic party zones like Valencia Street, with its buzzing bars and clubs. It also happens to be home to the oldest surviving structure in town, the beautiful 18th-century Misión San Francisco de Asís, aka Mission Dolores. Join us as we take a journey through the best things to do in the Mission San Francisco. Check Out the Mission Murals One of the very first things you’ll notice on a visit to the Mission is the colorful street art that adorns nearly every available surface. Some of the best and most Instagrammable examples can be found in Clarion Alley, a narrow lane with countless murals by local artists, many with political themes, as well as fine tributes to the likes of Prince (Rest in Purple). You’ll find other thought-provoking and often controversial pieces in Balmy Alley, where homages to Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keeffe are among the 40-odd pieces. Visit San Francisco’s Oldest Building Some might consider the survival of Mission Dolores for well over 200 years to be the act of some higher power. It has, after all, remained standing relatively unscathed through the devastating earthquakes of 1906 and 1989. Next to the adobe mission – a small sugar-white church with a colonnaded facade that has remained largely unchanged since the late 1700s – stands the comparatively youthful Mission Dolores Basilica. It’s an elaborate confection, built in 1918 in the California Churrigueresque style and cuts a striking figure next to its diminutive sibling. Catch Some Rays in Dolores Park A couple of blocks south of Mission Dolores, its namesake park is a lush oasis on a typically steep San Francisco gradient that makes for quite excellent views over Downtown and the bay. It’s a lovely place for picnics and people-watching that’s often one of the sunniest spots in town, thanks to the Mission’s unique microclimate. There are tennis courts and soccer fields should you be that way inclined, as well as a kids’ playground to keep the little uns entertained. Go Shopping on Valencia Street Valencia Street’s eclectic medley of (mostly) independent stores makes for a fun wallet workout. Here, thrift stores toting one-off vintage fashions rub shoulders with high-end designer boutiques, and you can pick up a bargain used Kerouac or Ginsberg at Dog Eared Books or find that elusive vinyl LP from legendary local bands like Faith No More and Sly and the Family Stone in Stranded Records. It truly is a street that caters for all needs, as evidenced by the Pirate Supply Store, a non-profit organization that furnishes Jack Sparrow types with eye patches, scurvy medication, whale feed and a dazzling array of seafaring apparel. Get Stuck into a Mission Burrito Thanks to its large Mexican community, the Mission is your number one destination in SF for the best tacos and tortillas in town. The Mission Burrito is renowned California-wide for its farm-fresh ingredients and steamed flour tortilla – a method of baking that give the wraps greater flexibility to contain their frankly obscene amounts of filling. Crammed to bursting point with beans, rice, meat, salsa, cheese, sour cream, guacamole and shredded lettuce, this belly-busting beast would stop King Kong in his tracks. Get yours from legendary local Mexican restaurants including Taqueria La Cumbre and Taqueria El Faro, both of which claim to have invented the monster snack back in the 1960s. I Scream, You Scream... Whaddya mean you’re still hungry? Well, we guess even after devouring a burrito the size of Dwayne Johnson’s bicep there’s always room for ice cream... For the coldest, sweetest treat in the neighborhood, make for the Bi-Rite Creamery on 18th, right next to Dolores Park. This cute little cafe was founded by a pair of pro-bakers so you can be sure your handmade, small-batch ice-cream will contain the squishiest snickerdoodles and crunchiest peanut brittle, as well as using seasonal local fruits and honey. Signature flavors include Japanese black sesame with Bay Area Bee Company honey and a dairy-free pina colada rum with caramelized pineapple pieces. Yum. Catch a Show at The Chapel It’s not difficult to see why California Home+Design named The Chapel as one of its 10 most beautiful music venues in the entire state. This century-old former funeral home boasts soaring vaulted ceilings with original beams and a chapel-like interior that looks every bit as good as the acoustics sound. It’s a smallish place with a capacity of around 750, so expect up-and-coming local bands as well as touring indie outfits and jazz and bluegrass collectives. Previous big-name acts to grace this heavenly stage include Kate Nash, Public Image Ltd. and local-boy-done-good Mike Patton. Get the Party Started Party animal? You’ve come to the right place. The Mission is one of San Francisco’s hottest spots for entertainment after dark. The area around Valencia Street in particular is cocktail central, with upscale joints serving up a vast range of expertly mixed drinks. Put some pep in your step with a spicy La Botana cocktail at ABV, lay a fruity Hungry Ghost to rest at Trick Dog and savor a rye whisky and chocolate stout-laced Friend of the Devil at quirky Dalva. Dive bars also proliferate throughout the neighborhood. The Knockout with its eclectic mix of karaoke, DJ parties and live bands is a highlight. Or mosey over to Shotwell’s for a traditional saloon bar complete with (real) bullet holes and fab craft beers. Go to a Festival Every Memorial Day weekend, the neighborhood bursts into life as the Carnaval Festival and Parade rolls into town. This riot of color and sound celebrates the arts and traditions of Latin America and the Caribbean meaning you can expect flamboyant costumes, lively street performances, unique crafts and some of the best street food this side of the Mexican border: it’s truly one of the most enjoyable things to do in the Mission. San Francisco also honors its substantial Mexican community with colorful Day of the Dead processions and celebrations in the Mission’s Garfield Park on November 2. Save on things to do in The Mission San Francisco Save on admission to San Francisco attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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