Japantown...San Francicso or San Jose?

Last edited by trunkims on Fri Nov 09, 2007 12:38 am; edited 2 times in total

I'm planning to go to Japantown again this weekend, well planning on this weekend, just sometime this month for sure, BUT I'd like to get everyones opinion on which one to go to.

Japantown SF: I've been there numerous amounts of times, I like it especially cuz the hotel I stay at is basically connected to the shopping mall which has wonderful shops, good places to eat, a little stand that serves TAIYAKI!!, 2 areas that serve crepes, a bookstore with all kinds of japanese stuff, etc, etc... Denny's is across the street, along with more stores up and down the street.Plus a karaoke place that has private rooms...that was fun, especially after midnight.

Japantown SJ: I haven't been to the Japantown in San Jose, I've seen pictures but that's about it. From the looks of it, it reminds me of the shopping area on Sunset Blvd. in LA. Is there a shopping mall like at SF? The drive is about the same amount of time from where I live to both SF and SJ. But I don't think the streets are as bad in San Jose as they are in SF are they? Are the shops good in Japantown San Jose? Are there hotels adjacent to the area?

Please let me know ASAP so I can reserve a room.

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!

P.S No I'm not asking about Little Tokyo in LA, just Northern California Japantowns

Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 12:22 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

i prefer japantown in SF...its easier to get around and frankly, its just nicer in SF than san jose (not that there is anything wrong with san jose)...i like the food there better too.

if you get tired of japantown, there is lots more stuff in easy distance to it than there is in san jose.

Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 12:24 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

It sounds like J-town in SF is better suited to what you 're looking for. For one, it's much bigger in area and there are more shops and things that 're looking for.

I haven't been to J-town in SJ for a few years, but unless it's been renovated lately, which frankly seems very unlikely, it's much smaller with fewer shops and restaurants. It's only a couple streets and blocks. There's no shopping mall, either. It's more of a tiny community where Japanese-Americans settled before and after WWII. Not a very touristy place if you ask me. ( Not that its bad or anything ).

Personally, I don't go to either anymore. The grocery stores and shops that I frequent are in other cities and closer. For instance, I go to the grocery store in San Mateo, which isn't technically a Japantown but there are quite a few restaurants in the area. There's also a video store there too.

There's also the shopping area next to Mitsuwa or whatever its called nowadays that has the Kinokuniya inside it that's on Saratoga Ave. That's all the way across town in SJ from the Japantown. I would usually go there before trekking it through the streets of SF anyday.

Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 12:33 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

i was fortunate enough to visit SF just recently. had a lot of fun exploring the city, and i definitely made it a point to go to japantown there. very impressive. i found the underground shops and restaurants interesting, but there was that one seafood buffet restaurant that i wanted to eat at, and it was closed!! anyways, i was disappointed further because i realized there were more underground areas that i did not explore. i only went to the two that was next to the giant pagoda.

since i have never been to the one in SJ, it would be unfair of me to vote, but it sounds like everyone's nudging toward SF. but since you've been there (SF), shouldn't you just visit the SJ just once to see what it's like? is it expensive to stay there?

Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 12:54 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 8:45 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

For what you're looking for, the SF Japantown would have more to offer than SJ. SJ Japantown is very quaint compared to SF.

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 1:31 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

those were interesting pics of some really cool rooms.

let me share some of the pics i took when i was in SF japantown Roll Eyes

Hidden:

#20 is for one of the members i don't see too much anymore (mangosteen)
#21 was a restaurant recommended to me by a little bird

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 2:19 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Japantown is San Jose feels rather lacking. If anything go for the one in SF. The town spans a whopping one and a half block. The food around here is so-so. No wonder I would trek to Japantown in SF even though, I live one and half block away from the one in SJ =)

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 2:25 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

oh wow japantown looks fun, i'm going to sf too in december, any idea on what to do and visits?

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 2:58 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

doinkies has been to both Japantowns. I haven't been to the SF Japantown in a long time but there were a lot more shops there than in SJ's with all sorts of stuff, and also a lot more restaurants. SJ's Japantown is OK, but it's not a big place and there are fewer shops. If you go to the SJ Japantown you should also stop by the Kinokuniya on Saratoga Ave. There's also a Mitsuwa on the same street (next to Kinokuniya) and a few other shops as well.

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 3:11 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I've spent time in both as well, and some of it depends on what you are looking for. SF Japantown has more of the Japanese Mall Exprience, but if you are into anime or something like that SJ Japantown has much better stores. Far Out toys and Nikaku Japanese Arts are better than anything SF Japantown has, plus on Saturdays Far Out Toys has a Maid Cafe for that Akihabara experience. Plus if you also go to Kinokuniya on Saratoga the trips are about the same. SJ definitely has better parking. I do like Mikado in SF Japantown. I actually think the restaurants in both places are about the same in quality. No Benihana's like places in SJ Japantown though, They are all small family places.

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 3:51 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Another thing about Japantown in SF that is good to check out if you're in the area at that time of year is the Cherry Blossom Festival. It's in the spring of course, but really pretty cool to see. Haven't been in years ( we used to go every year when I was a kid ) but can't see how it's changed much. There were demonstrations for martial arts, traditional dances, Ikebana, japanese calligraphy, taiko drum show, that sort of stuff. Oh and my favorite, outdoor food booths! Very interesting if you're looking to check out things about japanese culture. The final day is the parade which always draws a big crowd.

here's a link about it:

http://nccbf.org/home/

here · Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 5:29 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I have yet to go to the San Jose Japantown, but here's my thoughts on San Francisco's, with probably some useless or trivial ramblings thrown in there but oh well... I suppose it's less helpful for you since you've already been there and know what it's like, but anyways...

- Don't go in you're looking for an experience like Chinatown, where you can (almost) feel like you're in a different country... The Japanese American community in San Francisco is much smaller than the Chinese American community, not to mention the fact that internment and urban renewal pretty much scarred that whole neighborhood. Nonetheless, it's a very fascinating part of the city and still a very vibrant neighborhood where you can run into Japanese students studying abroad here just as easily as 三世 and 四世.

- As mentioned earlier, the best time to go is during one of the various festivals (I know you're going this weekend, but if you ever decide to come by again, etc.)... Cherry Blossom and Nihonmachi Street Fair happen every year and feature lots of food booths, crafts, music, performances, etc. There's also the occasional Asian Heritage Street Celebration which gets rotated to Japantown every once in a while, and a couple months ago they had Aki-matsuri, with the delegation from Osaka coming to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Osaka-San Francisco sister city relationship... To be honest, it was quite a magical, dizzying experience, with the lanterns and lights and all the music and motion... And of course, Osaka Mayor Seki himself was right there dancing with the common folk... After the public event shut down for the night, Seki-shichou and delegation made a beeline for the karaoke bar... heh

- If you do go, do stop by Kinokuniya at least, even if you don't plan on buying anything (I rarely do as it's a little too expensive for my tastes)... They have a wonderful magazine section covering lots of different genres, which they will occasionally try and offload when they don't sell everything... In fact, the occasional one-dollar-a-magazine thing is probably my favorite thing about the place, although it seems they only do that once a year or so... I've picked up a wide variety of Japanese magazines in this fashion, including culinary magazines, high culture/lifestyle magazines, gaming mags, eccentric hobbyist magazines (monthly magazines on airplane-watching, anyone?)... And of course, Kinokuniya has loads of manga, textbooks/dictionaries, and English language books about Japan.

- Can't comment much on the food since I actually don't eat there very often (I actually don't GO there much either)... But I have tried mochi from Benkyodo and I enjoyed it thoroughly. There's also a newer-looking, trendyish confectionary shop called Nipponya just before the bridge over Webster Street... I've shopped there before and was pleasantly surprised by the offerings. There's also some Korean establishments--mainly restaurants--along Post Street and of course the 24-hour Denny's.

- And not related to Japantown per se... You may have something planned out already, but you may want to go visit the Asian Art Museum as they currently have several exhibitions on Japanese art... You just missed the major exhibit on Tezuka Osamu, but I imagine there's still plenty of art to be seen.

- There's also the touristy, but still pleasant, Japanese Tea Garden (the oldest public Japanese-style garden in the US)... Go after 4p (if I remember correctly), and it's free.

Enjoy your stay (wherever you go)!

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 11:41 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Thanks for the input everyone! I have decided to go to SF again...I enjoy it more anyways. I usually stop by the bookstore when I go there and try to make a stop at the fun photo booths they have, although they're usually filled.

I went to my first Cherry Blossom Festival this year and definetly plan on going next year! It was so much fun. There was so much to do I didnt have a chance to hit the takoyaki booth outside along with so many little workshops going on, but i did get to wear my yukata and got tons of complements. I'm definetly going next year on the 2nd week though since the parade is that day.

What is the Nihonmachi Street Fair and when does that occur?

I usually go to Japantown about once every 3-4 months. I'm actually thinking about getting a fastrak pass at this point, it's just too much of a hassle to deal with remembering to get a few dollars for the toll (i don't usually carry cash lol) along with the traffic at the toll booths AND in the city streets on the way to Japantown, but once I'm there, I'm there for HOURS!! lol

There used to be a Japantown Anime Faire there that I went to a few times, but it's moved to a new location. I liked going to the faire cuz I could still shop around.

Any other events that happen in Japantown? I know on the 8th or 9th of next month there's some sort of winter thing going on. Any reviews on that, or is it the first one? I might stop by depending on the weather. I can't drive over the mountains if it's snowing lol.

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 11:54 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0