NEIGHBORHOODS Japantown Japantown Mochi at Benkyodo Company MUST SEES HOTEL KABUKI hotelkabuki.com BENKYODO benkyodocompany.com O IZAKAYA LOUNGE jdvhotels.com/restaurants CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL nccbf.org JAPANTOWN sfjapantown.org NIHONMACHI STREET FAIR nihonmachistreetfair.org HOW TO GET HERE The 2, 3, 22, 24, 38 and 38R buses will bring you to this distinctive neighborhood. WHAT TO SEE & DO The Japan Center, a shopping complex on the north side of Geary, is anchored at both ends by the Hotel Kabuki and Sundance Kabuki cinema. Drop by Pika Pika and discover photo booth heaven to snap a unique souvenir. The Kabuki Springs & Spas offers Japanese style bathing followed by another relaxing art of Japan: Shiatsu massage. WHERE TO EAT Cultural menu offerings range from sushi; manju, a rice confection still being hand-made by family-owned Benkyodo; ramen, a noodle soup dish; matcha, a green tea beverage; and shabu-shabu, a meat-and-vegetable combo simmered at a tableside hot pot. WHEN TO VISIT A great place to visit any time, Japantown also offers a number of festivals throughout the year including the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, which will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in April; “Kodomo No Hi” or Children’s Day in May; and the Nihonmachi Street Fair in August. Union Hollow/ Union Street Broadway Washington Sacra m ento Grace California Cathedral Pine Bush Union Post s o Divisader Alta Plaza Park Lafayette Park Financial Di s trict Kearny Fill m ore JAPANTOWN Japan Center Square BART Montg We s tern Addition en Gate St Mary’ s Cathedral Turk African A m erican Art & Culture Co m plex Visitor Yerba SFMOM Infor m ation O’Farrell Center Buena Cente Ellis the Ar BART Mo s c Powell St Cente Mo s cone Market We s t City Hall 46 . sftravel.com m lso Fo nt na FROM TOP: flickr; instagram.com/therealkobusnolte 1st San Francisco’s Japantown is the oldest of only three Japantowns remaining in the United States. Bordered roughly by Geary Boulevard between Laguna Street and Fillmore Street, look for the bright red banners adorned with cherry blossoms and the Peace Pagoda. yde well Polk Van Ness Franklin Gough Fill m ore Powell Van Ness 6th 5th 7th
San Francisco Visitors Planning Guide 2017: Page 46
