Japantown
San Francisco’s Japantown is the oldest in the U.S. From its famous Peace Pagoda to a variety of great eats, learn about this vibrant historic neighborhood.
Do sushi and sake go down easy with jazz? When you're in Japantown San Francisco's historic foundation of Japanese and Japanese American culture, and it's near neighbor, the Fillmore District, the city's historic home for live jazz music, they most certainly do.
San Francisco's Japantown is the oldest in the United States. Look for the bright red banners adorned with cherry blossoms and the Peace Pagoda on Geary Blvd. between Laguna and Fillmore streets.
Your Guide to San Francisco's Cherry Blossom Festival
A sure sign of spring in San Francisco is Japantown's beloved Cherry Blossom Festival.
ExploreThings to Do in Japantown
The Japan Center, a shopping complex on the north side of Geary Boulevard, is anchored at both ends by the Hotel Kabuki and AMC Kabuki Cinema. The Kabuki Springs & Spa offers Japanese-style bathing followed by another relaxing import from Japan: shiatsu massage.
Dining offerings range from sushi; ramen; Manju, a rice confection; matcha, a green tea beverage; and shabu-shabu, a meat-and-vegetable combo simmered in a tableside hot pot.
A great place to visit any time, Japantown offers many festivals throughout the year, including the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, “Kodomo No Hi,” or Children’s day in May, and the Nihonmachi Street Fair in August.
Heart of the City: Japantown
Learn from the residents and business owners of Japantown about why this neighborhood is the heart of the city.
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Delicious Ways to Explore Japantown
One of San Francisco's smallest neighborhoods is packed with excellent eats! Check out great places to dine in Japantown.
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San Francisco Neighborhoods
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Civic Center / Hayes Valley
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Marina / Pacific Heights
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Japantown
San Francisco’s Japantown is the oldest in the U.S. From its famous Peace Pagoda to a variety of great eats, learn about this vibrant historic neighborhood.
Fillmore
A neighborhood full of music history, fine dining, and upscale shopping, The Fillmore packs more into a few city blocks than you can believe.
Mid-Market
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Chinatown
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Mission District / Dogpatch
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Castro / Noe Valley
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Haight-Ashbury
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Golden Gate Park / Sunset
Within Golden Gate Park, you'll find lakes, gardens, museums, golf courses and a herd of bison. The Sunset offers a zoo, views of the Pacific Ocean and tasty eats.
Richmond / Presidio
The southern anchor of the Golden Gate Bridge, the verdant, scenic Presidio, artfully reclaimed Crissy Field, and the Civil War-era Fort Point are just a few of the attractions in the northwest corner of town.
Treasure Island
This gem of an island offers a bustling urban winery scene, terrific music festivals, and photo ops of San Francisco's downtown skyline.