JAPAN IN THE EAST BAY

Feeling nostalgic about Japan? Luckily, we live in a place where there are Japanese things all around us! Whether it’s Japanese social groups, gardens, stores, restaurants, or hot springs, there are lots of ways to get your Japanese “fix” right in your own neighborhood. Click on the following links to see just some of what’s out there.

Cultural and Arts

• JETAANC Kabuki Club – events related to Kabuki and other Japanese performing arts
• Oakland Asian Cultural Center (OACC) – a partner of JETAANC, OACC sponsors a wide range of Asian (including Japanese) cultural and artistic programming
• Oakland-Fukuoka Sister City Association – a partner of JETAANC, OFSCA is an active group that sponsors student exchange programs between Oakland and Fukuoka, as well as a very popular Otsukimi Moon Viewing Festival every Fall, among other Japan-related activities throughout the year.
• Bay Area Shakuhachi School – Oakland
• Diablo Japanese-American Club – Concord
• Diablo Taiko – Concord
• Eden Aoba-Taiko – Hayward
• Emeryville Taiko – Emeryville
• Ho no Daiko – Alameda, Contact: Gen Uno or Joyce Noma-Quan, (510) 471-2581
• Miyagi Ryu Ohtori no Kai USA – Hayward, Okinawan Eisa Taiko and Dance
• O-Nami Taiko – Union City
• Pacific Film Archives – one of the largest collections of Japanese film in the world; often screens Japanese films, Berkeley
• Rythmix Cultural Works – Alameda, features regular classes in taiko and other Japanese arts
• Somei Yoshino Taiko Ensemble – Oakland
• Tatsumaki Taiko – Berkeley
• Waidaiko Newark – Newark, taiko group

Shops

• Daiso – 100en shop, Berkeley Telegraph
• Eastwind Books of Berkeley – Asian and Asian-American books, Berkeley Downtown
• Hida Tools – Japanese tools, Berkeley
• Ichiban Kan – 100en shop, El Cerrito
• Japan Woodworker – Japanese tools, Alameda
• Miki’s Paper – authentic Japanese paper store, Berkeley on 4th Street
• Thousand Cranes – Japanese fabrics, futon covers, kimono and goods, Berkeley on 4th Street

Grocery Stores

• Berkeley Bowl – many Japanese products
• Diablo Oriental Foods – Japanese-owned grocery with many Japanese products in Walnut Creek
• EM Food Market – Korean grocery and goods, many Japanese products in Downtown Oakland
• Koreana Plaza – Korean grocery and goods, many Japanese products in Oakland’s Koreatown/Northgate district
• Ranch 99 Market – Huge Asian grocery and goods store, many Japanese products in Richmond in the Pacific East Mall off I-80 near Albany
• Tokyo Fish Market – Japanese grocery store in North Berkeley. Japanese gift shop adjacent.
• Yaoya-san – Japanese grocery in El Cerrito (next to Ichiban Kan)
• Yasai Produce Market – produce shop with Japanese produce and food in Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood

Hot Springs

• Piedmont Springs – private “rotemburo”-style outdoor tubs

Restaurants

• Angelfish – Alameda
• Ajisen Ramen – Popular Kyushu ramen chain in Fremont. One of the few places that serves authentic tonkotsu ramen in the Bay Area.
• Coach Sushi – nomihodai available, Oakland’s Grand Avenue district
• Geta – Oakland’s Piedmont Avenue District
• Ichi Japon – Downtown Oakland, Happy Hour 5-8pm
• Ichiro Sushi – Downtown Oakland
• Ippuku Izakaya – Downtown Berkeley
• Kamakura Restaurant – Alameda
• Katana-ya Ramen – El Cerrito (next to Yaoya-san)
• Kiraku – izakaya, owner/chef is from Ibaraki-ken, Berkeley
• Kirala Restaurant – Berkeley
• Kyoto Express – Downtown Oakland, lunch only, specializes in udon/soba
• Miyozen – kaiten-zushi, Emeryville
• Noriko no Ko – Authentic “obaasan” style home cooking, Berkeley
• Ozumo Restaurant – Oakland’s Uptown district
• Rikyu Sushi – Oakland’s Rockridge district
• Ryowa Ramen – Downtown Berkeley
• Samurai Sushi Boat – Kaiten-zushi, Oakland’s Grand Avenue district
• Takara Sake Factory – sake tasting room, shop, and museum, Berkeley, near 4th Street
• Ta-ke Sushi – $1 Sapporo beers, Oakland’s Grand Avenue district
• Yume Sushi – Omakase, Alameda
• Zabu Zabu – Shabu-shabu, Downtown Berkeley

Karaoke

• Jaguar Karaoke in Oakland’s Temescal district, Karaoke boxes, many Japanese songs
• Music Tunnel KTV Karaoke – Karaoke boxes, many Japanese songs in Richmond near Albany in same building as Ranch 99 in the Pacific East Mall

Japanese Gardens

• Oakland Japanese Garden – small garden with a waterfall and koi pond. The adjacent Garden Room is rentable for events, Oakland’s Grand Avenue district
• Oakland Bonsai Garden – Oakland’s Grand Avenue District
• Hayward Japanese Garden, Hayward
• UC Berkeley Japanese Garden (in UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley) Berkeley,  review

Japanese Schools and Classes

• Buddhist Church of Oakland
• Diablo Nippongo Gakuen – Concord
• East Bay Japanese Language School – El Cerrito
• eLoha – Castro Valley
• Global Montessori International School – Berkeley
• Kumon – Various locations
• Middlebury Japanese Language School – Oakland
• Pacific Rim International School – Emeryville
• Sakura Daycare – Oakland
• Sakura Gakuen – Pleasanton
• Sycamore Preschool – El Cerrito

Japanese Buddhist Temples

• Buddhist Church of Oakland
• Buddhist Temple of Alameda
• Berkeley Buddhist Temple
• Berkeley Higashi Hongonji Temple
• Berkeley Zen Center – Soto Zen Buddhist practice center
• Buddhist Churches of America Bookstore (next to Jodo Shinshu Center), Berkeley
• Jodo Shinshu Center, Berkeley
• Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church – Union City

Note: These links are for informational purposes only. JETAANC does not necessarily endorse any of the entities listed. Please send any additions or corrections to communications@jetaanc.org