San Francisco

JAPAN IN SAN FRANCISCO

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
• Japan Society of Northern California – Sponsor of Japan-related events in Bay Area. They also offer a wide variety of Japanese classes.
• Japan Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC) – one of the main Japanese cultural centers in San Francisco and a partner of JETAANC. Offers classes in Japanese arts.
• Asian Museum of Art – Features a large collection of Japanese art, as well as Japan-related events and classes
• GenRyu Arts – classes in taiko and other Japanese arts
• New People – movie theater showing Japanese films, Japantown
• Renegade Taiko
• San Francisco Japantown – one of three remaining Japantowns in the U.S.
• San Francisco Taiko Dojo
• San Francisco Women’s Taiko Troupe

Japanese Social Groups

• WaiWai – Japanese-speaking social group
• Japan-U.S. Forum – Japanese-speaking discussion group

Japanese Schools/Classes

• JETAANC – periodically sponsors conversation and JLPT prep classes. Contact jet@cgjsf.org to find out about upcoming classes.
• ABC Language Exchange – Financial District
• ABC Preschool – Japantown
• Chibi-Chan Preschool – Japantown
• Clarendon Elementary School – bilingual Japanese program, Inner Sunset
• Japan Society of Northern California – Financial District
• Kinmon Gakuen – Japantown
• Little Angels Preschool – Inner Sunset
• Nihonmachi Little Friends – Japantown
• Rosa Parks Elementary School – bilingual Japanese program, Western Addition
• San Francisco Japanese School – Sunset
• Soko Gakuen – Lower Pacific Heights
• Online Courses – free online Japanese courses from major universities

Onsen Hot Springs

• Kabuki Spa – Japanese-style onsen, Japantown

Japanese Gardens

• San Francisco Botanical Garden – Moon Viewing Garden, Golden Gate Park
• Japanese Tea Garden – Golden Gate Park

Grocery Stores

• Nijiya Market – Japantown
• Super Mira Market – Japantown
• Uoki K. Sakai Company – Japantown

Sweets/Wagashi

• Benkyodo – traditional manju/mochi/sweets shop, Japantown
• Kissako Tea – dango and other traditional wagashi sweets, Japantown
• Minamoto Kitchoan – traditional omiyage/sweets, Financial District
• Nippon Ya – traditional omiyage/sweets, Japantown
• Yasukochi’s Sweet Shop – traditional Japanese bakery, Japantown

Shops

• Japantown shops
• Kinokuniya – bookstore, Japantown
• New People – variety of Japan-related shops, Japantown
• Pika Pika – Purikura Print Club, Japantown

Karaoke

• Do Re Mi Music Studio – Japantown
• Fillmore Karaoke Corporation – Japantown
• K-Net Karaoke – Parkside
• L2 – Japantown
• Level 2 Karaoke – Japantown
• Pandora – Civic Center, features a Hello Kitty room
• Playground – Japantown
• Safety Zone Karaoke Box – Japantown
• San Francisco Town Music Studio – Japantown
• Voiz Karaoke – Parkside
• Volar Karaoke – Inner Richmond
• Yamasho – Civic Center, Japanese-themed rooms

Restaurants

• Ajisen Ramen – authentic Kyushu ramen chain, one of the few places in the Bay Area that serves tonkotsu ramen
• Akiko’s Restaurant – Union Square
• Anzu – Union Square
• Bar Ikkyu – shochu bar, Japantown
• Cha-Ya – Vegetarian Japanese
• Chotto – Marina
• Delicia – Japanese deli, often staff a tako-yaki booth at the Ferry Terminal Farmer’s Market
• G Cube Cafe – shabu-shabu, Parkside
• Genki Ramen – Inner Richmond
• Halu – Inner Richmond
• Happy Shabu Shabu – Japantown
• Izakaya Ju-Ku – Outer Richmond
• Izakaya Sozai – Inner Sunset
• Izakaya Yuzuki – Mission
• Japantown restaurants
• Kappou Gomi – Outer Richmond
• Ki – SOMA
• Miki – Outer Richmond
• Mogura – “snack” bar, Japantown
• Mums Home of Shabu Shabu – Japantown
• Nihon Whiskey Lounge – Mission
• Nojo – Hayes Valley
• Nombe – Mission
• O-Izakaya – Japantown
• Oozora Sake House – Inner Richmond
• Oyaji – Outer Richmond
• Ozumo – Rincon Hill
• Ryoko’s – Nob Hill
• Shabu House – Outer Richmond
• Shabu Lounge – Outer Sunset, shabu-shabu
• Shabu Pub – Inner Richmond, shabu-shabu
• Shabusen – Japantown, shabu-shabu
• Tekka – Inner Richmond
• Yamasho – Civic Center

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