San Francisco's Japantown is a cultural haven filled with shops, dining, arts and street celebrations. It is often overlooked by visitors, but those who discover Japantown can explore for hours. Japanese culture is rich in this historical and diverse San Francisco neighborhood.
Japan Center
Japan Center has a plethora of restaurants, shops and three malls and is one of the main places people go to in Japantown. It is in the center of the neighborhood and surrounds Peace Plaza, which contains the Peace Pagoda, a monument that stands 100 feet tall. The pagoda was built as a gift to the city and is a symbol of the Japanese people's friendship and goodwill.
Healthy Eating
You can't spend the day in Japantown without experiencing some Japanese cuisine. Many restaurants offer healthful, fresh food that will supply you with the energy needed to keep enjoying the neighborhood. You will find lots of traditional Japanese food that also include plenty of vegetarian and vegan options.
Relaxation
Part of good overall health is finding time for relaxation and rejuvenation. Japantown has where you can revitalize yourself both inside and out. The spas offer a variety of services such as body wraps, pedicures and therapeutic touch treatments such as Shiatsu, Swedish massage and acupuncture.
Arts and Entertainment
For fine Japanese art and antiques visit the International Art Gallery, Tokaido Arts, on Webster Street. Its collection includes styles from the 16th century up to modern times. There are souvenir shops nearby where you can buy cheaper Japanese art items such as woodblock prints.
The Cherry Blossom Festival
The annual Cherry Blossom Festival is a massive celebration that takes place in April over two weekends. The festival centers on the significance of cherry blossoms in Japanese culture; the blossoms only last for a few days on the cherry trees before they are swept away by a breeze, symbolizing the brevity of life and the beauty of nature.
Demonstrations, entertainment and exhibits such as martial arts, ikebana flower arranging, origami and bonsai are featured at the Cherry Blossom Festival. There are also Japanese arts and crafts and activities geared toward children. The sounds of Japanese instruments such as shakuhachi and shamisen complete the atmosphere. A parade with kimono-clad women, modern-day samurai fighters, taiko drummers, dancers, musicians, floats and more mark the end of the celebration.
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