Japantown

As the oldest Japantown in the U.S, the district is a must-see part of San Francisco. At the Japantown mall and plaza near The Peace Pagoda, there are a variety of Japanese foods, both traditional and new. It’s always active and vibrant area, and especially so during the Spring Cherry Blossom Festival. Spend the day wandering around the small shops; relax at a spa like the Kabuki,  browse the for ephemera, anime, manga, and other books— you might also find fun things like sushi socks! The layers of history in Japantown are part of the vibe, and it is important to recognize the history of racism and Japanese internment, and how the community fought to keep the area a cultural and spiritual center for all San Francisco residents.