| Japantown comprises about six square city blocks in | | | | custom-made furniture. There are also plenty of |
| the Western Addition of San Francisco. The area is | | | | restaurants to go around as well, if you visit the |
| home to a large number of Japanese (and some | | | | Kintetsu Mall, there is a pathway of restaurants that |
| Korean and Chinese) restaurants, supermarkets, indoor | | | | should satisfy your midday cravings. From noodles and |
| shopping malls, hotels, banks and other shops, including | | | | rice dishes to sushi to go, the mall has pretty much |
| one of the few U.S. branches of the large Kinokuniya | | | | everything. And while most of the restaurants are |
| bookstore chain. Its focal point is the Japan Center | | | | sit-down style, there are carry-out options, such as |
| (opened in 1968), the site of three Japanese-oriented | | | | Osakaya, which offers various container meals filled |
| shopping centers and the Peace Pagoda, a five-tiered | | | | with samples of sushi, side dishes, noodles, and rice. |
| concrete stupa designed by Japanese architect | | | | And aside from the shopping and eating experience, a |
| Yoshiro Taniguchi and presented to San Francisco by | | | | trip to Japan Center will also give you a chance to |
| the people of Osaka, Japan. | | | | mingle with neighborhood residents, SF locals, and |
| If you're looking for a unique gift to take back home, | | | | other out-of-town visitors. When you do visit here, you'll |
| then the best place to start looking is in San | | | | find a very friendly vibe. Like Chinatown, you feel |
| Francisco's Japantown. More specifically - Japan | | | | welcomed here. One note: make sure to actually walk |
| Center, where you'll find specialty shops, a movie | | | | into the Peace Plaza and gaze up at the Peace |
| theater, sushi bars, and traditional restaurants all within | | | | Pagoda in Nihonmachi. Erected in 1968 as a symbol of |
| walking distance. | | | | eternal peace, it's an inspiring example of architecture |
| In Miyako Mall, beautiful showrooms of exotic Chinese | | | | that should cap off your visit to Japantown's "heart" |
| natural stones can be found, you'll come across | | | | like nothing else. |
| antiques and find all kinds of Japanese collectibles and | | | | |