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Source: The Pacific Heights, San Francisco, CA weather data displayed above is derived from the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric). Air quality and pollution data is derived from the EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency). Air quality and pollution levels measured in a particular area may not be representative of the entire county.

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Pacific Heights, CA Weather Forecast & Monthly Average Temperatures

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Source: The Pacific Heights, San Francisco, CA weather data displayed above is derived from the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric). Air quality and pollution data is derived from the EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency). Air quality and pollution levels measured in a particular area may not be representative of the entire county.

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See what it's like to live in the Japantown neighborhood of San Francisco with reviews and statistics on crime, real estate, and cost of living.

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Heart and Soul Of San Francisco

The Fillmore District is San Francisco's Live Music District and unlike any other neighborhood in the city. On any given night, live music is being performed in four, five, or even six venues in the neighborhood.

The Fillmore Auditorium has more than 200 headline performers booked throughout the year.

About the Fillmore district San Francisco.

While San Francisco's Fillmore District has gone through many changes since its creation over a century ago, one thing has been consistent: its place as one of the most vibrant and long standing entertainment districts in San Francisco, a neighborhood where music has been intertwined into the fabric of everyday life for more than one hundred years.

Created by city officials in the 1880s to alleviate downtown overcrowding, it was the earthquake and fire of April 1906 that changed the course of The Fillmore forever. Spared the damage that hit San Francisco's areas of commerce, the neighborhood was quickly remade into the city's civic and retail center.

Fill your hearts with excitement by watching the below video.

Live Music, art and culture!

The Fillmore District is an entertainment destination. During the day and into the evening, the District's distinct environment draws upon its diversity, with a mix of cultures that contribute their own personalities. From its African American community, there's jazz and blues clubs, from the Japanese community, there's California rolls and karaoke, and from the early days of rock and roll, there's the legendary Fillmore Auditorium.

Arang Korean Cuisine
Brunos
Bumzy's Cookies
Dibbs BBQ & Grill
Dominos Pizza
Dosa on Fillmore
Espress Yourself
Fat Angel Food & Libation

The Brooklyn Circus SF
National Dollar Store
Fashion Town
Fillmore Farmers Market
Goodwill
Jean Nobles Style
Marcus Book Stores
Skyline Cellular

AJai Ho Indian Grocery
Woo Ri Food Market
Safeway
It's Market
Third World Market
Charlie's Pharmacy

A & J Discount Beauty Supply
Allstate Insurance
CBS Ace Hardware
Center for Healing & Expression
Central Builders Supply
Club One Fitness
DaVita Dialysis
Discount Beauty Supply

Our guides are the best in the world. They know what they do, and they will guide you in every step possible.

For many fishing enthusiasts, a fishing kayak is an ultimate accessory. And when looking for one of the best of them, the Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 12 should be at the top of your list. It is fairly new on the market and is one of the best sit on kayaks out there.

Not only is it the ultimate fishing kayak, it offers so many extras that make it even more impressive on the water. That said, it's not a cheap kayak . So bear that in mind.

This is a one person kayak so if you plan to bring a buddy, I suggest checking out a tandem fishing kayak instead.

Standout features

There are two things that you will notice immediately about the Pro Angler 12. The first is in plain sight right away. And that's the seat. Mirage call it the Vantage seating system and you will immediately notice that it gives you a sitting position that is fairly high above the kayak itself. That gives you not only a great view of your surroundings but it means you have the extra clearance when casting, something other fishing kayaks don't afford. Even when sitting up so high, this kayak is extremely stable.

The second thing you will notice is that the Pro Angler 12 doesn't even need a paddle. That's right, it uses a pedal drive system called the Mirage Drive. Now you easily maneuver your kayak around on the water without having to pull up your lines. That's a massive advantage over its competitors.

Also, this kayak has so much storage it's crazy. You will be able to bring most of your fishing gear out on the water with you and have easy access to it while you are on the water.

So is this angler kayak easy to haul to your favorite fishing spot with one person?

Ok, listen. Although it looks like a small kayak, the Pro Angler 12 comes in at 12' foot long and at its widest point is 36 inches across. But it's not that light. In fact, it weighs close to 130 pounds. So moving it around is not that simple with one person although it does have various handles and grips to make your job a little easier.

The fact that it is so sturdy does give it a major advantage though. And that's because its weight capacity is 500 pounds. So that's you and plenty of your fishing gear. You could even use it for an overnight fishing trip as well.

I bet its sluggish in the water for kayak fishing...

For such a heavy kayak, the Pro Angler 12 actually has some impressive performance. That's thanks to its class of kayak - pedal drive system. If you want to beef it up a little, you could even put on bigger fins. A retractable rudder helps you steer with ease, while a skeg, which can also be retracted will keep you going straight and true.

So performance is not too bad but let's be honest, this is made for fishing, not something to try to take on some rapids. It won't let you down in choppy water, however, and you could even use it out on the ocean.

What extras does this fishing kayak come with?

Well, we have already discussed the impressive seat but there are plenty more. What about two dry storage areas, pop-up tackle boxes, rail mounts, rod holders and a place to keep your drink. It really has everything that a small fishing vessel needs and more. Also, these storage areas are all easy to access while out on the water.

The Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 12 is easily the best kayak for fishing. Sure it costs a pretty penny but it's all worth it in the long run. Especially if you are a serious angler.

November one of the preferred months of the year to take a break from our routine lives. With the winters crawling in and the following month being a festive one, which is going to hectic and tiring filled with shopping and celebrations, its high time we give ourselves a well-deserved break.

New South Wales Australia

Beaches that are a feast for the eye, one of the best and diverse kinds of seafood to devour and flawless beach roads for amazing rides and drives how much better a vacation could get? It is not just about the beaches, the food, and the streets, the entire location itself is heaven on earth

India

The subcontinent known to be one of the hottest countries in the world goes through a drastic makeover during November and December. The winter arrives and anyone witnesses a different India in terms of the weather and climatic conditions. The month of November is the time when Diwali, the festival of lights is celebrated. To witness the entire country light up the sky is nothing less than a treat. There are also other travel destinations all over the country where you can rejuvenate yourself.

The Philippines

Looking for a trip filled with adventures and exotic beaches the Philippines is the place where you need to be. With more than 1000 islands across the country, November is the most preferred month for any tourist to drop by. With a lot of adventure sports like scuba diving, snorkeling, and jet skiing. The Philippines would definitely give an experience of a lifetime.

Florida, USA

The state in the USA is known for some of the best beaches in the world. When it comes to Florida, it houses some the well-known theme parks all around the globe, including Disney World and Universal Studious Epcot. The entire state is filled with some amazing restaurants, the food in Florida is something that won't disappoint you.

Churchill, Manitoba, Canada

Have you ever had any ideas to meet polar bears not trapped inside the cage? Churchill, Canada is the place to be. Located right in the north of Manitoba in Hudson Bay, which really not far from the Arctic. Churchill is known as the Polar Bear capital of the world. Recommended in the month of November because of this the time of the year when snow is a bit low.

La Palma, Canary Islands Spain

It is just ironic that a place that so many numbers of volcanoes, has such a striking beauty. Bestowed with rich flora and fauna, this place is extremely diverse biodiversity. The place is also known for some of the rare species of plants. The place also has other mandatory entities which makes it a preferred tourist destination including stunning sea resorts, restaurants that provide tasty food.

New York, USA

New York, known as the city that never sleeps, the city is more than just tall buildings, busy roads, and buzzing people. As this is the time of the year when autumn crawls in the leaves in the central park starts to fall, just being there among those trees is absolute bliss.

If you are a tourist and if you are New York at this time you are damn lucky. The time of thanksgiving, the pies, the turkey and parades things couldn't get any better.

Of the many neighborhoods and districts in San Francisco, the Fillmore District stands alone as a cultural hub that has brought great musicians together, but separated many Americans in a slight of gentrification disguised as redistribution. The Fillmore District has been around since before the turn of the century and many people credit its popularity with its near complete lack of damage during the 1906 earthquake that nearly flattened all of San Francisco with destruction and fires. It was this catastrophic event, and the later following World War II, that would lead to the shaping of this ethnically diverse hub right in the heart of one of America's largest cities.

After the 1906 earthquake destroyed most of San Francisco, many residents sought to find a new home in one of the areas still left unaffected by the horrific damage. It was this migration that brought a large number of Jewish and Japanese residents to the Fillmore District. Displaced residents from the South Market District combined with an influx of Jewish emigrants to form what was then considered the center of the Jewish community in all of San Francisco. The other group of people who occupied most of the Fillmore District at the time of the earthquake were the Japanese Americans. They developed a small Japan town that still exists today, but have not been without their own struggles throughout the history of the city.

Along with African Americans, World War II had a huge effect on the Fillmore District's Asian American population. As if it were a cause and effect relationship, with the start of World War II and the disgraceful executive order that put all of the Japanese American citizens in internment camps, the Fillmore District was left with a large number of empty and available homes. The African American community, drawn in by the promise of jobs building ships in the bay and the escape from the racist south, ended up taking occupation of these homes and the resulting five years before and after the war saw the population of the Fillmore District African Americans go up ten times. After the war and the internment camps, Japanese Americans made their way back to the Fillmore District as well and thus began a new melting pot of Jewish, Japanese, and African Americans.

The open-minded population in the 1960's made it a cultural hub to legendary psychedelic rockers Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead. This reputation for music and adversity towards the man gave the Fillmore District the reputation it still lingers on to today. The popularity of jazz music also took over and was brought to the Fillmore District by the large African American population. Despite being accused of driving out ethnic minorities with urban renewal projects, the governing bodies still try to hold on to the jazz element made famous in this bright and bustling district of San Francisco. Regardless of their struggles, there's no doubt that the many different people of the Fillmore District are the reason it is the hopping hub of culture it is today.

For many fishing enthusiasts, a fishing kayak is an ultimate accessory. And when looking for one of the best of them, the Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 12 should be at the top of your list. It is fairly new on the market and is one of the best sit on kayaks out there.

Not only is it the ultimate fishing kayak, it offers so many extras that make it even more impressive on the water. That said, it's not a cheap kayak . So bear that in mind.

This is a one person kayak so if you plan to bring a buddy, I suggest checking out a tandem fishing kayak instead.

Standout features

There are two things that you will notice immediately about the Pro Angler 12. The first is in plain sight right away. And that's the seat. Mirage call it the Vantage seating system and you will immediately notice that it gives you a sitting position that is fairly high above the kayak itself. That gives you not only a great view of your surroundings but it means you have the extra clearance when casting, something other fishing kayaks don't afford. Even when sitting up so high, this kayak is extremely stable.

The second thing you will notice is that the Pro Angler 12 doesn't even need a paddle. That's right, it uses a pedal drive system called the Mirage Drive. Now you easily maneuver your kayak around on the water without having to pull up your lines. That's a massive advantage over its competitors.

Also, this kayak has so much storage it's crazy. You will be able to bring most of your fishing gear out on the water with you and have easy access to it while you are on the water.

So is this angler kayak easy to haul to your favorite fishing spot with one person?

Ok, listen. Although it looks like a small kayak, the Pro Angler 12 comes in at 12' foot long and at its widest point is 36 inches across. But it's not that light. In fact, it weighs close to 130 pounds. So moving it around is not that simple with one person although it does have various handles and grips to make your job a little easier.

The fact that it is so sturdy does give it a major advantage though. And that's because its weight capacity is 500 pounds. So that's you and plenty of your fishing gear. You could even use it for an overnight fishing trip as well.

I bet its sluggish in the water for kayak fishing...

For such a heavy kayak, the Pro Angler 12 actually has some impressive performance. That's thanks to its class of kayak - pedal drive system. If you want to beef it up a little, you could even put on bigger fins. A retractable rudder helps you steer with ease, while a skeg, which can also be retracted will keep you going straight and true.

So performance is not too bad but let's be honest, this is made for fishing, not something to try to take on some rapids. It won't let you down in choppy water, however, and you could even use it out on the ocean.

What extras does this fishing kayak come with?

Well, we have already discussed the impressive seat but there are plenty more. What about two dry storage areas, pop-up tackle boxes, rail mounts, rod holders and a place to keep your drink. It really has everything that a small fishing vessel needs and more. Also, these storage areas are all easy to access while out on the water.

The Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 12 is easily the best kayak for fishing. Sure it costs a pretty penny but it's all worth it in the long run. Especially if you are a serious angler.

November one of the preferred months of the year to take a break from our routine lives. With the winters crawling in and the following month being a festive one, which is going to hectic and tiring filled with shopping and celebrations, its high time we give ourselves a well-deserved break.

New South Wales Australia

Beaches that are a feast for the eye, one of the best and diverse kinds of seafood to devour and flawless beach roads for amazing rides and drives how much better a vacation could get? It is not just about the beaches, the food, and the streets, the entire location itself is heaven on earth

India

The subcontinent known to be one of the hottest countries in the world goes through a drastic makeover during November and December. The winter arrives and anyone witnesses a different India in terms of the weather and climatic conditions. The month of November is the time when Diwali, the festival of lights is celebrated. To witness the entire country light up the sky is nothing less than a treat. There are also other travel destinations all over the country where you can rejuvenate yourself.

The Philippines

Looking for a trip filled with adventures and exotic beaches the Philippines is the place where you need to be. With more than 1000 islands across the country, November is the most preferred month for any tourist to drop by. With a lot of adventure sports like scuba diving, snorkeling, and jet skiing. The Philippines would definitely give an experience of a lifetime.

Florida, USA

The state in the USA is known for some of the best beaches in the world. When it comes to Florida, it houses some the well-known theme parks all around the globe, including Disney World and Universal Studious Epcot. The entire state is filled with some amazing restaurants, the food in Florida is something that won't disappoint you.

Churchill, Manitoba, Canada

Have you ever had any ideas to meet polar bears not trapped inside the cage? Churchill, Canada is the place to be. Located right in the north of Manitoba in Hudson Bay, which really not far from the Arctic. Churchill is known as the Polar Bear capital of the world. Recommended in the month of November because of this the time of the year when snow is a bit low.

La Palma, Canary Islands Spain

It is just ironic that a place that so many numbers of volcanoes, has such a striking beauty. Bestowed with rich flora and fauna, this place is extremely diverse biodiversity. The place is also known for some of the rare species of plants. The place also has other mandatory entities which makes it a preferred tourist destination including stunning sea resorts, restaurants that provide tasty food.

New York, USA

New York, known as the city that never sleeps, the city is more than just tall buildings, busy roads, and buzzing people. As this is the time of the year when autumn crawls in the leaves in the central park starts to fall, just being there among those trees is absolute bliss.

If you are a tourist and if you are New York at this time you are damn lucky. The time of thanksgiving, the pies, the turkey and parades things couldn't get any better.

Of the many neighborhoods and districts in San Francisco, the Fillmore District stands alone as a cultural hub that has brought great musicians together, but separated many Americans in a slight of gentrification disguised as redistribution. The Fillmore District has been around since before the turn of the century and many people credit its popularity with its near complete lack of damage during the 1906 earthquake that nearly flattened all of San Francisco with destruction and fires. It was this catastrophic event, and the later following World War II, that would lead to the shaping of this ethnically diverse hub right in the heart of one of America's largest cities.

After the 1906 earthquake destroyed most of San Francisco, many residents sought to find a new home in one of the areas still left unaffected by the horrific damage. It was this migration that brought a large number of Jewish and Japanese residents to the Fillmore District. Displaced residents from the South Market District combined with an influx of Jewish emigrants to form what was then considered the center of the Jewish community in all of San Francisco. The other group of people who occupied most of the Fillmore District at the time of the earthquake were the Japanese Americans. They developed a small Japan town that still exists today, but have not been without their own struggles throughout the history of the city.

Along with African Americans, World War II had a huge effect on the Fillmore District's Asian American population. As if it were a cause and effect relationship, with the start of World War II and the disgraceful executive order that put all of the Japanese American citizens in internment camps, the Fillmore District was left with a large number of empty and available homes. The African American community, drawn in by the promise of jobs building ships in the bay and the escape from the racist south, ended up taking occupation of these homes and the resulting five years before and after the war saw the population of the Fillmore District African Americans go up ten times. After the war and the internment camps, Japanese Americans made their way back to the Fillmore District as well and thus began a new melting pot of Jewish, Japanese, and African Americans.

The open-minded population in the 1960's made it a cultural hub to legendary psychedelic rockers Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead. This reputation for music and adversity towards the man gave the Fillmore District the reputation it still lingers on to today. The popularity of jazz music also took over and was brought to the Fillmore District by the large African American population. Despite being accused of driving out ethnic minorities with urban renewal projects, the governing bodies still try to hold on to the jazz element made famous in this bright and bustling district of San Francisco. Regardless of their struggles, there's no doubt that the many different people of the Fillmore District are the reason it is the hopping hub of culture it is today.

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The Fillmore District - Heart and Soul Of San Francisco.

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Heart and Soul Of San Francisco The Fillmore District is San Francisco's Live Music District and unlike any other neighborhood in the city. On any given night, live music is being performed in four, five, or even six venues in the neighborhood. The Fillmore Auditorium has more than 200 headline performers booked throughout the year.

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Fillmore Timeline 1860 - 2001

1860s

1870

Lloyd Federlein's grandparents buy a home on Steiner Street near Geary Street

1880s

Japanese immigrants come to San Francisco and begin to settle in boarding houses south of downtown in a formerly posh area known as South Park. They start to open businesses around Dupont Street (now Grant Avenue) in Chinatown. A few Japanese also set up homes and shops around Post Street near Fillmore Street in the Western Addition.

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1890s

San Francisco's Jewish population begins to settle in the Western Addition. Vegetable gardens and farms hedge in the area surrounding the cobbled Fillmore Street.

1906

After the earthquake destroys Chinatown, the Japanese American community relocates to the Fillmore District. This relocation may be due in part to the Japanese consulate's location on Pine Street, near present-day Japantown.

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1907

Most of the Japanese American population of San Francisco relocates from other parts of the city and centers itself in the Western Addition. They nickname the neighborhood "Nihonjin-machi" or "Japanese town." (Later, they shorten the name to "Nihonmachi" or "Japantown.") Due to a diplomatic request by the Japanese government, children of Japanese descent (unlike the Chinese) are allowed to attend public schools. They join the diverse ethnic population made up of African-Americans, Jews, Hispanics, and Europeans attending Western Addition schools.

Following a streetcar strike near a car barn at Turk and Fillmore, a riot breaks out, in which three people are killed. This infamous day is christened "Black Thursday." To this day, the streetcars' brick powerhouse remains standing on the corner of Turk and Fillmore.

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1907-1945

1908

1909

1911

The Fillmore Auditorium is built. Initially named the Majestic Ballroom from 1911-1938, the 2nd floor auditorium is home to dances and balls. Several shops occupy the space at street level.

1913

On May 19, 1913, California Governor Hiram Johnson signs the Webb-Hartley Law (more popularly known as the Alien Land Law of 1913), which prevents "aliens ineligible to citizenship" from owning or acquiring land, and places limitations on leasing and collective ownership of property. The laws of 1919 and 1920 further restrict ownership and leasing of land. Although the California Supreme Court declares the Alien Land Law unconstitutional in 1952, the legislation remains on the books until November 4, 1956 when California voters repeal the law.

As city hall and department stores migrate to the rebuilt downtown, a group of real estate investors publish a pamphlet promoting Fillmore Street as a business district. They include a scheme to build a Fillmore Street tunnel between Sutter & Filbert Street that would connect the Fillmore Street commercial district to the grounds of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition located near the San Francisco Bay. The tunnel is never built.

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1920s

The Western Addition is home to several bakeries. Langendorf's, at 1160 McAllister, eventually becomes so large that their baked goods are distributed throughout California.

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1933

Jack's Tavern (1931 Sutter Street) opens. It is the first nightclub in the Western Addition to cater specifically to African Americans.

1941

1943

In an effort to support the war, the Fillmore Street arches are melted down for scrap iron.

African Americans begin to migrate from the South to work in Bay Area shipyards and other war industries, moving into the Fillmore housing left vacant by the interned Japanese Americans. By 1945, some 30,000 African Americans are living and working in San Francisco.

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mid-1940s

1945

1946-1965

Longtime Western Addition residents, especially its white and Jewish population, gradually move to outlying areas in the city and beyond. This movement is part of a nationwide trend toward the development of suburbia. Many of these former residents continue to own their Fillmore District shops and apartments, renting them mainly to people of color. By the late 1950s, more than 90% of Fillmore residents are renting from absentee landlords.

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1947

Charles Collins is born in the Fillmore. It marks the 5th year that his parents, Dr. & Mrs. Daniel Collins, have lived in the neighborhood on Pine Street.

1949

President Harry S. Truman signs the 1949 Housing Act, allocating federal money to rebuild the nation's cities. The 1949 Housing Act encourages a more comprehensive approach to housing and community development, but like previous housing legislation, it stresses a combination of demolition and new construction, all under the guise of redevelopment.

Major projects in many American cities are jump-started, usually in neighborhoods that have become poor and non-white. In fact, minorities make up 75% of people displaced nationwide due to urban renewal projects in the 20th century. Several major American cities such as Chicago and New York City begin implementing their own large urban renewal projects.

Atlanta, Georgia comes up with a "Plan of Improvement," a strategy to attract increasingly suburban Americans to the metro Atlanta area. The city implements the Plan in 1952, targeting the city's Central Business District. Unfortunately, the Plan includes the demolition of downtown housing and displacement of families (especially Black families); an increase in segregation (87% in 1940--92% in 1950--94% in 1960); and the demolition of many downtown historic buildings.

In San Francisco, the Western Addition becomes the city planners' chief concern. The area will soon develop into one of the largest urban renewal projects in the West, encompassing hundreds of city blocks and impacting close to 20,000 residents.

1950

An urban renewal project begins in Kansas City, Kansas and runs until the end of the 1960s. The project contributes to the loss of a number of buildings associated with the city's African-American and jazz music history along 18th Street. During the 1930s, Kansas City, was a nationally known as a hotbed of music, home to 120 night clubs and 40 dance halls; most featuring jazz performances. The "scene," stretching from Troost Avenue east along 18th and Vine Streets and memorialized in a song by jazz great "Big" Joe Turner, was also significant as a historic black neighborhood and a center of black commercial activities.

The city government of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania targets the Lower Hill District for urban renewal. This lively neighborhood, home to Italians, Jews, Eastern Europeans and African-Americans, is bulging with shops, nightclubs, restaurants and small businesses, but it is also plagued by overcrowding, faulty sanitation and absentee landlords. The city's redevelopment plan will eventually swallow more than 1,000 acres of land, raze more than 3,700 buildings, relocate more than 1,500 businesses and uproot more than 5,000 families. The story of Pittsburgh's transformation is the subject of articles in The Saturday Evening Post, Life and Time magazine.

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1951
In August, Willie Brown arrives in San Francisco from Texas. His first residence is in the Western Addition at 1028 Oak Street, near Divisadero.

At the age of 18, saxophonist John Handy plays at Bop City with John Coltrane.

1953

The first house in the Western Addition is torn down under the urban renewal program.

The Advisory Committee on Government Housing Policies and Programs recommends that the 1949 Housing Act be expanded to include the rehab of existing structures. The Committee expresses concern with the economic and social costs of slum clearance and advocates for a conservation approach.

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1954

The U.S. Supreme Court rules unanimously in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, that racial segregation in public schools violates the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which says that no state may deny equal protection of the laws to any person within its jurisdiction. The 1954 decision is limited to the public schools, but it is believed to imply that segregation is not permissible in other public facilities.

Federal legislators pass the 1954 Housing Act. The Act includes rehab and conservation as allowable components of Federal intervention in the housing market to prevent neighborhood decline. The term "urban renewal" is introduced; referring to both slum clearance and renovation. Additionally, FHA Section 220 mortgage assistance becomes available for rehab projects in designated urban renewal areas.

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1955
George Christopher is elected mayor of San Francisco.

1959

Justin Herman becomes the head of San Francisco's Redevelopment Agency, accelerating the city's urban renewal plans.

1959-1961

The San Francisco Redevelopment Agency's Western Addition Project A-1 is in full swing with the widening of the two-lane Geary Street into the busy four-land Geary Boulevard. Not surprisingly, Geary Blvd. will later become an unwritten financial dividing line for the neighborhood.

Plans are drawn up for the Japanese Culture and Trade Center, to be located in the heart of Japantown. 4,000 Western Addition residents are displaced for the project. Many of them move to nearby streets that have already been designated as Redevelopment Area A-2.

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1960

Justin Herman prophetically declares, "Without adequate housing for the poor, critics will rightly condemn urban renewal as a land-grab for the rich and a heartless push-out for the poor and nonwhites."

Using the power of Eminent Domain, The San Francisco Redevelopment Agency claims the Federlein home, forcing the family to move out of the house they have owned for 90 years. The house is subsequently demolished and made into a parking lot.

Justin Herman announces an ambitious new redevelopment plan for the Western Addition called Phase A-2. The plan targets some 60 square blocks and affects more than 13,000 Fillmore residents.

Martin Luther King Jr. speaks at a rally in Washington D.C. and delivers his celebrated "I have a Dream" speech.

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1965
Mary Rogers, a mother of twelve children, moves into the Fillmore. She will shortly become an instrumental activist in the neighborhood fight against the Redevelopment Agency.

On the night of December 10, Bill Graham holds his first concert at the Fillmore Auditorium as a benefit for the San Francisco Mime Troupe. Graham borrows the auditorium from leaseholder Charles Sullivan, an African American man who, during the 1950s and 1960s, is the largest promoter of black music west of the Mississippi. In 1966, Sullivan is found murdered. The crime is left unsolved.

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1966
Riots occur in San Francisco's Hunters Point neighborhood after an African American teen, suspected of robbery, is shot by a San Francisco policeman. The September 28 riots quickly spread to the Fillmore and Mayor Shelley calls in the National Guard. They end the riots within a few days.

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1967

Neighborhood activism is still a new idea. Encouraged by progressive ministers, Hannibal Williams helps found WACO, the Western Addition Community Organization, to fight against the displacement of the Fillmore residents by Redevelopment. Frustrated by the ongoing demolition, WACO takes direct action by picketing and filing a major lawsuit. Shortly thereafter, Justin Herman hires a Western Addition minister, Reverend Wilbur Hamilton to become the director of the A-2 project.

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1970

1971

Justin Herman dies of a heart attack.

1985

After much lobbying by Mayor Dianne Feinstein, The Fillmore Center is built on land that has been vacant for almost two decades. The new complex includes more than a dozen stores, restaurants and hundreds of apartments and condominiums. The unfortunate irony is that most of the former Fillmore residents can not afford to move into the newly built homes. San Francisco becomes one of the few major cities in America experiencing a reduction in its African-American population.

The area in the Western Addition north of Geary Blvd, which includes Japantown, begins to thrive. Wealthy residents unable to find homes to buy in the adjacent tony neighborhood of Pacific Heights begin to move into the Western Addition Victorian homes saved from redevelopment. Expensive shops begin to open up along what becomes known as "Upper Fillmore Street." Unfortunately the area of the Western Addition south of Geary Blvd, ground zero for redevelopment, does not enjoy the same prosperity. Crime is rampant and stores in the new Fillmore Center struggle to stay open. Real estate agents rechristen the area north of Geary Blvd. "Lower Pacific Heights," in an attempt to disassociate from the poorer south side of Fillmore Street.

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2000

2001

The San Francisco Redevelopment Agency plans completion of all A-2 projects in the Western Addition. However, unable to secure a cinema chain, the last redevelopment property along Fillmore Street remains empty and the Old Fillmore Jazz Preservation District hangs in limbo. In an attempt to appease Lower Fillmore business owners, and draw pedestrian traffic south of Geary Blvd, the Redevelopment Agency decides to spruce up Lower Fillmore Street by re-doing the sidewalks, adding trees and paving stones commemorating musicians who once played the Fillmore clubs and the significant buildings that once lined the street. A public square off of Fillmore Street is also reconfigured to include a small stage and an area to recognize key public figures from the neighborhood.

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Fillmore Timeline 1860 - 2001 1860s 1870 Lloyd Federlein's grandparents buy a home on Steiner Street near Geary Street 1880s Japanese immigrants come to San Francisco and begin to settle in boarding houses south of downtown in a formerly posh area known as South Park.

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New Fillmore District and the People Who Love It

If San Francisco's Fillmore District were a book, the main characters of its lively story would include jazz fans, food lovers, shopaholics and festival goers. Central to its plot would be Fillmore Street, one of the city's ideal places for people-watching and soaking up some sunshine at a sidewalk café with San Francisco vibes.

Shopping, San Francisco-style

Experience a slice of local life. It's not too hilly, it's not like the mall and there's no need for a car. A stroll along Fillmore Street is about independent clothing and one-of-a-kind jewelry boutiques, a few branch locations for trendy designer brands, some firm favorites in the health and beauty category, consignment stores for bargain hunting, international gift shops, shoe stores, bookstores, coffee shops, a vintage movie house and plenty of people-watching. Take in the scene while selecting a frozen yogurt flavor or waiting for a delicious thin-crust gourmet pizza to emerge from the brick oven.

On the Subject of Food

Few places are as blessed as Northern California for a bounty from the sea, fresh local produce, wine grapes and a temperate climate. This enviable combination has launched attracted top-notch chefs and culinary experts from around the world and launched the farm-to-table movement. Without a doubt, San Francisco a foodie town. The pleasures of great food -- but without fancy surroundings -- can be found in the Fillmore District. Making a final choice may the challenge. There's Turkish or Thai, Indian or Italian, soul food, Korean, Cajun or crêperie...and more. When a piano bar or jazz performance is on the agenda with dinner, this is the place to tap your toes.

Jazz Town

Western Addition's story is connected to the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906. The area emerged following the destruction of 80 percent of the city which left more than half the city's residents homeless. Ambitious rebuilding included theatres, movie houses and The Fillmore, a 1912 dance hall later turned famous concert venue. In the 1940s, Fillmore Street was America's music mecca, attracting all the great talents to dozens of jazz clubs. Today, it's home to Yoshi's, a well-known jazz supper club with headline stars since 1972. Gospel music brunch, jazz piano and R&B live entertainment are on the weekly calendar next door at 1300 on Fillmore. Sheba Piano Lounge, Boom Boom Room and the highly-acclaimed new SFJazz Center a few blocks away make the Fillmore Jazz District the epicenter of the live performance urban jazz scene. Every summer the vibrant Fillmore Jazz Festival attracts more than 100,000 for open-air performances by top artists for the public's enjoyment.

Japantown

A photogenic five-tier Peace Pagoda graces the center of Japantown. Sent as a gift of goodwill from the sister city of Osaka, it stands at the center of America's oldest and largest Japantown. Within a few square blocks, find ceramic tea cup sets, silky kimonos, calligraphy sets, bonsai in ninety shops at three shopping malls, plus a modern cinema, a spa offering traditional Japanese Shiatsu, a handful of independent hotels and dozens of restaurants serving sushi, sashimi, saké and other authentic specialties. Throughout the year, events and festivals such as Cherry Blossom, Obon, Aki Matsuri, Children's Day, Ramen Day, Sumo Champions Exhibition and the Japanese Film Festival attract visitors to immerse themselves in the rich culture of Japan in this Western Addition neighborhood called "Nihonmachi."

Did You Know?

A wall plaque outside Benkyôdô sweet shop in Japantown indicates this was the birthplace of the fortune cookie in 1906.

Clay Theatre is one of the city's oldest, built in 1910 as a nickelodeon house.

The old streetcar tracks can still be seen on Fillmore Street, the first route put back in service after the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906.

The Fillmore has a psychedelic concert poster collection from the 60s in the lobby's mezzanine level.

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If San Francisco's Fillmore District were a book, the main characters of its lively story would include jazz fans, food lovers, shopaholics and festival goers. Central to its plot would be Fillmore Street, one of the city's ideal places for people-watching and soaking up some sunshine at a sidewalk café with San Francisco vibes.

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northern california cherry blossom festival

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Things to Do in Japantown, San Francisco

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ShoppingIt may seem odd, but in Japantown, a lot goes down inside the malls. Kitschy stores, coffee shops, jewelry chains, and restaurants are hidden within the Japan Center and Nihonmachi malls. // Makers and creative types love Japantown for its quirky shops filled with unexpected finds. At Kinoku...

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Located at the heart of Japantown, the Peace Plaza hosts many annual traditions of this historic neighborhood, including the Cherry Blossom Festival, Nihonmachi Street Fair, the Summer Obon Festival and the Year-End Festival.

Rising from the plaza's center is the Peace Pagoda, a five-tiered concrete shrine designed by Japanese architect Yoshiro Taniguchi. Installed in 1968, it was a gift from the people of Osaka, San Francisco's sister city in Japan.

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Located at the heart of Japantown, the Peace Plaza hosts many annual traditions of this historic neighborhood, including the Cherry Blossom Festival, Nihonmachi Street Fair, the Summer Obon Festival and the Year-End Festival. Rising from the plaza's center is the Peace Pagoda, a five-tiered concrete shrine designed by Japanese architect Yoshiro Taniguchi.

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2019 japantown san francisco guide restaurants food things to do and see events festivals

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2019 Japantown San Francisco Guide, Things To Do & See | Japanese-City.com

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2019 Japantown San Francisco Guide, Things To Do & See

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If you are looking to travel to Japan without the long flight, we've got the spot for you! San Francisco's Japantown is very walkable, super family-friendly and a whole new world all rolled into one. Japatown hosts loads of family-friendly events throughout the year so time your visit right for some extra culture thrown in. Scroll down to see some of our favorite spots!

Explore

Peace Plaza
This plaza sits between two wings of the Japantown mall and is a nice open space for your kids to run around. In one corner of the plaza stands the towering Peace Pagoda, a gift from San Francisco's sister city of Osaka, Japan and a fun photo opportunity. Oftentimes cultural exhibitions or other events are held in the plaza-check the official SF Japantown site for news.

Japan Center Mall
This three-building mall is the heart of Japantown. It's filled with restaurants, cafes and shops, most of them unique and celebrating Japanese culture. You can spend hours browsing unusual crafts, Japanese beauty products and foods, and cute souvenirs that you probably won't find anywhere else in the city. You'll find our favorite stops listed throughout this guide.

Pika Pika
If you or your kiddies are addicted to the selfie filters on your phone, you can't miss Pika Pika. This collection of photobooths lets you take photos of you and your family, and then decorate them digitally with stamps, text and other cutesy doodles. You walk away with a sheet of personalized photo stickers as a memento of the day.

1581 Webster St., 2 nd Floor (in the Japan Center mall)
Online: pikapikasf.com

New People
This sleek building celebrates Japanese popular culture, from fashion to art to film. There's a cinema on the lower level that shows foreign films, trendy fashion boutiques and a cute tea room on the ground floor (check out the the entry on Crown and Crumpet below). There's also an escape room on the top level with constantly changing challenges-fans of escape games won't want to miss it.

Eat

Benihana
Benihana probably has the dining room with the most kid appeal in Japantown-the teppanyaki cuisine comes with a show. Your tableside chef will dice, slice, flip and serve up your food with a flair that will keep kids mesmerized. The dishes are also kid-friendly: grilled chicken, steak, shrimp, noodles and fried rice. Make a reservation if possible as they can get very busy.

Marufuku Ramen
There's always a long line outside Marufuku; no surprise since it serves some of the best ramen in the city. Their tonkotsu (pork-based) ramen is rich, creamy and flavorful. If you get in early enough, try to get one of their chicken paitan deluxe (only 15 servings made every day), which is a chicken based ramen served with a huge grilled chicken leg. Tip: put your name on the electronic sign up sheet, then walk around and enjoy the mall until they message you that your table's ready.

Crown and Crumpet
Classic English high tea in Japantown? Yes! Crown and Crumpet, located on the first floor of the New People building, has a modern-day princess vibe, with pink-and-white dishes, teas with names like Pretty in Pink and Alice Drink Me, and trays piled high with macarons and mini cupcakes. For little kids, there's a Nursery Tea with hot chocolate, mini sandwiches and tiny sweets.

Hinodeya Ramen
If you're looking for a change from the popular tonkotsu ramens, Hinodeya offers a traditional dashi broth ramen or a chicken broth ramen, both lighter but just as tasty. There's even a vegan ramen made with sesame and soy milk and spinach noodles. Kids will love the fried chicken karaage appetizer. To avoid long lines, try getting there a few minutes before they open.
photo: Shirley H via Yelp
Sweet

Belly Good Café and Crepes
This little shop may make the cutest desserts in Japantown, and that's no small feat. You can choose from over 20 styles of sweet crepes, filled with fruit, ice cream and other sweet toppings. The twist is every crepe is decorated super kawaii to look like cute little animals or happy faces. Your kids will go gaga over these adorable crepes and may have a hard time wanting to eat them! Cash only.

1737 Post St. Ste. 393 (in the Japan Center Mall)

Benkyodo Co.
If you're looking for an introduction to traditional Japanese sweets, there's no better place than Benkyodo Co. This unassuming shop is one of the original businesses of Japantown and has been operating for over 100 years. They specialize in mochi, a sweet chewy rice candy filled with red bean, fresh fruit, or even ice cream. Your kids will have a hard time picking just one, but at less than $2 per piece, you can indulge.

Chocolate Chair
If you thought the ice dragon in Game of Thrones was the coolest thing ever, you'll want to check out the Dragon's Breath dessert at Chocolate Chair. One bite of the liquid nitrogen-infused Fruity Pebbles-like cereal will have you blowing super chilled plumes of air out your mouth. Your kids might be a little intimidated by the super cold cereal, so it may fall on you to impress your kids with your smoky breath. Have your camera at the ready to capture the effect.

Kintetsu Mall
1737 Post St Ste 383
San Francisco, CA
415-567-9255
Online: chocolatechair.com

Yasukochi's Sweet Shop
Set inside the unassuming Super Mira market is one of San Francisco's iconic desserts. Turn right when you enter, head to the bakery counter and ask for a slice of the coffee crunch cake. The owners have been making the confection of airy cake, whipped cream and coffee-flavored toffee topping since 1974. Cash only, and come early if possible as they regularly sell out by afternoon.

1790 Sutter St. (in the Super Mira Market)
415-931-8165

The words "fish" and "ice cream" don't usually go together, but one look at these fish-shaped ice cream cones will have you changing your tune. Uji Time turns taiyaki, a traditional Japanese fish-shaped pancake, into a soft serve cone. Ice cream choices usually include matcha, black sesame and rotating seasonal flavors. Top with sprinkles, cookie wafers and Pocky sticks and you have the tastiest looking fish ever. Be forewarned they make the cones fresh, so sometimes there can be a wait.

Shop

Daiso
Daiso is THE place for affordable Japanese goods. You can find everything from housewares to kitchen tools to snacks to party supplies. Be prepared to lose a whole afternoon in here perusing items you never realized you needed. Most items are only $1.50, so it's a great place to stock up on household basics or gift bag goodies.

Kinokuniya
This wonderful bookstore is truly one of the city's hidden gems. Kinokuniya specializes in Japanese books but also carries a selection of English books (including a children's section). The lower floor contains a huge collection of anime and manga that make it a must-visit for any fan. They also have a great selection of Japanese pop culture merchandise, including an entire Totoro section. A great place to browse or pick up a unique gift.

Amiko Boutique
If your child (or you) are obsessed with all things cutesy, Amiko Boutique is a must stop. Stuffed floor to ceiling with plushies, toys, stickers and collectibles from adorable brands like Pusheen, tokidoki, Sanrio, Skip Hop and many more, you may find yourself getting sucked in as much as your kiddo. Many of the specialty items they carry, like toy blind boxes or tokidoki bags, are hard to find elsewhere!

Paper Tree is an ode to the beautiful art of origami. The Mihara family, which started the store, are origami masters, have published books on the craft, and continue to teach today. Check out their eye-popping creations and pick up some origami paper to practice yourself. They also have a gorgeous selection of Japanese artisan papers, handcrafted cards and other craft supplies.

-Anita Chu
Photos by the author except where noted.

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explore:  japantown in san francisco with your kids

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If you are looking to travel to Japan without the long flight, we've got the spot for you! San Francisco's Japantown is very walkable, super family-friendly and a whole new world all rolled into one. Japatown hosts loads of family-friendly events throughout the year so time your visit right for some extra culture thrown in.

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Scroll down, look at headings carefully.

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San Francisco's Japantown is a fun place to explore, but not that many visitors go there. Three indoor malls, and a pedestrian-only block, are lined with a fascinating variety of authentic Japanese shops and restaurants.

In a way, it's like taking a quick trip to Osaka and immersing yourself in Japanese culture, old and new: anime, ceramics, kimonos, sushi, manga, Japanese fashion, and sweets... a huge variety of Japanese items calling out to be purchased or eaten!

There are only three Japantowns left in the U.S. now, and San Francisco's is the largest, and oldest surviving one. All three are in California, and the other two are Little Tokyo in Los Angeles and San Jose's Japantown.

San Francisco's Japantown (aka Nihonmachi) tends to be overshadowed somewhat by SF's more famous Chinatown, but there's a lot to see and do in a small area.

It's easy to spend hours here, trying out ramen places, looking at teapots, origami paper and cute anime-inpired toys.

What's in Japantown?

Japantown in San Francisco is a 6-block area of shops and restaurants along Post Street in the Western Addition neighborhood. Many of the shops are in a series of malls called Japan Center, as well as a pedestrian-only block of Buchanan Street. This area used to be the center of the Japanese community in San Francisco prior to World War 2.

Today, most of the Bay Area Japanese live elsewhere, but many come here to eat and shop, and they've done an impressive job of recreating a Japanese look and feel to this small area of San Francisco. The Japanese feel is especially strong during one of the annual festivals held in Japantown.

Most of the establishments are inside one of the three, two-story malls built in the 1960's. "Malls" doesn't sound very appealing, but they've created a cool Japanese atmosphere inside the buildings, where rows of unique shops and Japanese restaurants march along the corridors.

The malls run in a row along Post Street, between Fillmore and Laguna Streets: East Mall (Miyako), West Mall (Kintetsu), and Kinokuniya Mall (see map below).

Japantown shops to explore...

There are easily a hundred shops and restaurants to investigate; wandering around and discovering all the interesting things is probably the best part of visiting Japantown. Here are some of the highlights:

Note on the "kawaii" phenomenon. Kawaii in Japanese translates roughly as "cuteness", and is currently a big part of the Japanese popular culture. Kawaii encompasses all the ultra "cute" creatures of Hello Kitty, Pikachu and the numberless anime characters, not to mention all the accessories with big-eyed, baby animals, pink hearts, etc.

What started with Sanrio and their ubiquitous kitty, has spread beyond children's entertainment to many aspects of Japanese culture, including fashion, art, film and music. Kawaii is alive and well in Japantown; you'll see oceans of cuteness all through the malls. Pink is the word.

Kids in Japantown

So let's begin with the cute stuff. Kids love Japantown! If you come here with a child, you won't be leaving empty-handed.

Pika Pika

Pika Pika is a Japanese import, a room with large photo booths where you can take funny pictures and decorate them digitally with all sorts of doodads. Very popular with teens and young adults. Pika pika means sparkle or shine in Japanese.

Playland

Playland is a popular arcade with all sorts of Japanese games. Kids love it, of course.

Kinokuniya Bookstore

It's a treat to find a huge bookstore with high quality books and other items, in these latter days of disappearing brick-and-mortar stores. There's something about being able to pick up a book and thumb through it that online shopping just can't match.

For Manga Fans...

The entire lower level of the Kinokuniya Bookstore is manga, in Japanese and English.

Daiso: the Japanese Dollar Store $$$

Or rather the $1.50 Store. All items in Daiso are $1.50 unless marked otherwise. Huge store, with lots of cheap stuff.

This is a Japanese chain store that sell just about anything in housewares you can imagine. Most of it's imported (some Chinese products, but also lots of Japanese items). Check out their large selection of Japanese snacks. of the beloved Pocky stick varieties, plus the candy-stuffed bears. East Mall.

Housewares and More

Japantown has lots of shops selling traditional Japanese goods as well: kimonos, swords, pottery, etc. You'll see them as you explore the malls.

More interesting stores to browse:

Soko Hardware, Japanese housewares, corner of Post and Buchanan Sts.

Ichiban Kan, fun Japanese knick-knacks, East Mall

Paper Tree, everything origami, pretty paper and books. 1743 Buchanan St.

The "New People" Building

New People, at 1746 Post Street near Buchanan, houses some interesting, contemporary Japanese shops and activities, headquarters for all things J-pop.

The first floor has the charming Crown & Crumpet Tea Shop, all in pastels. Up on the top floor is a cool activity: an " escape room" that is set up with clues to solve the puzzle of getting out of the room. You can reserve times online, at RealEscapeGame.com.

The second floor has two Japanese clothing boutiques. One of the shops is Alice and the Pirates, showcasing a brand of clothing catering to the "sweet Lolita" style (no relation to the book), a style and subculture originating in Japan that has super-feminine, frilly, little-girl dresses and accessories for teens and adult women. Odd, but interesting.

Photos in the Alice store are strictly forbidden, but if you want to get an idea of what the fashion is like, check out their online store at Alice and the Pirates. Apparently it's very popular in Japan.

The Cherry Blossom Festival this year has a fashion show based on this style on April 21, 2018, from 12:30 to 1:30 on the Sakura 360 stage ( see schedule).

The also have a theater that shows Japanese films (e.g. My Neighbor Totoro, and others, anime and non, during the Cherry Blossom Festival in April).

Japantown places to eat...

Eating is one of the delights of Japantown. There are so many restaurants for enjoying ramen, sushi, udon, and more, it's hard to choose! I've just listed a few of my favorites. Most of the eating establishments here are Japanese, with a few Korean ones as well.

The photo below shows an area labeled "Restaurant Row", in the West Mall.

Isobune Sushi

Isobune (West Mall, first floor) is the original home of the sushi boats. The owners patented the mechanism and you can nab the irresistible little plates of sushi and more as the boats sail past your table.

I can't resist this place; for more info on it, see my page on Isobune. Beware the pretty, grape-flavored mochi! I ate 3 of them on my last visit, after filling up on sushi, and they're yummy, but so densely sweet, one would have been plenty.

Mochi are rice flour balls filled with sweet bean paste; they taste better than that sounds. Japantown is a great place to sample authentic Japanese sweets (see below).

There's something almost hypnotically soothing about watching the boats go by. Try the Crunchy Avocado Roll.

More good places to try:

Marufuku Ramen: new ramen place, Kinokuniya Mall.

Hinodeya Ramen Bar. 1737 Buchanan St.

Udon Mugizo. Kinokuniya Mall.

Shabu-Sen: cook your own meat and veggies. 1726 Buchanan St.

Ramen Yamadaya. So Cal chain, but good. 1728 Buchanan St.

Sweets

Belly Good Cafe and Crepes

This is a fun place to have dessert for both kids and adults. You design your own crepes from a list of ingredients, including ice cream, honey, kiwi, banana, syrups, chocolate and more.

Not only are the crepes tasty, they are morphed into adorable animals with little faces made from cookies, cereal, pretzels or candy. More kawaii.

I think I got a rabbit. Delicious, except for the green tea flavored crepe. Interesting, but next time I'll go for the regular one.

Mitsu Teahouse

If you're in the mood for something really different, try their boba tea (sweetened tea with milk and flavorings) topped with a big puff of cotton candy in different colors. Totally kawaii. East Mall.

More sweets:

Benkyodo: family business since 1906, famous for mochi and manju. 1747 Buchanan St.

Sophie's Crepes: sweet and savory, huge yummy crepes. Kinokuniya Mall. Cash only.

Yasukochi's Sweet Shop: family business inside the Super Mira Market at 1790 Sutter St. Reason to go: the coffee crunch cake. Cash or check only.

More Things to Do and See in Japantown

Peace Plaza and Pagoda

Between the East and West malls is a large cement area called the Peace Plaza, with a 5-story pagoda rising above it, the biggest landmark of Japantown. The cement pagoda, a Buddhist stupa, was a gift from Osaka to San Francisco in 1968.

The Plaza has benches to hang out on; a little bleak without the blooming cherry trees, but convenient for taking a break from shopping.

The Kabuki Theater is now an AMC Theater.

The Kabuki 8 movie theater on the corner of Fillmore and Post Streets used to be one of the coolest theaters in San Francisco, but they were bought out by AMC in April, 2017. It's kept some of the original features, but not others.

The Kabuki still shows some independent and art films, but mainly mainstream commercial releases. What made it special were the nice seats, quality food and drink, and absence of commercials.

They still have the comfortable chairs, reserved seating, and tables for the wine, beer, cocktails, and snacks that you can purchase at the bar (after 5 p.m.) and bring into the theater with you. They also have a big selection of cocktails and artisanal beers, draft and bottles.

The popcorn still has real butter, but there are now lengthy commercials shown before the previews. Unfortunately, there have also been a lot of complaints about long lines, poor service and dirty bathrooms.

Kabuki Springs and Spa

Zone out in Japantown's traditional Japanese bath house. Saunas, massage, facials, baths. Reservations are a good idea, see their website. Entrance at 1750 Geary Blvd , Kinokuniya Mall.

Japantown Festivals

The Cherry Blossom Festival

The Cherry Blossom Festival is a wonderful event that celebrates spring and the arrival of beautiful pink flowers on the cherry trees. And very popular; around 200,000 people show up.

This festival takes place over two weekends in early April every year. Japantown is overflowing with traditional Japanese music and arts, as well as showcasing the latest developments in Japanese popular culture, or J-pop.

Come to enjoy graceful dancers in beautiful kimonos, amazing sword play, and pounding taiko drums. Or view the latest Japanese fashion in clothes, music, anime and film (any Totoro fans? You're in luck).

The Cherry Blossom Festival for 2018 is happening April 14/15 and 21/22 in Japantown. See my tips on what to see and do there this year.

The Nihonmachi Street Fair

Another fun street fair in Japantown, one weekend in August every year. Wide variety of art, music, and food. Around 30,000 people attend.

Japantown Tours

It can be fun to have someone to take you around and show you the sights and tell you about Japantown's history. There are a couple of ways of doing it.

Note: I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through some of the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. This helps me provide all the free information I post on this website.

Free Guided Walking Tours

San Francisco City Guides is a non-profit group that gives free guided tours to lots of San Francisco attractions. No reservations are required, just show up at the time and meeting spot for the tour. Donations go to the organization (not the guides) and are optional, but no pressure.

This organization is very professional and the volunteers who lead the tours know their stuff. They have a combo tour of Japantown and the nearby Fillmore District that takes place once a month. I've been on several of their tours, though not this one yet, and I've really enjoyed them. See City Guides Tours.

Guided Walking Tours

Japantown Food Tour. Take a guided tour with a local expert and learn about (and taste) the fascinating variety of food tucked away in Japantown, along with some of the history. See the Japantown Food Tour for more info and booking.

Tip: you can often get a nice discount on the Japantown Food Tour through Goldstar.com. It's free to sign up, then check to see if the tour is available. Go to goldstar.com.

Self-guided Walking Tours

You can do your own tour by following a series of 16 signs set up throughout Japantown that explain the history of the neighborhood. Each sign has a map and list of all the signs, so you can move on to the next one easily.

The starting sign is in the Peace Plaza, on the side of the West Mall next to the entryway.

History of SF Japantown

Japanese began moving to the Japantown area in the Western Addition neighborhood after their homes were destroyed in the 1906 earthquake. Most had been living in areas near Chinatown or south of Market Street.

Western Addition was west of Van Ness Avenue, which was the fire break, so the fire that destroyed a large part of San Francisco never reached the Japantown neighborhood.

The Japanese population was one of the largest outside of Japan by the time World War 2 began. In 1942, the Japanese were interned and the neighborhood was filled in with African-Americans working in the wartime industry.

After the war, some Japanese moved back, but most relocated to other parts of the Bay Area and Southern California, or out of state.

The plaza and malls were created during the 1960's during a flurry of "urban renewal" in the Fillmore District, by this time a center of black culture in San Francisco. Many old Victorians were bulldozed to make room for a widened Geary Boulevard and the buildings used to house the new shopping area.

This "redevelopment" was controversial, naturally, since it replaced run-down, historically-interesting houses, and small businesses and jazz clubs, with admittedly unlovely commercial buildings, and displaced some of the African Americans who had been living there.

Today there are about 12,000 Japanese-Americans living in San Francisco.

Japantown Hotels

Staying in a hotel in Japantown is a quiet, low-key alternative to the more hectic pace of Union Square or Fisherman's Wharf. There are two boutique hotels in Japantown that I would recommend: the Hotel Kabuki and the Kimpton Buchanan Hotel.

Hotel Kabuki

The Kabuki creates a serene environment for its guests, with its koi pond, zen garden, and Japanese decor with sliding shoji screens. Soak in a deep Japanese tub in your room, or use the hotel pass to the Japanese spa nearby.

Located next to the East Mall at 1625 Post Street. To read the reviews, and for more info and booking, see Hotel Kabuki.

Kimpton Buchanan Hotel

The Kimpton Buchanan Hotel (formerly the Hotel Tomo), is part of the respected Kimpton Hotel chain. The hotel was recently remodeled, and sits in a quiet neighborhood. They allow pets and provide free bikes for riding around town, free WiFi and a Keurig coffee maker.

Located across the street from the pedestrian block of Buchanan Street, at 1800 Sutter Street. To read the reviews, and for more info and booking, see Kimpton Buchanan.

How to Get to Japantown

The 38-Geary bus stops at Japantown. Get off at the bus stop just before Webster, behind the West Mall. You can catch this bus from Union Square or along several blocks of Market Street.

The 2-Clement and 3-Jackson buses stop on the north side of Japantown, at Sutter and Buchanan, where the pedestrian block of Buchanan begins.

Taking BART to Japantown is a two step process. Get off at the Montgomery BART stop, then head back along Market Street towards 1st Street half a block (towards the Ferry Building) and you'll see the stop for the 38-Geary bus, which takes you to Japantown.

Japantown Parking

Japantown is generally one of the easier neighborhoods to park in because of the Japan Center Garage.

Japan Center Garage

This is where I usually park when I go to Japantown. It's safe and very convenient, being right under the Japan Center; you come up inside the West Mall.

The Japan Center Garage is reasonably priced and usually not full. The hourly rate range is between $2 and $3.50. Most of the Japan Center restaurants will validate, which gives you a $2 discount. Why is this garage so much cheaper than the other ones? Probably because it's run by a non-profit organization;-)

Something cool: if you go on their website, they show the number of spaces available there in real time. See the Japan Center Garage.

There are two entrances to the garage: 1610 Geary near Webster, and on Post Street between Webster and Buchanan.

Kabuki Annex Parking. The Japan Center Garage also manages the parking garage at the nearby Kabuki Theater, same rates. Entrance on Fillmore between Geary and Post.

Other parking options...

There is street parking in the neighborhood surrounding Japantown, but it's not plentiful and not that safe; there have been a lot of car break-ins, so I recommend using the garage.

Parking Apps. Most of the time it's pretty easy to get a space in the Japan Center Garage, but during festivals it can fill up. In those cases, you might consider using a parking app like Parking Panda or Spot Hero to find and book another garage. The other garages cost more, and are 4 to 5 blocks away, but sometimes you can get good deals using the apps.

More to explore...

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San Francisco Japantown. A local's tips on what to see and do.

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San Francisco's Japantown is a fun place to explore, but not that many visitors go there. Three indoor malls, and a pedestrian-only block, are lined with a fascinating variety of authentic Japanese shops and restaurants. In a way, it's like taking a quick trip to Osaka and immersing yourself in Japanese culture, old and new: anime, ceramics, kimonos, sushi, manga, Japanese fashion, and sweets...