Japan Center, San Francisco
I’ve been coming to Japan Center in San Francisco for almost 25 years now, but it had been a few years since my last visit.
There were some inevitable changes, but for the most part it’s not too different. One of the big furniture and home decor stores was gone, but some interesting new places had appeared. There is now a crepe place – yum – and the Japanese equivalent of a “dollar store” that was surprisingly interesting.
Allison hadn’t been there before, or if she had it was when she was much younger. She really enjoyed it, although she was getting a little annoyed with daddy wanting to take pictures of here everywhere. Gotta watch that, I guess!
We had lunch at Isobune (aka “the sushi boat place”) because I knew Carrie & Allison would love it. And they did, of course. I never knew that Isobune was the first sushi boat restaurant in the U.S., but that’s what I’m told.
It was nice to spend a relaxing Sunday afternoon on New Year’s weekend back at Japan Center. And take a few pictures along the way. Even if it did annoy the kid.
In SJ Japantown, San Jose Tofu and the Shuei-do manju shops are treasures. They make everything by hand, like is was done decades ago. They are carrying-on a method they learned in the Internment Camps 65 years ago. Tourists from Japan have been known to visit! (Their business hours are limited)
March 26th, 2011 at 8:54 amDid SJ Tofu ever get passed to the younger generation? I remember reading several years ago that the older proprietor was looking to retire but the kids weren’t interested in taking it up. After a time I think there was another article saying that it would stay open but I don’t remember the details.
I’ve been passing SJ Tofu & the other shops there for a very long time now, visiting Nikaku when I lived in Marin back in the 80s and anime and manga first becoming known here. They were one of the few local sources.
My wife and I had our first dinner date at Kazoo, back aroun ’92 I’d think (under the old ownership) and for several years my habit was to hang out around SJ Japan Town on my birthday. It’s small but it’s a gem, a place well-served by a healthy imagination and curiosity.
March 26th, 2011 at 9:58 am