Finding Japan—and other cool things—in San Francisco
Finding Japan—and other cool things—in San Francisco by Rosalind Stefanac Whether it’s the anime films now readily accessible on streaming services like Netflix, or the uber-cool street fashion made popular by celebrities this side of the world, Japanese culture is an ongoing interest for my teenage son these days. So, when I got an opportunity to visit a Japanese-inspired neighbourhood in San Francisco, California, we could visit over a long weekend instead of trekking across the world, I knew I had to check it out. Best of all, we discovered so many other cool teen and tween-appropriate sites and activities in this dynamic and culturally diverse city. Here are some highlights. Where to stay Japantown in San Francisco is one of the oldest and only still thriving Japanese neighbourhoods in the US. We stayed at boutique Hotel Kabuki which is ideally situated for exploring the scene by foot. It’s also right beside the Japan Center, a shopping complex bustling with Japanese food stands and retail shops for teens and tweens to explore. The area hosts many festivals throughout the year too, including the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival in May (which we got to check out) and the Nihonmachi Street Fair in August. From Japantown it’s easy access to Chinatown—the first and largest in North America—which features delicious eats and a bustling Friday night market that happens throughout the year. What to doPark yourself at the parks: An abundantly lush green city with a temperate climate rarely rising above 24C or below 7C, San Francisco has 3,400 acres of city parks ideal for exploring by foot or bike. We started at the Gardens of Golden Gate Park which includes the on-theme and Instagram-worthy Japanese Tea Gardens. But we especially enjoyed the Sales Force Park in the middle of downtown San Fran. This 5.4-acre, plant-filled rooftop oasis is located 70 feet up above the Grand Hall and is a perfect place to escape the city hustle. There’s even a venue up top for live music and children’s activities throughout the day. While downtown, you’ll likely catch site of one of San Fran’s self-driving cars too, which have been operating commercially since last year. On our way to check out the infamous Golden Gate Bridge, we stopped in at Presidio, a former military post-turned-national park site that blew us away. It features the Tunnel Tops, a 14-acre space located over and around the tunnelled city parkway that leads to the bridge. There is