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.

Exploring the Japan Center in Japantown

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 do

Park 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.

Sales Force Park in Downtown San Francisco

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 an elaborate nature-inspired playground here, plus hiking trails, beaches, picnic areas and enough food trucks to satisfy any craving. There’s even a Walt Disney Family Museum located on site. The fact there are free shuttle buses for round-trips from the Presidio to downtown seven days a week was an added bonus.

A view of the Golden Gate Bridge from Presidio

Ride the cable cars and check out the sea lions

The cable cars in San Francisco are part of the last manually operated cable car system in the world—and they sure are fun to ride up and down the hilly city streets. For US$8 a ride, you can explore various neighbourhoods. Our driver provided some interesting historical facts on route (e.g., cable cars have been operating in SF since the 1870s), but those wanting more can visit the free Cable Car Museum located in the historic Washington/Mason cable car barn and powerhouse.

One of the cable car’s three routes will take you to Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 30 which is a favourite spot for the sea lions that have been camping there since 1990. Here’s a sneak peek at the live webcam. The Pier is also brimming with street performers and specialty shops with everything from saltwater taffy and hot sauces to a store with items specifically geared to left-handed people.

Find your muse at the museum

There are dozens of museums and galleries in San Francisco but we loved exploring the SF Museum of Modern Art. With seven gallery floors and free admission, there really is something for everyone, including plenty of sensory exhibits for teens and tweens to check out. We especially liked the living wall that stretches 150 feet and is comprised of more than 19,000 plants, as well as Olafur Eliasson’s gorgeous one-way tunnel with prisms of colour refracted through triangular panels made of glass and acrylic.

Sensory exhibits at the SFMOMA

Where to eat

Besides the tasty food stand and food truck fare situated throughout the city, there are many notable sit-down spots in San Francisco. We went to the recently opened Chotto Matte which deliciously combines Japanese and Peruvian flavors. Or for a real treat your teen won’t forget, book dinner with a view at the gorgeous Empress by Boon for a multi-course meal of modern Cantonese treats that had us raving for days.