Japan in San Francisco, Bay Area

Japan Town, San Francisco, is located near the center of the city. As one drives down Geary from the east and approaches Van Ness, one begins to see a 5-story Japanese-style pagoda. There is an office of the Japanese National Association on Post Street, if one is interested in learning Japanese American history. There are many Japanese monuments in Japan Town. The symbol is the tower located in the north center of Japan Town on Post Street. It says “Japan City” in Japanese.

This tower copies the fire observation tower in Japan. In the Edo period of the Tokugawa shogun’s rule, volunteer and professional firefighters watched the fires from the top of the tower. When you find a fire, ring the bell inside and alert the residents and signal the firefighters to withdraw from the base station.

The most symbolic of Japan Town is the Japanese-style 5-story pagoda. Pagoda was built to preserve and save Buddha’s bones after his death. This Pagoda is located in the Central Plaza of 2 main buildings in the city of Japan. The square is a good place to have lunch with your friend on weekdays. The square today was full of young Asian tourists.

There is a wall on the Geary Street side of Japan Town, between the 2 main buildings in the area. The wall was quite solemn. There are 2 Chinese characters carved on the wall. The Characters on the wall mean “Peace” in Japanese. This square is to preserve and record what happened in World War II to teach people how war can affect people.

In Japan Town, street names are displayed in both English and Japanese. Japan Town is the only place to find street names displayed in both languages. I can’t believe 2 countries have a history of war taking a look at this deal.

Walking into one of the 2 main buildings, one would not believe that one is still in the US. One feels like one is walking in a mall in the center of Tokyo, like Shinjuku.

There are many stores related to Japan, such as Kimono (traditional Japanese clothing) stores, traditional Japanese Dram training venue, Japanese antique stores, or Japanese restaurants. Everyone loves Sushi restaurant in Japan Town, San Francisco.

In the United States, historically a country of immigrants, it is not that difficult to find any ethnicity. Japan is no exception. The most typical is Japan Town, but even without visiting Japan Town, San Francisco, there is Japan anywhere in the Bay Area.

Driving along El Camino Real, which runs through California as a historical tour, one can find an Authentic Japanese Garden, in Central Park San Mateo. The person who designed, built and maintained it is a first generation Japanese gentleman. His name is Sam Sam. He came to the United States when he was 10 years old.

After changing jobs several times, he was hired by San Mateo County. Until he retired, he was the main person in charge of the Japanese Garden. In winter, he would take all the carp out of the kennel and change the water. In the spring, he took care of the flowers and the sharp points of the wooden branches so that the children who played there would not get hurt. Even after the official removal from him, he goes to his garden and makes sure that everything is in order. His constant care and effort kept the garden beautiful.