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Category: United States

Exploring Authentic Japanese Markets in the Bay Area: Top Picks for Food, Culture, and Shopping

Miho

Want to buy Japanese food in the Bay Area? This is the list of Japanese grocery stores you should visit. When I first moved to the Bay Area, I had no idea where to buy Japanese food. However I found these by talking to local Japanese people. In this article, I will introduce some of Japanese grocery store in the Bay Area that Japanese people actually go to.

Marukai

Marukai is a supermarket that I go to at least once every two weeks, and the selection and prices are both excellent. Marukai is a supermarket that I go to once every two weeks, and I think the prices at Marukai have become more reasonable, partly due to the recent acquisition by Don Quijote, a major Japanese grocery store. It’s really convenient because they sell seasonings, frozen foods, fresh foods, vegetables, liquor, sweets, and even Japanese cosmetics and cooking tools.

Especially check out the weekly specials! Marukai also sells Japanese bento boxes, sushi and sashimi, but the sushi is not very good. Marukai sells Japanese bento boxes, sushi and sashimi, but the sushi is not great. The fish is not bad, but I recommend Suruki for freshness.

Suruki Supermarket

A privately owned supermarket in San Mateo. The selection is small to average, but the fish here is really good. I love Suruki’s fish so much that when I do sashimi or sushi, I always buy it at Suruki. Many of my neighbors also come here for the fish and sushi, and most of them buy the $50 to $100 sashimi platter. I’m happy to see that they have a wide variety of alcoholic beverages, from cheap to expensive. Some of the drinks are quite cheap sometimes, so check out the sale items. Overall, the prices are not cheap, but sometimes there are cheap products that are cheaper than what you can buy in Japan, so check out the sale section. The snack section in particular has a lot of bargain items. They also sell fresh ramen noodles and soup.

Osaka Marketplace

There are many large stores with a good selection of goods, and the stores are large enough to allow you to shop comfortably. Some stores have a food court where you can eat ramen or tendon. Overall, it is slightly more expensive than Marukai. However, the sale items are often cheaper, making it my second favorite supermarket after Marukai. The first area you enter the store is lined with sale items, so be sure to check it out.

Mitsuwa Marketplace – San José

This is a Japanese supermarket that operates throughout the United States. The prices are higher than Marukai. The prices are higher than Marukai, but they sell everything. The selection is as good as Marukai. The prices are generally high, although there are some cheap items. I only shop there for the specials. Mitsuwa also has a bookstore and a food court with high quality Japanese snacks and ramen stores, which is a big advantage.

Nijiya Market

This is a Japanese supermarket that also has a store in San Jose Japantown. Many of the stores are small, and the selection is small, depending on the store. However, they have the bare minimum of fresh food, seasonings, snacks, and liquor, so if you forgot to buy something, it’s enough. The prices are as high as Mitsuwa. Nijiya’s main sales day is Meat Day on the 29th of every month. Nijiya’s main selling point is Meat Day on the 29th of every month, when Japanese quality meat is cheap, so many Japanese people come here.

  • 1956 S El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94403
  • +16502127398
  • 143 E El Camino Real, Mountain View, CA 94040
  • +16506911600
  • 240 Jackson St, San Jose, CA 95112
  • +14082756916

Summary

There are many Japanese supermarkets in the Bay Area, so you honestly have no trouble buying Japanese food. If you want to buy Japanese products, I definitely recommend Japanese supermarkets. The prices are cheap and they sell standard products that are often used in Japan. Chinese and Korean supermarkets also sell Japanese food products, but at higher prices. I recommend Japanese supermarkets because they are more economical to buy.

Unveiling Japanese-American Heritage: Discover the Japanese American Museum of San Jose

Miho

I visited the Japanese American Museum of San Jose in San Jose Japantown, about an hour’s drive from San Francisco. Unlike San Francisco and Los Angeles, San Jose Japantown is not a place that attracts many tourists, but it is one of the places where Japanese culture remains deeply rooted in the local community.

There are not many tourist spots in San Jose Japantown, but the Immigration Museum is one of the places you should definitely visit. This museum is a great place to learn about how our Japanese ancestors survived in a foreign land, something that Japanese textbooks don’t tell you.

Japanese American Museum of San Jose

  • 535 N 5th St, San Jose, CA 95112　Google Map
  • Admission: Adult $8, Student & Senior $5, Kids under 5 Free
  • Hours: Thursday – Friday Noon – 4 pm
  • https://www.jamsj.org/

Admission Fee

We need to pay admission fee.

When you pay the entrance fee at the reception desk on your left as you enter, a receptionist will ask you if you need a guide. When I said that I didn’t need a guide, I received an instruction booklet of about 20 pages! It contained a detailed explanation of each exhibit. This is the first time I’ve been to a museum and received such a detailed explanation!

It’s a must-have for anyone who wants to know more about Japanese immigrants. There was a store next to the entrance, selling books about Japanese immigrants and Japanese goods (accessories, hanafuda, etc.).

Exhibits at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose

You can learn about the history of Japanese immigrants who came from Japan to the San Jose area in the Meiji era (1860’s).

A life in old Japantown

There is also a map of the time that shows that San Jose Japantown actually developed together with Chinatown, and you can learn about how people from the Orient cooperated with each other in America at that time.

Old Map of San Jose Japantown

This article introduces the history of the development of San Jose Japantown. See this article for San Jose Japantown.

Many of the Japanese immigrants at that time made their living from farming, so the tools used for farming and daily life are on display. There were also old sewing machines and katsuobushi shavers, which made me feel nostalgic for the tools I had seen at my grandparents’ house.

日系移民の方が使っていた生活道具

There were a lot of trunks which Japanese immigrants used at the time. They look a little heavy. But the design is retro and stylish.

日系移民の方が使っていたと思われるトランク

A life during World War II

There is also a model of the living space in the Japanese American internment camps on display, which gives you a pretty good idea of the harsh conditions of life back then.

日系人収容所の模型
日系人収容所の模型

There were also several internment camps for Japanese Americans, not just one, and there are displays about the conditions in the various camps. In fact, more than 110,000 people were forced to live in the camps.

日系人収容所に関する展示
日系人収容所に関する展示

I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t know that Japanese immigrants were in internment camps during World War II. Japanese public schools did not teach this fact if I remember correctly. Do I feel upset to know this fact? I feel sad to know and make me think how I should do if we have another war. At the same time I feel proud of Japanese immigrants who survived such a tough era. Thanks to their effort, I can live comfortably in the U.S.A. I would like to say big “thank you” to all immigrants.

Other places to learn Japanese immigrants

Japanese American National Museum (Los Angels, California)

Manzanar National Historic Site Visitor Center (Manzanar, California)

Kobe Center for Overseas Migration and Cultural Interaction (Kobe, Japan)

In fact, there is still a place in Sannomiya, Kobe where Japanese immigrants used to visit before emigrating to the US and Brazil. This museum was also really interesting, with many interesting exhibits about the personal stories of the immigrants. If you are interested, visit Kobe Center for Overseas Migration and Cultural Interaction.

Overview

This is an introduction to the Japanese American Immigration Museum in San Jose. If you are ever in San Jose Japantown, you should definitely visit it!

However, please note that the museum is only open from Thursday to Sunday. But please note that the museum is only open from Thursday to Sunday. For more information about the tourist attractions in San Jose Japantown, please see the article “How to visit San Jose Japantown”.

Exploring the Finest Japanese Markets in the Bay Area: A Food Lover’s Guide

Miho

In Bay Area, we have a lot of Japanese restaurants because we have many Japanese immigrants. I would say this is one of best areas to enjoy Japanese food except for Japan!

In this article, I will introduce authentic Japanese restaurants recommended by Japanese people in the Bay Area. This list does not include San Francisco downtown.

Set Meal: Gombei

Set Meal: Gombei

The first time I ate at Gombei, the croquettes tasted like home and reminded me of the taste of my mom’s food in Japan. I think the owner is Japanese, but the chefs who actually makes the food are Mexican. However, the taste is real. It’s really delicious. Please enjoy daily meals which Japanese really eat every day.

  • 193 Jackson St, San Jose, CA 95112
  • +14082794311
  • http://gombei.com/

Izakaya: Gochi

Izakaya: Gochi

Izakaya restaurant. It is very popular among Japanese people as a restaurant where you cannot get a reservation. How popular? I will give you an example. My Japanese friend of mine who lives in Washington DC likes it so much that he requested to go to Gochi whenever he comes to California. I recommend this restaurant for its delicious Japanese Izakaya menu.

Yakitori: Kokko

Yakitori restaurant. It’s a restaurant where you can’t usually get reservations & there’s usually a huge line. It’s a bit expensive. However the yakitori is so authentic that you’ll feel like you’re in Japan. We paid around $100 for two people. Definitely it worth visiting.

  • 509 2nd Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401
  • +16504017008

Course Meal: Wakuriya

A small, family-run restaurant that has also won the Michelin Star. The food is not cheap, and the portions are not very large. However, the quality of the food is so delicate. I ate there only once, and the experience is unforgettable! I still remember that the rice was flavored with green tea, which surprised even Japanese people and introduced me to a new kind of Japanese food. If you are very picky for food, this is the restaurant you need to visit.

  • 115 De Anza Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94402
  • +16502860410
  • http://www.wakuriya.com/

Ramen: Santouka

Ramen: Santouka

Ramen Santouka is located in the Mitsuwa supermarket in Cupertino. You can enjoy delicious ramen of Japanese quality. A bowl of ramen alone costs from $10. There is always a huge line. One important thing is you must pay in cash, so don’t forget to bring cash. The taste is really good, but the only downside is that the place to eat is not very comfortable. This is because it is located in a food court inside a supermarket. If you want to have a relaxed meal with friends, Orenchi Ramen is a better choice.

  • 675 Saratoga Avenue #103 Inside Mitsuwa Marketplace, San Jose, CA 95129
  • +14084461101

Ramen: Orenchi Ramen

Ramen: Orenchi Ramen

Tonkotsu ramen with thick noodles. As someone who grew up in Fukuoka (Hakata), thick pork bone noodles are a little strange to me, but the soup and noodles are delicious. Authentic. I took my friends there and they raved about it. Because it is a delicious ramen restaurant, it is quite popular not only among Japanese but also among local Asian Americans, and there is always a line. The drawback is that you have to wait at least 30 minutes.

Japanese Cream Puffs: Beard Papa

Here is a rare place where you can eat Japanese cream puffs, Beard Papa. When you go to urban areas in Japan, you can find Beard Papa everywhere. This is because the cream puff chain is very popular in Japan. Fortunately you will find it in the Bay Area. Comparing to Japanese one, the puff pastry is a bit smaller and more expensive than the Japanese ones. However the taste is same. The crispy outer crust is really delicious.

  • 19748 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, CA 95014
  • +14089962300

Summary

Japanese food is not only Sushi and Ramen. We have more! In this article I have introduced my favorite Japanese restaurants. Hope you will enjoy my recommendations.

The Ultimate San Jose Japantown Travel Guide: What To Do, See & Eat

Miho

The most famous Japantowns in the U.S. are the Japanese neighborhoods of San Francisco and Los Angeles, but there is also a historic Japantown in San Jose, the heart of Silicon Valley!

In this article, I will introduce the history, safety, festivals, and recommended restaurants of San Jose Japantown.

San Jose Japantown

  • Address: 240 Jackson St, San Jose, CA 95112 (map)
  • Opening hours: Depends on the restaurant and shops
  • Admission: None
  • Parking: On-street or pay parking available
  • Official website: https://www.japantownsanjose.org/

Access

It is very close to San Jose Airport. Around 10 minutes drive away from the airport.

The best way to get to Japantown is to rent a car. During the day, there are paid parking lots on the street and in front of Union Bank. Please do not park your car without paying because the police are not around. I was told by a store owner in the area that the police often enforce this rule.

Another way to visit Japantown is to take the public bus or the VTA. If you take the VTA, get off at the Japantown/Ayer station and walk for about 10 minutes. It is a safe area during day time, but if I need to go there night time, I would take a taxi or rental car.

San Jose Japantown and its atmosphere

In the area of Japantown, there are about a dozen restaurants, Japanese supermarkets, Japanese souvenir shops, and temples. There used to be a good old-fashioned homemade tofu shop in Japantown, but it closed in 2017. Too bad!

Japan Town in San Francisco and Los Angeles is more of a tourist attraction, while Japan Town in San Jose is smaller and more intimate. Most of the people who come to San Jose Japantown are locals. If you want to enjoy the quietness of Japantown, I would recommend San Jose Japantown.

San Jose Japantown is surrounded by residential areas, and it’s fun to walk around the area a bit. There are houses with Japanese-style gardens, houses with miniature shrine gates (To-ri-i), and you can see Mexican people coming out of these houses, which is an unexpected and interesting sight.

Safety in San Jose’s Japantown

San Jose Japantown is in a residential area, and the main Jackson Street and its surrounding 1-2 blocks are safe. However if you are away from Japantown, the atmosphere changes a lot. It is okay in daytime, but I would not walk around in night time. Just trust your instincts. But trust your instincts and leave the area as soon as you feel like it.

Also, when it gets dark, it is better not to wander around the streets alone. I have not heard many criminals but as far as I know, there has been only one murder by gun in the past year.

Places to visit in San Jose Japantown

There are not many tourist spots in Japantown, as it is more like a shopping district. However let me introduce some interesting spots to visit.

San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin

I think it would be interesting to enjoy Japantown from the perspective of what kind of streets were created by immigrants in the past. I was surprised when I first saw the above temple standing in the middle of the United States.

Japanese American Museum

I think the Japanese American Museum, which exhibits the history of Japanese immigrants, is worth a visit. You can read more about the museum in this article, “Learn about the handed down history at the Japanese American Museum in San Jose’s Japantown! You can read more about it here.

Nijiya

A Japanese grocery store. Small store, but they sell enough products. Japanese sweets, sake, etc. I took my friend to this store once. He bought a lot of Japanese sweets including Japanese KitKat! If you are looking for a place to buy Japanese products, this is the place.

History of San Jose Japantown

I am personally interested in Japanese immigrants, so I did some research on the San Jose Japantown web site.

It all started around 1890 when Japanese immigrants came to San Jose to work as farmers. At that time, there was a Chinatown in the area (not anymore), and since the Japanese at that time were also Asians, they lived in Chinatown and built up a Japanese community, and by the early 1900s, Japantown was established.

Thanks to a treaty signed in 1907, Japanese women were able to immigrate to the U.S., and the second generation of Nikkei were born, reflecting the growth of Japantown. In the 1920s, the city grew steadily, with the opening of the San Jose Buddhist Church, gas stations, new stores, and a hospital for American-educated Japanese doctors.

On the other hand, ironically, Chinatown, which had first supported the Japanese, was driven out of its residents by the Great Depression and laws against Chinese immigrants, and Chinatown was converted into a warehouse district.

In May 1942, during World War II, the Japanese Americans who lived in this area were forced to move to internment camps or farther away from the West Coast. As a result, this Japantown became a ghost town as well.

In 1945, the Nikkei were allowed to return to Japantown, and the entire community worked together to develop the area into the Japantown we know today. The people of Japanese descent who are active today are the 4th and 5th generation.

Festivals in San Jose Japantown

Every few months, some kind of event is held on a regular basis. You can check the San Jose Japantown website for the latest events.

In 2018, for example, the following events were held.

  • April: Japanese American Festival
  • June: Sake Walk
  • July: Obon Festival
  • December Beer Walk

If you’re asking me what event I recommend, I’d say the Obon Festival in the summer!It’s held in America, but it’s more Japanese style than the one in Japan! I felt that way when I saw this festival. I was very surprised to see this festival for the first time. It reminded me of my childhood memory with grand parents. Nowadays we cannot see this kind of festival in city areas. This is very authentic. I am impressed very much. In addition, familiar Japanese songs such as “Ue wo Mite Aruko” and “Tankobushi” were being played!

They played “Tankoubushi” for the dance. I’m from Fukuoka, so the Tankobushi was nostalgic for me. I danced with this music when I was a student at an elementary school. Now they play with J-POP music though.

I felt both happy and sad when I imagined that the people who came to the U.S. in the 1890s were holding these Bon festivals with their friends, thinking of their homeland from afar in the midst of a difficult life in a foreign country.

Japanese American Festival/Nikkei Matsuri

Recommended Restaurants in San Jose Japantown

If I were to take my friends, I would go to GOMBEI or SUSHIMARU.

GOMBEI

San Jose Japantown Restaurant GOMBEI
A popular Japanese restaurant that is always packed with customers.

The menu can be seen on the GOMBEI menu.

Mostly set menus. The food is prepared by a Mexican chef, but the taste is quite good.

Don’t forget to bring cash as they only accept cash as payment. You can read more about GOMBEI’s recommended menu in the article “Gombei, a popular set meal restaurant in San Jose Japantown! for more information on the menu.

GOMBEI Information

  • Address: 193 Jackson St, San Jose, CA 95112 Google Map
  • Phone number: +1 408 279 4311
  • Opening hours: 11:30AM-2PM, 5-9PM
  • Closed: Sunday
  • Parking: Not available (on the street or in nearby pay parking lots)
  • Official website: http://gombei.com/

SUSHIMARU

A popular restaurant that always has a good number of customers. It mainly serves conveyor belt sushi, but also has an izakaya menu. Some of my Japanese friends said that the sushi here is delicious, and the taste is not bad.

I had the impression that the izakaya menu was also tasty as usual. However, the price seems a bit high to me. We ate modestly and spent about $80 for the two of us. However, I would rather eat sushi at this restaurant than at any other restaurant.

TSUGARU

TSUGARU is a Japanese-American restaurant that serves everything from izakaya (Japanese style pub) menus to set meals and sushi. My friend said that the nabeyaki udon was delicious. I also thought the fried oysters were delicious. The staff was friendly, but seemed to be busy, as if they were short-staffed. Personally, I think there is room for improvement in the sushi and fried chicken.

KAITA

This izakaya is filled with customers on Friday nights. They also have a set meal menu. The atmosphere of the restaurant is quite casual. There are many tables lined up in a small restaurant. Some of my American colleagues seem to be KAITA fans, going there for lunch once a week. Personally, I think the taste is average.

Summary

San Jose Japantown is loved by the local. The size is much smaller than San Francisco and Los Angels Japantowns. However you will enjoy more local restaurants.

Ultimate Guide: Four Ways to Travel Between San Francisco and Los Angeles

Miho

San Francisco and Los Angeles, two very popular tourist destinations located in the same state of California. San Francisco and Los Angeles may seem close. But the distance is 382 miles (=616 kilometers)! Obviously these two major cities are far apart.

In this article, I’ll introduce four ways to get from San Francisco to Los Angeles, as well as some recommended ways to get there.

Four ways to travel between San Francisco and Los Angels

The distance between San Francisco and Los Angeles is 616 km (382 miles). If you travel by car, it takes about six hours at the shortest. We drove from San Francisco to Los Angeles by car to attend our relative’s wedding ceremony. The driving was tiring, but we enjoyed a lot of beautiful sceneries in California. For example, Big Sur, Highway 1, Danish City “Solvang” etc. I highly recommend that you visit these places at least once in your life.

There are four ways to travel between San Francisco and Los Angeles. For each, the advantages and disadvantages are summarized below.

Personally, if you can drive and have a little time to spare, I recommend driving. You can enjoy the spectacular view that is famous in the United States. I’ve driven past it twice myself, and it’s worth a look! The view is truly breathtaking.

Airplane

Airplane is the fastest way to travel. Flight time is about 1.5 hours. Considering the waiting time at the airport, this is the fastest way to get there, taking about 4 hours or less.

Flights are inexpensive at $52 and up. Please note, however, that unlike in Japan, there is an extra charge ($30 or more per piece) for checked luggage on domestic flights in the U.S.

Train

The American train company, Amtrak, runs a train from neighboring Oakland to Los Angeles. The journey takes a whopping 13.5 hours. A one-way ticket costs from $65.

I think it’s a good idea to experience the American train at least once.

The huge trains moving at a slow pace looks very American. I have never seen such a huge train in Japan. Whenever I see a train in America, I feel I am in the United States.

Near Los Angeles, the train goes along the coastline, so I think you can enjoy the scenery quite a bit. You can check the map from the Amtrak page here. There may be a lot of desert on the way, but I think the scenery is better than the long-distance bus.

It takes a long time, so I recommend it to those who don’t mind spending a whole day for transportation. My friend also dared to go from San Francisco to Los Angeles by train.

Long-distance bus

This is a good option for those who want to travel in a price-sensitive manner. It takes about 8 to 9 hours. The price is the cheapest, from $8! However, this is a special price, and the usual price is about $20-$30. Megabus and greyhound operate this long-distance bus service.

The bus runs on Route 5, so it is a trip to enjoy the scenery of the desert and farms. I’ve used it once, and it’s not bad if you have enough time. I don’t remember well, but I think there were one or two bathroom breaks along the way.

There are also buses that run during the night, but I personally prefer the daytime buses because the area around the train station where the buses stop is not that safe and I worry about security on the bus.

(February 2020 update) Unfortunately, on February 3, 2020, there was a shooting on a night bus (Greyhound bus) from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and one person was killed (see here for details). Unfortunately, one person was killed in a shooting incident on a Greyhound bus.

Car

It’s the most recommended way, because you’ll get some spectacular views! There are three routes on the road between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

  1. The way to take Highway 1 along the coast
  2. By taking Highway 101, which goes both inland and along the coast
  3. Highway 5, which connects the inland areas in a straight line

Depending on the purpose of your trip, Highway 1 is a drive that you should experience at least once in your life. This is a place where you can encounter spectacular views that will impress you no matter how many times you pass through.

Summary

In this article, we have introduced how to travel between San Franciscos Los Angeles for those who want to visit both cities.

The fastest way is an airline, but you will miss nice views. If you are good at driving, I would recommend to drive along Highway 1. That should be a forgettable drive in your life. Otherwise, you can take the Amtrak train to enjoy the scenery.