Japan Center Malls

This is a good indoor mall for anything Japanese. We all have seen Chinatown, but it cool they offer an area that is all about Japanese culture. From restaurants, clothing stores, books and magazines, snacks and everything in between they are here. The mall is getting a little old and dated.

Japanese style shopping centre. Authentic shops and food places. If you are around japan town, this mall is a must-see. Plenty of shops around too.

Japantown is a stop you don’t want to miss, especially touring this mall in which you can find a variety of Japanese cultured gifts, treats, entertainment, and foods. It was very crowded here on a rainy weekend with a vibrant, youthful, communal-like atmosphere. Stores were welcoming but also cautioned people not to touch/play with items as in the past there has been stealing or broken items (pls be aware & respectfully read the signs). There was one side of the mall that was less developed - wish we could see more stores or restaurants being brought in. The building itself was a bit rundown and I hope to see the mall renovate its general, main hallways to accommodate the expansion & vision of the surrounding their stores & restaurants.

Plenty of shops and restaurants that cater to varying audiences. There are two sections, split by an outdoor plaza. The west section has a bridge with a blue warning sign that says it is not accessible. A person with a walker might be able to go up and down it, but definitely not a wheelchair user, and it may even be problematic for blind guests. And, that warning sign should be much larger and not at a height that only a tall able-bodied person could easily read. I believe it is smaller than a sheet of A4 paper. On my last visit, the plaza was gated off for some undisclosed reason (as far as I was aware) so guests had to around the plaza on the sidewalk, which the city should fix as it is difficult for disabled persons to move on the sidewalk. The east side is much smaller than the west side. When I am on the east side and need to switch floors, I require using the elevator because the stairs are decorated with balloons as I am allergic to latex. While this is a cute and fun way to decorate, and many, possibly most, people don't find this to be a concern, for latex-allergic persons, it can range from nearly unnoticeable to life threatening to be exposed, even with just enough balloons for a cute arch. I think some other decorations that would be safe and also fit seasonal or other themes would help ensure that the stairs are safe and welcoming for all guests. On another note, the elevator on the east side closed on a person with a walker while they were entering it, it had just opened up on the floor they were entering from.

I LOVE japantown! iT is such a cool place to go with friends or on a date! there are so many different japanese stores to look at and everything sold is of very high quality. I always feel safe when walking around here and that is always a great thing

A long, spaced out mall. Lots of places to get ramen, boba tea, crepes, sundries, stuffed animals, gifts, stationary. Also a lot of empty spaces.

I love Japan, this mall has some food Japanese restaurants and shopping centers.

Its December 2023 and after living in the Bay Area for over 10 years this was my first time at the Japan Center. Had driven by many times but never went in. What a great surprised I had. I cannot believe how is that I’ve missed it. Quite cool place to go shopping for anything Japan related. There is good restaurants, anime, books, bars etc. Saw a few people cosplaying, dressed up as anime characters, which is entertaining. Nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Will try to come back during cherry blossom season or any special event. Highly recommend.

A Gem for Japanese Culture Enthusiasts, but Parking Tips Needed The Japan Center Malls at 1737 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94115, is a captivating spot for those who adore Japanese culture. Navigating parking can be challenging on the street, but there's a convenient parking garage with reasonable rates. To save money, check if your chosen restaurant validates parking - not all do, so inquire beforehand. The mall itself is a haven for Japanese culture lovers, offering endless activities. The diverse food options are a highlight, and I'm yet to pick a favorite spot. Keep in mind that there are two entrances, so choose your restaurant wisely. Overall, a wonderful location, but a heads-up on parking can enhance the experience.

This is an INCREDIBLE mall in Japantown! It's got everything you could want: Daiso, bookstore, Japanese housewares, collectibles, and a wide variety of Japanese restaurants and snack shops! It's a fun place to visit. You can find eats for under $10 or splurge on a full sit-down conveyor sushi meal. And gift items also in all ranges. Something for everyone!

Japan Center was right next to the hotel. In fact, it's actually attached. It's loaded with restaurants, which I'd consider its biggest draw. It's a loooong center. It takes a while to travel from the hotel to the end of the 'mall' and back. We found several restaurants worth visiting. We also stopped into many of the shops, which was both fun and interesting. Japan Center is a bit of a weird anomaly in the middle of Japantown, but worth checking out. If you're not staying in the area I wouldn't make a special trip. If, on the other hand, you are staying close by I recommend stopping in and seeing what might strike your fancy.

We were staying at a hotel next door in Japantown and knew we had to visit Japan Center! The Japan Center is also known as Japan Center Malls, as its really three separate buildings connected to each other. The three buildings together contain several shops, food stands, restaurants, coffee/tea shops, and more! We stopped into a few shops and got some takoyaki at one stall and coffees at another! So many Japanese small businesses to try/support! Definitely fun to explore! Don't miss it if you're in the Japantown area!

We went to the shopping center in Japantown yesterday at San Francisco. My mom got a Black Sesame Soft Serve in a cup, my dad got an Ube Soft Serve in a cup, and I got an Ube Soft Serve with sprinkles and a Biscoff on the top and in a Taiyaki cone with Red Bean Paste inside. This dessert place looks like Somi Somi in Elk Grove and we also saw a Christmas tree with full of origami cranes around.

First and foremost - BRING A MASK! Most stores require a mask for entrance, so we had to hunt for a store that carried them to purchase. I never thought I'd be sporting Hello Kitty fashion accessories (mask), but they did the job! We came to this mall on a hunt for Anime ... and we were not disappointed! Although many of the shops did not carry what my grandson was looking for - we did find a nice Toy collectibles tucked away that did which made the trip worthwhile. This is a place to come on an empty stomach - you will find food galore! So many I wanted to try because it looked so good, but we settled on crepes knowing we had a movie to catch. Overall, this mall was fascinating (not as diverse, stores basically had the same items) and I truly did appreciate the cleanliness and mask requirements. The 3-part mall was nice to explore and parking was an ease to get in, and not too expensive! I'll most likely ONLY go back when I was to sushi hop!

This review is for April 2023. The Cherry Blossom Festival was held outdoors in the center. PARKING: - Hourly rates are between $2 to $3 dollars depending on what time parked. - The elevators inside the parking lot is pretty slow so allow extra time if you need to be prompt. - Restrooms are located next to the elevator to the parking garage. - Restaurants, food stands, Daiso, Kinokuniya Bookstore, other miscellaneous shops and more in this center. - Nijiya Market, a Japanese grocery store is located on street level. - Pa'ina Lounge and Restaurant is down the street. - Hotels are nearby.

It was like a food court. It was fun to walk around there . We ate ramen but taste was way far different from real Japanese ramen and meals . But I love Matcha ice cream at Maiko . The Taste is good as a real Japanese matcha ice cream as usual.

Shopping! [Japantown, San Francisco] I love the stores here... they just make me want to explore. Daiso is in the East Mall but many of the stores and restaurants I like are in the West Mall. Daiso has plenty ideas for stocking stuffers... lots of trinkets and Japanese candy. One can easily stuff even a huge stocking. I love wandering down the aisles. This location is huge. I found some great gift ideas here in Japan Center. I stopped by a bookstore, a women's clothing boutique, jewelry, cosmetics, and children's gifts. Katachi has a nice collection of swords and knives. Mai Do is a store that carries high quality calligraphy supplies, stationeries and specialty papers. There are also stores for music lovers... one selling ukeleles and a lot of "island" merchandise and another store selling Japanese instruments like the koto. While Japan Center is currently operating and remain open during Purple Tier restrictions (worst tier) there are some strict guidelines the public must adhere to while inside the mall -- wear masks and keep appropriate distance from each other. The Japan Center malls (East and West) are open to foot traffic and holiday shopping although the retail stores are limited to 20% capacity from normal. Each store has posted instructions and guidelines upon entering so just be aware of them. The restaurants are also open, though only for take out and delivery. No indoor dining and the public is advised to not eat inside the malls. There you go... Review #2048

A lot of people mistake Japan Center is Japantown. But Japan Center is only a shipping mall in Japantown. But I think more than 80% of the businesses in Japantown are inside Japan Canter Mall. Japan Center Mall has two sections. The East and the West. The west side is much bigger than the east side of the mall. There are so many Japanese souvenirs, gifts shops, and restaurants in the mall. More than you can imagine. They have so many little gift shops carrying all the cute items. It is very fun to check out what they have. Of course, you will bring something home unexpected too! Lol! Japan Center also has many restaurants. Some of the restaurants have food samplers made of wax. They look very real. I almost want to eat the wax samples! I'm sure you will have a fun time in Japan Center if you're visiting San Francisco. Don't forget to put them on your list!

Japan town and center was fun to go around to see Japanese art, pottery, stores and food. We enjoyed going into mai do (stationery and goods) where they have two stores. We also enjoyed some mochi donuts and boba. The mall itself, such as the floors, especially the stairs, appeared very dirty since the pandemic. So be sure to wear your masks and also have hand sanitizer on you.

I was surprised I hadn't heard of this mall before. Locating in SF, it is full of everything: food, stores and lots of things coming from Japan! I came with a friend, and looked around for 3 hours. I copped some cool pencils, and a Cubone pop figure. When it came to lunch, we had Teriyaki and rice; Ramen is also offered here. This was back in October, and outside dining was available. Next time I come to the city, I will for sure visit Japan Center again!

The Japan Center is the main hub of Japantown - this mall's got a lot of places to eat and places to check out. It's pretty cool wandering around through the hustle and bustle, seeing the sights and possibly grabbing a drink from the vending machine. Most of the shops are cheap trinket shops or food shops. It's not inherently bad, but unless you want some anime tchotchkes or something to eat there's not a ton to do. COVID did a number on the place too - a number of shops have shut down as well, including an arcade that used to be a fun attraction.

Chill mall with cute little stores and restaurants. Definitely a must to shop for one of a kind items and grab sushi while in San Francisco. If you just want to relax there are plenty of places to sit and people watch.

Main shopping center in Japantown. The center has two sides east and west. We came after the pandemic hit and we saw the aftermath. Many of the shops were closed down. But we were still able to shop at the other stores that were able to remain open. We also had lunch at one of the restaurants inside. There are a few to choose from depending on what you looking to to eat. Sushi, ramen, curry and more. On the east side of the mall where Daiso is you'll find this cute bridge and fountain underneath. They also have also model displays out of buildings and clothing. It's definitely worth the walk here if you are staying outside of Japantown.

I have bitter sweet memories of japantown since I was 3 staring at the cake display with my family and grandpa. Still have the photos somewhere. This plaza has been a staple of family outings, friends meetups and cherry blossom festival. Ive seen stores come and go, arcades, ice cream shops, trinket shops, auto freak store with the cucumber car freshers. Cant imagine a world without SF japan town.

A little dated and in need of a renovation but still a great place to visit. The restaurants are all pretty good and it's fun to stroll the place.

We just went there last weekend to get our sushi craving fixed. Izumi is the place to eat out, highly recommended. Unfortunately, we parked in the garrage and someone broke in our car. Nothing was lost inside the car, just a broken side window. The staff was very helpful getting the incident report.

Noodle shop, Japanese bakery, gift shop, florist, barbecue, salons, textiles, beauty products, DVD's, Tea shops .... A lot of very pretty things, fabulous looking food I am people watching in the wonderful indoor Japanese mall

There's always a good energy whenever you're on Peace Plaza or wandering around the hallways and odd corridors of Japan Center that suddenly dead-end. Couples meander and families walk and linger near the kid-friendly frozen yogurt and crepe places. People of all ages who seem to be mostly locals populate the mall, especially on rainy days. Everyone seems relaxed and never in a hurry. The vibe is always chill. Maybe the Peace Pagoda elevates everyone into a Zen state. The retail and restaurant mix is best described as eclectic and it has a bit of everything: Very good ramen and (floating boat!) sushi restaurants, frozen yogurt and a crepe place, a large bookstore, excellent galleries, a kimono shop, Daiso Japan, a bakery, nail salon - all within a nutty amalgamation of 1960s buildings that are a little shabby and not the most inviting design. There are useful and interesting businesses all around Japan Center like a good a grocery (Nijiya Market), the Kabuki Hot Springs & Spa, Soko Hardware (bamboo steam baskets, sake sets and teapots) and a dozen more restaurants to choose from. There's an underground garage that's cheaper than getting a ticket for an expired meter - and I think some businesses validate. I usually find street parking and tend to be in Japantown after 6 or on Sundays. Go and explore - and bring your appetite because there are quite a few wallet-friendly dining options you'll want to try.

Very nice and clean. Clean and easy to find public restrooms. All of the shops and food places are open. Many of the stores have similar items, at the same time they all specialize in something unique. It's back to being a very busy place. We visited on a Friday. It's great that they have parking below. It make the experience so convenient. I recommend everyone stops here.

Japan Center is a shopping mall in the heart of Japantown. It contains a lot of mom & pop stores and restaurants. You can find some unique Japanese items here that are only available in Japan. The mall consists of two sections, the west and east malls. It separated by a plaza which contains a 5-story pagoda which within itself is a sight to see. It is anchored by two of the popular stores, Daiso Japan and Nijiya Market. Parking is available at Japan Center but only a few businesses provide partial validation for your parking.

I really loved japan center. Favorite was the sign outside "FUKU sushi" I love the name of the restaurant :)))) There are different wings so check out all buildings! So much to offer! Restaurants, shops, authentic stores, flower shops, ice cream, etc. A must visit when you're in SF!

Fun place is you wanna blow money here and there. Love all the anime and game shops. A bit overpriced, but I can see why since everything is huddled here. It's quite packed so if you're super concerned for covid maybe not the place to come at the moment.

Japan Center clearly has seen better days. This mall looks like it was a glorious place to spend time in the 80's and every bit of it looks like it stayed in that era. The lighting is straight up depressing and the entire place looks dingy. Store selection is fine but quite honestly nothing you couldn't find in any Asian enclave or supermarket. Restaurant selection here is pretty awful and the food we ate here was subpar. If you're curious, you should definitely take a look. I just think your expectations need to be lowered since it's basically an old mall with bad food.

How come I did not know about Japan Center before?? This place is so unique and fun. I am adding it to the list of places to take out of towners when they are visiting. Lots of unique cool stores and amazing eats and drinks. Convenient inexpensive parking in the basement as well.

My daughters favorite place loves the food, mangas & anime.

The East & West Japan Center Malls are located in Japantown. There are plenty of mom and pop shops, restaurants, frozen yogurt, pastries, snacks, coffee shops, crepes, etc. here. Come hungry! The East and West Malls are located in between the Japantown Peace Pagoda. This beautiful five-tiered concrete stupa was designed by Japanese architect Yoshiro Taniguchi. It was donated to Japantown in 1968 by the City of Osaka, San Francisco's sister city in Japan. It has become one of Japantown's main landmarks. Don't forget to explore all the cultural opportunities throughout this neighborhood.

Must see site for Japanese Americans, Japanophiles, tourists from anywhere, people with a curiosity about American history and anyone who loves ramen (real ramen). There's really nothing like this anywhere else anywhere. People who criticize the crowded dated mall are missing the point. This is an important symbol for Japanese America, even us Hapas. I like to sit in the plaza, people watch and remember my haha (お母ちゃん).

I love taking folks to Japan Center, especially if it's raining outside. My favorites below: - East Mall: Daiso, Uji Time Dessert - West Mall (Nijiya-side): Mochill Mochidonut, cute Japanese stores (manga merch, stuffed animals, videos), daigo shop - West Mall (AMC-side): Kinokuniya book store, Matcha Cafe Maiko, Marufuku Ramen, Udon Mugizo

I consider Japan Center as one of my most favorite place to just shop around!!! And the reason why I like Japan Center... It's because of the shops and restaurants that Japan center has... And so far I have ate at 2 Japanese Restaurants and that would be Izumiya & Kushi Tsuru!!! When going back to to Japan Center hopefully I will try eating at another Japanese style restaurant!!! Another thing in what I really like most about Japan Center is the Cherry Blossom Festival that they have once a year besides the Cherry Blossom Festival... There is that one store that I really like the most when shopping around at Japan Center... And that would be the Japanese Collectibles Toy Store once you walk in you won't come back out it's because there are so many things to look at!!!

SO many great little shops here. YiFang's mango sago drink is amazing, and the tea shop on the first level has great onigiri and mochi. Lots of great places to explore!

Great stores, BAD mall. Some of our favorite stores and restaurants in San Francisco are in the Japan Center mall. We go there *at least* once a week. Unfortunately, the mall itself is bad. The worst thing about visiting our favorite places in Japan Center is Japan Center itself. It's old. It's badly climate controlled. And the restrooms are a horror show! They range from bad to awful. When I see tourists walk into these bathrooms, I feel a little embarrassed that this is the impression they are getting of San Francisco. See photos. These were taken in May of 2019 but was still just as bad on my trip there yesterday.

Came here because I was waiting to eat at Marufuku! While waiting, my bf and I walked around. Lots of food places,desserts,book stores. They have ice cream, mochi donuts, chocolates, noodle places, Japanese food of course, takoyaki.

It definitely feels like a different country. But maybe more North Korea than Japan. We visited for the first time post-lock down and I'm pretty sure the cold, white, stone floors have still not been cleaned in the interceding 3 years. Much of the lighting illuminating the place feels like it has been sourced from a prison supply business. People who work there often seem similarly cold; quite different than the world-class hospitality we encountered in actual Japan. This place has so much unrealized potential. I'd be fascinated to know what the story behind the Japan Center is. I'm guessing ownership of the facilities can be traced back to a family business uninterested in upkeep. I'm guessing ownership of various restaurants similarly traces back to concentrated ownership only willing to put in the more than unimaginative minimum. So much unrealized potential here.

Japan Center is the heart of San Francisco Japantown. To many, Japan Center *is* Japantown. It makes sense since Japan Center takes up about three of Japantown's six blocks. Technically, Japan Center is the indoor-outdoor shopping center that stretches east-west from Laguna to Fillmore. There are three malls (Kinokuniya, Kintetsu, Miyako) with plenty of Japanese shops and restaurants plus other businesses such as a hotel, grocery store, and movie theater. The Japantown pagoda sits in between the malls. For years, Japan Center has been one of my favorite places to visit in San Francisco. The property opened in 1968 and is definitely showing its age. To my recollection, virtually nothing has changed about this place since my first visit in the 90s. While there's nothing wrong with it, the design and architecture feel drab. It's always been like that and could certainly use a renovation/update. What makes Japan Center special are the unique shops and authentic restaurants with great tasting and oftentimes affordable food. Just off the top of my head, restaurants I've enjoyed here include: * Bushi-Tei Bistro - unfortunately, this restaurant is now closed. * Cafe Hana - their fresh mochi is phenomenal. * Isobune - conveyor-belt sushi in boat form! I love this place. * Kushi Tsuru - Japanese eats. I liked their tonkatsu. * Sophie's Crepes - delicious, made-to-order crepes. * Suzu Noodle House - reliable ramen, udon, and more. * Tanpopo - ramen shop on the north side of Japan Center. There are many more restaurants in Japan Center than I've mentioned above. I'd love to try them all, but it's difficult because I've found myself going back to certain ones (e.g. Isobune, Suzu) that my family members or I really like. Memorable stores include: * Auto Freak - car accessories. * Japan Video and Media * Kinokuniya Bookstore - SF location of this Japanese bookstore chain. * Nijiya Market - SF location of this Japanese grocery chain. * Nippon Ya - great store for packaged snacks to give as gifts. * Taiyodo Record Shop - is this place still open? I haven't checked recently. Of course, the center has toy stores with cute Japanese toys and purikura photo sticker booths. Some of the shops and restaurants look spiffier than others, mainly because they are newer tenants. Stepping into the stores of older tenants, such as Japan Video and Media for example, is like taking a small trip back in time. I've always liked browsing the selection of videos at Japan Video and Media, particularly their anime inventory. I noticed on one visit they had pictures of people cosplaying around Japan Center. Speaking of cosplay, Japan Center hosts a variety of events, one of which is the San Francisco Anime & Cosplay Festival which was last held on Saturday, July 18, 2015. Other events have included sumo wrestling exhibitions, origami exhibits, and traditional Japanese festivals with taiko drums, folk dancing, calligraphy, and more. The hotel here is Hotel Kabuki and the movie theater is the Sundance Kabuki (formerly an AMC theater). I saw Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) at the Sundance Kabuki. It's one of my sister's favorite movie theaters in San Francisco because there is food, drink, wide and spacious rows, and best of all, reserved seating and plentiful parking. Japan Center has two parking garages. The main garage is accessible via either Post or Geary and the annex garage, near the movie theater, is accessible via Fillmore. For a parking garage in the city, the rates are quite reasonable. Japan Center main parking garage rates, per hour: * Midnight to 9am - $1.50 * 9am to noon - $2.00 * Noon to 3pm - $3.50 * 3pm - 6pm - $2.00 * 6pm - midnight - $2.50 Various businesses at Japan Center will validate so you can save money on parking. For a list of validations, parking rates, parking hours, current number of available parking spaces, and more, visit: http://sfjapantown.org/parking/. The main parking garage is well-lit and there are attendants on duty. I've never parked in the annex garage.

Finally got to go here! Part of the mall is like a night market. Foods like takoyaki, mochi donuts, and green tea soft serve to name a few. Other sections of the mall are for restaurants and shopping. If you're in the area, this is a great stop!

I still come here every time I'm in town. The food is great and there are a lot of options to choose from and also if you just want to buy supplies or little trinkets to use or bring home. The boy and I wanted to grab something to eat so we opted to come here. Everything looked good and parking was cheap and easy to find. The japan center has two separate wings and it's not large, but large enough if you're looking for something to eat or drink. There's always a crowd when I go and there's plenty to do. I'll be back again.

The main shopping center in Japantown. I've come here about every 20 years. So far apart I can't remember if or how it has changed. But I'm happy to see that the venue is still focused on Japanese restaurants and stores - not tweaked with other Asian ethnicities or gentrified. Spending only one hour here, this shopping district is not the fullest retail experience but there are few retail spaces this large dedicated to one culture in the United States. Technically, businesses outside the indoor mall are part of Japantown but not Japan Center. Most retail stores close at 6P. Underground parking.

Japan Center is a fun place to visit if you want to feel like you're in Japan. There's garage parking that's reasonably priced ($2.5 per hour whenever we went) and we've always found a spot. It wasn't overly crowded on the Thursday evening we went and only marginally a bit more crowded on a weekend night. A lot of the stores are indoors too so it's a good place to visit if it's raining outside

Plenty of choices of restaurants , stores and snack places. The restaurants serve authentic and delicious Japanese food. There are many places to get tasty snacks small knick knacks

Absolutely amazing place to be. I truly enjoyed all of the cute amazing shops here with tons of Rilakkuma, Studio Ghibli, Pokemon, Sailor Moon, and more items. Loved the book shop, restaurants, and karaoke here. The crepes, icecream, and more are all so amazing. Cute tea pot shops all around. One of my most favorite places to be in all of California. Tons of happiness and joy here!

Originally called the Japanese Cultural and Trade Center when if opened in 1968, the Japan Center has a lot to offer. There are some really cute shops here. I really enjoyed seeing the kimono shop and spending time in the book store. Plenty of food options from Crepe and yogurt shops to the very popular ramen restaurant. There is something for everyone. The building and design might be dated but it is super charming and full of energy and great for people watching.

One of my favorite places in all of SF is definitely Japantown! I enjoying walking around in that area checking out the different stores & trying the food, of course! Some of the highlights of Jtown: *Sophie's Crepes - yummy crepes, it's still my #1 place for crepes. *PikaPika - taking those overly cute pictures where you can decorate on their machines. *Benihana - teppanyaki style of Japanese restaurant (get on their birthday e-list so you can get a $30 bday certificate during your bday month) *Suzu Noodle House - yum ramen place. *Daiso - lots of cute stuff to buy for very low prices; it's like a Japanese dollar store basically. *New People - neato shopping building to check out their cool stuff but it's definitely way too expensive. So far the last several times I've been there - the art exhibit is still closed. :( *the Supermarket - lots of Asian stuff to buy & they carry Hello Kitty wines! Ooh la la... ;) They have a garage where you can pay to park or just try to find street parking which is not too difficult. But do not park at the Safeway parking lot especially if you know for sure that you're going to be staying at Jtown longer than 1hr cause if you do park there- for sure expect your car to disappear cause it will get towed. Learn from my mistake, people. expensive mistake indeed. smh. =/

SOOOO cool. I grew up in the Bay Area, and prefer to avoid the usual SF touristy spots; (Chinatown/Pier 39 etc) This place has a far more "local" feeling, way less touristy, yet perfect FOR tourists if that makes any sense; I took my boyfriend here for his first time this weekend and he said it felt like a free trip to Japan. Great place to spend a few hours!! Fantastic two level Japanese specialty bookstore, food choices galore, Mochi ice cream shop, bubble tea, high end Japanese decor shop, Japanese stationary shops, dvd store and more!! I really enjoyed the incense/perfume shop; can't recall the name. Great place for kids. Several restaurant choices and a parking garage. *I think if one more photo of the Pagoda gets posted on Yelp, Hello Kitty is going to change her name to "Hell-no Kitty."

Japan Center houses one of my favorite karaoke bars. Other than that, I haven't been to Japan Center much during the day. But it's a fun place to soak up the shops Japantown has to offer. Recently, I dropped by for a friend's birthday to have dinner at Benihana. Sure it's cheesy, but it was a lot of fun. Where else can you watch knife and cooking skills in action? It's entertainment while you dine! We also stopped by Mogura for sake beforehand and Festa afterwards for some karaoke. Festa is always a blast and I adore their employees. They definitely make for a fun and festive environment. There's a good amount of shops that I adore. Daiso is a great place for cheap shopping. Nijiya market is awesome for Japanese goodies and treats. If you're craving dessert, stop by Sophie's for a delicious crepe. There are so many more stores and restaurants I've never explored in Japan Center. Writing this review makes me wanna visit them more often. Who knows what cute store I'll stumble upon.

The Japan Center is an older Japanese themed mall. It has 2 floors and 2 buildings. The mall has everything from bookstores, restaurants, a movie theater, ice cream shops, crepe places, bakeries, craft stores, and stores with traditional Japanese goods. I love the mochi shop! The mall is clean and has lots of seating if you just want to hang out. Attached to the mall is the Kabuki Spa and the Hotel Kabuki. All are a great way to spend an afternoon. In the basement is a huge parking lot or there are meter spots on the street.

My husband suggested that we come here because of my love of all things Japanese....and it was definitely not a mistake. There are a bunch of awesome little stores and restaurants to try out. Everything from domos to anime to a traditional tea set. Great selection of restaurants too, loved the sushi boat place and picked up some frozen yogurt and mochi along the way too. Definitely going back next time I'm in town, and bringing a bigger suitcase to bring things home in!

Japantown is a very fun place to shop...There are a couple of Japanese type dollar stores and beautiful jewelry stores. The stores and restaurants remind me of an underground Warren. Couldn't resist by strand of pearls.

Been going to JC for over 40+ years, and yes, the place is old! However, it has an open inviting charm & community energy that other malls lack. It's not like Stonestown, Shoreline or the Downtown malls which are all commercial-oriented. JC has kept a neighborhood charm for people to just come & chill-out and enjoy time, a good beverage and/or food for themselves or with a friend or family. The shopping is obviously Asian with unique small gift foods or keepsakes. I like it mostly for the open neighborhood events and the inviting mix of people of all different backgrounds and ages. It's always been a fun & neighborhood place for me, my children & now grandkids. They Love it... old or not!