N. 5th St./Jackson St., (408) 298-4303.
Dating back to the late 1800s, when bachelors from Japan migrated to the area, the historic Japantown neighborhood features streets lined with cherry trees that bloom spectacularly in the spring. One of only three remaining historical Japantowns in the U.S. (the others are in San Francisco and Los Angeles), it is just south of downtown and can be reached via the Light Rail line. Standing here at 10:55 a.m. on a Sunday morning, we viewed the huge Dreamliner fly in from Tokyo to land at the city airport here as it does once each day.
These historical sites of interest are situated on residential side streets:
Dating back to the late 1800s, when bachelors from Japan migrated to the area, the historic Japantown neighborhood features streets lined with cherry trees that bloom spectacularly in the spring. One of only three remaining historical Japantowns in the U.S. (the others are in San Francisco and Los Angeles), it is just south of downtown and can be reached via the Light Rail line. Standing here at 10:55 a.m. on a Sunday morning, we viewed the huge Dreamliner fly in from Tokyo to land at the city airport here as it does once each day.
 |
| street banners in Japantown in San Jose, California |
These historical sites of interest are situated on residential side streets:
●San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin
640 N. 5th St., (408) 293-9292.
Featuring a Japanese garden and a tile roof, this still-active church dates from 1937.
 |
| San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in Japantown in San Jose, California |
●Wesley United Methodist Church
566 N. 5th St., (408) 295-0367.
Established in 1895 as the Japanese Methodist Episcopal Church and at this site since 1913, this church has been remodeled several times.
●Japanese American Museum of San Jose
535 N. 5th St., (408) 294-3138. Thur-Sun noon-4pm. $5, $65+ $3, under 12 free.
The newish Japanese American Museum of San Jose’s permanent exhibits include vintage farming artifacts used by early settlers as well as a furnished replica of the Tule Lake Relocation Center barracks room. The World War II internment exhibits are well done and thought-provoking (for a good background read on this subject, visit here). A free neighborhood map is available here.
Shops, galleries, and Japanese restaurants abound in the neighborhood, and on Sunday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to noon the bustling Japantown Certified Farmers Market unfolds.
 |
| exterior of Japanese American Museum of San Jose in Japantown in San Jose, California |
 |
| guided tour of Japanese American Museum of San Jose in Japantown in San Jose, California |
 |
| reproduction of Tule Lake Relocation Center cabin at Japanese American Museum of San Jose in Japantown in San Jose, California |
Shops, galleries, and Japanese restaurants abound in the neighborhood, and on Sunday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to noon the bustling Japantown Certified Farmers Market unfolds.
Happi House
695 N. 5th St./Taylor St., (408) 295-5554. L-D daily; $.
Happi House serves Japanese-style fast food. Diners order at the counter--noodle soups, tempura, teriyaki items--and then food is delivered to the table lickety-split.
Annual festivals celebrating the changing seasons include Nikkei Matsuri in May, the Obon Festival in July, and Aki Matsuri in September.
More things to do in San Jose.
More ideas for exploring Northern California.
images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
Annual festivals celebrating the changing seasons include Nikkei Matsuri in May, the Obon Festival in July, and Aki Matsuri in September.
More things to do in San Jose.
More ideas for exploring Northern California.
images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
Looks like an interesting place to eat some Japanese food and learn about North American Japanese history during WWII. There is similar history near to us in Lethbridge, Alberta, where many Canadian Japanese were forced to live during the same period.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard before that this also happened in Canada.
DeleteI made a brief visit to Japantown in San Jose for a wonderful lunch. Looks like there is much more than food!
ReplyDeleteI did not know there was a Japantown in San Jose. It looks like an interesting place to visit and to eat.
ReplyDeleteI have a sister who lives in Milpitas, so I'm a little chagrined to say I've never been to San Jose. However, having lived in Honolulu for 3 months, I have experienced a place where Japanese culture and food continue to resonate. I'm going to share this post with my sister. I suspect she will be able to find some places she hasn't yet visited.
ReplyDelete