Japantown, San Jose facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Japantown
Neighborhood of San Jose
Clockwise: San Jose Obon Festival; Gordon Biersch Brewery; Betsuin Buddhist Temple; Japantown blossom landmarks; Cannery Park.
Japantown Location in San Jose, California
Country	United States
State	California
County	Santa Clara
City	San Jose
ZIP Code	95112
Area code(s)	Area code 408

Japantown, also known as J Town, is a special cultural area in San Jose, California. It is located just north of Downtown San Jose. This neighborhood has been a main spot for Japanese American and Chinese American communities for a long time.

San Jose's Japantown is one of only three such areas left in the United States. The other two are in San Francisco and Los Angeles. These places help keep Japanese culture alive in America.

History of Japantown

The San Jose Betsuin Buddhist Temple.

Wing's Chinese Restaurant was San Jose's oldest operating restaurant.

Japantown first started as a place for Japanese men to live. They often worked in farming or other jobs. It was built near an older Chinese settlement called "Heinlenville."

In the early 1900s, more Japanese women came to the area. Many were "picture brides," meaning their marriages were arranged through photos. As families grew, new businesses opened to serve their daily needs. These included shops for food and clothes. A local baseball team, the Japantown Asahi, even beat the famous Tokyo Giants in 1935!

By 1941, Japantown had 53 businesses. But during World War II, Japanese American people were forced to leave their homes. They were sent to special camps far away. This was a very unfair time in history.

After the war, many Japanese Americans came back to Japantown. They worked hard to rebuild their lives and community. Over time, many younger Japanese Americans moved to the suburbs. This happened as Silicon Valley grew and offered new opportunities. However, the strong culture of Japantown still lives on through its businesses and fun festivals.

Today, Japantown is famous for its many traditional Japanese restaurants. The state of California has recognized it as one of the last three historic Japantowns in the country.

Japanese Culture in J Town

The Japanese American Museum of San Jose.

People performing at the San Jose Obon Festival.

A mural at Santo Market inspired by a famous Japanese artwork.

Japantown is home to many important cultural spots. You can visit the Japanese American Museum of San Jose. This museum teaches about the history of Japanese Americans.

You can also find San Jose Taiko here. This group performs amazing Japanese drumming. Shuei-do Manju Shop sells delicious Japanese sweets called manjū. These sweets were even requested by the Emperor of Japan during his visit in 1994!

Nichi Bei Bussan is another historic shop. It started in San Francisco in 1902. After World War II, it moved to San Jose. It changed from a general store to a gift shop for Asian goods.

Japantown also has many restaurants, shops, and community groups. These include the Yu-Ai Kai Senior Center and the Japanese American Citizens League. For a long time, Japantown had two shops that made fresh tofu by hand. The last one closed in 2017.

Two churches, Wesley United Methodist Church and San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, are over 100 years old. They are on the same street, Fifth Street. These churches are important community centers. They host many local groups, like Girl and Boy Scout troops. They also hold some of Japantown's biggest cultural festivals.

Fifth Street in Japantown now leads to the new San Jose City Hall. A special landmark at Fifth and Jackson Streets was built to be seen from City Hall. It reminds everyone of the people who helped build the city. This landmark is part of a bigger project to create outdoor exhibits in Japantowns across California.

Besides Japanese businesses, Japantown also has other types of restaurants. You can find Mexican, Hawaiian, and Korean food here too.

Groups like the Japantown Neighborhood Association work together. They form the Japantown Community Congress of San Jose. This group helps protect the culture and history of the area.

Festivals and Events

Japantown hosts several exciting festivals each year. The Obon Festival happens every July. Nikkei Matsuri is held every spring. Aki Matsuri and The Spirit of Japantown Festival both take place in the fall.

There are also other events open to the public. You can visit the Art Object Gallery. There is also a Certified Farmers Market that runs all year. It is managed by the Japantown Business Association.

In March 2021, the Japantown community started citizen foot patrols. These patrols help keep the area safe for everyone.

Japantown's Location

Japantown is in the central part of San Jose. It is just north of Downtown San Jose. The Northside neighborhood is to its south and east. To the north are the Hyde Park and Luna Park neighborhoods. The Santa Clara County Civic Center district is to its west.

Getting Around Japantown

The Japantown area is easy to reach by public transport. The VTA light rail Blue and Green lines serve the nearby Japantown/Ayer station.

Parks and Green Spaces

Japantown has a few parks where you can relax and play. These include:

• Bernal Park
• Cannery Park

Backesto Park is also close by, in the Northside neighborhood.

Gallery

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  San Jose Obon Festival

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  Taylor St. & 10th St.

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  Nijiya Market

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  Historic Mariani cannery

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  Issei Memorial Building

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  Jackson St. & 5th St.