At first glance, Japantown is underwhelming. It’s a mall, basically. BUT, if you look closely, it’s actually a very authentic Japanese experience. Not like Tokyo, really, but more like the main shopping district of a mid-sized city in provincial Japan.

Inside the mall, don’t miss the Kinokuniya bookstore, and the stationary store across from the bookstore. On the other end of the mall, wander the stores that sell Hello Kitty-style trinbkets. Auto Freak sells accessories for your car, if you want to pretend that you’re in Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. Endless fun. The “On the Bridge” restaurant serves Japanese style “wafu” spaghetti (a Japanese interpretation of Italian food) which is hugely popular in Tokyo. Outside, there’s a great Japanese supermarket at the corner of Post and Webster. A block east, the pedestrial mall at Buchanan Street has a great harware store and some fun stores that sell origami supplies and dishware. A little beyond Buchanan, on Post is another funky little food market, and a very fun little Japanese pop culture store called Super 7.

You can get to Japantown via the 38 Geary bus from downtown.