Welcome to San Francisco’s Japantown Cultural District

Japantown Cultural District works to preserve a culturally-regenerative, economically-vibrant, and authentic neighborhood that welcomes all, and aims to serve Japanese and Japanese American communities for many future generations to come.

San Francisco Japantown is the oldest and largest of three remaining Japantowns in the nation. Formed in 2018, Japantown Cultural District (JCD), is the first of eight San Francisco Cultural Districts funded by the Mayor’s office of Housing and Community Development to address cultural heritage preservation and work with City agencies “to celebrate and strengthen the unique cultural identities of San Francisco’s neighborhoods; to preserve and promote diverse communities cultural assets and to ensure that residents and institutions thrive and, to formalize partnerships between the City and communities.”

San Francisco was the main entry point into America for Japanese immigrants in the 1800s. After the devastation of the 1906 earthquake and fires, the Japanese community was segregated to the Western Addition, where they created a vibrant community of residents and business owners spanning 40 blocks.

Our community was displaced twice- first in 1942 due to the WWII incarceration and again in 1960-70s for San Francisco’s redevelopment program. We are resilient, and rebuilt our community twice. Now, we work to ensure the future sustainability of the Japanese and Japanese American community in San Francisco.