After reading over some of the "must visit" recommendations, this evening we went to Japantown. Joel stopped at every sushi window to look at the fake pieces of sushi. I nearly passed out when we went to the Kinokuniya Bookstore. I had time to pick out three books before it closed. I hardly got a chance to see everything, so we will have to go back again. There were some books that were so cute my head nearly popped.
It such an amazing bookstore! Try the canned teas and coffees if the stores still offer them and buy yourself a kokeshi.
ReplyDeleteWhen we met, my husband lived near Japantown, so almost every date involved sushi and Kinokuniya. Ahhh, good times!
ReplyDeleteJ-Town: When you go back, go for the best fresh-made manju (mochi) (and apparently only 1 of 2 places in Northern California--the other is in Sacramento) in SF, Benkyo-do, at Buchanan and Sutter. www.benkyodocompany.com/ It is a diner throwback, but on the left of the entrance is a great assortment of sweets (incl. peanut butter manju!). Also, in that plaza, all the metal water fountain sculptures you see are by Ruth Asawa (who is still alive, but getting quite old)!
ReplyDeleteI am excited that you are in my town! My friend had emailed me a link to your blog ages ago! Is that totally nutty to say that I am a fan?
Have a super time in SF/Bay Area!
Some other tips if you go back to J-Town: there's a Japanese dollar store (Ichibankan) in the first J-Town building. Sometimes you can find really good stuff there! If you want authentic Japanese food, Kuishimbo next to the dollar store is yummy. In the food court area, the crepes are supposed to be good. Did you hit the Kinokuniya stationery store just across from the bookstore? You really, really should. Also, there's a Kinokuniya in San Jose (off the Saratoga exit off 280) if that is closer. There's good ramen in San Jose, too. Have fun!
ReplyDeletedebbie and mariko - today is the first day I have gotten a chance to check my comments other than my "what to do" post... we actually went back to Japantown yesterday. We didn't see Benkyo-do... but I did take pictures of the fountain sculptures. We didn't see a dollar store but we had crepes and we went to the Kinokuniya stationery store (and the bookstore again!) I will put all your suggestions into my "to do" list though!
ReplyDeleteThis bookstore is also in Manhattan at Rockefeller Center, near the Today Show, Dean & DeLuca etc. I love the stationery/office supply department!
ReplyDeleteOooo...I'm expecting one of those books in the mail any day now from Kinokuniya. I don't live anywhere near one so I have to wait patiently for the mail.
ReplyDelete