Japan Center Malls

The Japan Center Malls are an indoor Japanese retail and dining complex at 1737 Post Street in Japantown, in the Western Addition of San Francisco, California. The complex consists of linked buildings, including the Kintetsu and Kinokuniya malls, built in the 1960s as part of a redevelopment project, and it remains one of the few remaining Japantowns in the United States. Goods sold include Japanese books and magazines, stationery, ceramics, tea sets, kimonos and accessories, anime and manga merchandise, cosmetics, kitchenware, and grocery items. The Kinokuniya bookstore is a major anchor, and a Japanese supermarket and several gift stores add to the mix. Compared with generic shopping, the stores concentrate on items imported from Japan, and many are family-run, so the proportion of authentic Japanese products is high. Prices vary from inexpensive stationery to costly ceramics and kimono. Bargaining is not part of the culture, as prices are fixed. Cards are widely accepted, although a few small vendors prefer cash. California sales tax is added at the register, and there is no tourist refund. The atmosphere is calm and orderly compared with downtown malls, and crowds grow at weekends and during seasonal events such as the Cherry Blossom Festival in spring. Eating options are a highlight, with ramen shops, sushi bars, tempura, curry houses, bakeries and dessert counters inside the malls and along the neighboring blocks. Outside, the five-tiered Peace Pagoda and the plaza are popular for photographs. The area is also home to Japanese bathhouse-style spas and cinemas nearby. Shops generally keep hours from about 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, though individual tenants vary, and visitors should confirm on site before planning around a specific store.