The hub of Japantown, a Shopping center opened in 1968 featuring three malls, several Japanese stores and restaurants, and decorated with a Peace Pagoda presented to San Francisco from architect Yoshiro Taniguchi of SF's sister city, Osaka.
A smaller neighborhood, similar to the cultural bastion of Chinatown, Japantown offers San Francisco a distinctly Japanese experience curated by its immigrant families. Home to authentic sushi restaurants and specialized stores, many of which stay true to their Japanese heritage such as shabu-shabu restaurants, Japanese grocery stores, and karaoke bars, this area retains a unique cultural identity.