Japantown, commonly known as J Town, is a historic cultural district of San Jose, California, north of Downtown San Jose. Historically a center for San Jose’s Japanese American and Chinese American communities, San Jose’s Japantown is one of only three Japantowns that still exist in the United States, alongside San Francisco’s Japantown and Los Angeles’s Little Tokyo. Japantown was originally formed as a site for boardinghouses for Japanese men, just west of the 1887 “Heinlenville” Chinatown settlement, which was the block bounded by Sixth, Seventh, Taylor, and Jackson Streets. Initially, the residents of Japantown were mostly male, attracted by farming or general labor jobs. In the early 20th century, more women began to arrive as picture brides. As families began, local businesses were started to serve everyday needs for food and clothing. The local Japantown Asahi baseball club improbably defeated the visiting Tokyo Giants in 1935. By 1941, there were 53 businesses in Japantown. During World War II, the Japanese American population was forcibly removed from Japantown and unjustly incarcerated in camps. On their return after the war, many resettled in the area.
The upward mobility of the children and grandchildren of the original immigrants to San Jose, along with the expansion and growth of Silicon Valley caused many Japanese-Americans to leave the area for the suburbs, but the culture and vitality of this community remain in the businesses and festivals serving locals and tourists. Japantown is designated as an authentic ethnic neighborhood and is home to many traditional Japanese restaurants as well. The California State Legislature designated this area as one of the last three remaining historical Japantowns in the United States.
Around 1890, the Japanese came to the Santa Clara Valley because of the abundant farm work. Without an established community of their own, these Issei (first generation) pioneers found refuge in San Jose’s Chinatown (called “Heinlenville” by locals after John Heinlen, the man who built it) located north of the downtown area. As an Asian town center, Chinatown offered familiar lodging, entertainment, restaurants, and shops providing comfort and safety from prevailing anti-Asian racism. Bed Bug Exterminator San Jose
Attractions
- Brunnen San Jose City Hall is located at City Hall, San Jose, CA
- Luis Maria Peralta Adobe is located at 180 W St John St, San Jose, CA
- Street Art is located at 477 S Market St, San Jose, CA
Restaurants and Pubs
- Hukilau is located at 230 Jackson St, San Jose, CA
- IHOP is located at 644 N 1st St, San Jose, CA
- Jack’s is located at 167 E Taylor St, San Jose, CA
- 7 Bamboo Lounge is located at 162 Jackson St, San Jose, CA
Check out other neighborhoods like Naglee Park