Nov 11, 2022

Bay Area J-Fashion Tourist Guide - 2022 Update

An updated guide from last year!

Since some of you are traveling to the Bay Area for our Holiday Pop-Up Shop, we thought we'd put together a brief guide to the Bay for kawaii/J-fashion enthusiasts! Most of our recommendations are in San Francisco, but we've thrown in a few other options in East Bay and South Bay in case you are willing to travel a bit further.

J-Fashion Shops

Important Tip: We recommend making an appointment before visiting either Angelic Pretty or Baby! While they have walk-in hours, making an appointment is the best way to ensure that you can visit the shop - you wouldn't want to travel to your favorite J-fashion store only to realize that they're not open!

Angelic Pretty/Harajuku Hearts (SF, Union Square)

Angelic Pretty is located inside Harajuku Hearts, which is a J-fashion retailer that carries other brands as well, such as Atelier Pierrot, Emily Temple Cute, Enchantlic Enchantilly, Melody BasKet, and Listen Flavor, among others!

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright & Alice and the Pirates (SF, Japantown)

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright/Alice and the Pirates is located inside the New People building on the second floor - take the elevator or stairs up, it should be easy to spot!

Food/Drink

December is a busy time of year, so we recommend making reservations at restaurants that you want to eat at. Weekends can be especially hectic, so for those of you staying a while, try getting a reservation on a weekday!

Tea Salons

The Holiday Pop-Up Tea Party is full, and while you can sign up for the waitlist, there are also plenty of options to get tea around the city! We recommend booking seats at Crown & Crumpet if you wish to stay close to the event in Japantown, but we have listed tea salons from all over the Bay if you're feeling adventurous.

Three-tier tea platter with sandwiches and sweets — Lovejoy's Tea Room

Lovejoy’s Tea Room (SF, Noe Valley)

Lovejoy's is a staple of SF meets for good reason! Their food is delicious and filling, and the staff are extremely kind and friendly. Don't forget to take a pic in front of the giant heart outside!

Son & Garden (SF & Peninsula)

Son & Garden has two locations - one in San Francisco, and one in Menlo Park. You can order their set tea service for two, but they also have great brunch options! Visit this location if you want beautiful images for your Instagram - their interior decor & food presentation is divine.

Three tier platter with sandwiches and sweets — Crown & Crumpet

Crown & Crumpet (SF, Japantown)

Crown & Crumpet is an adorable tea salon located conveniently in the New People Building on the first floor!

Sip Tea Room (SF, Sunset)

A modern take on traditional tea service - Sip Tea Room has all the options of a full tea service with the option to dine outside on their back patio.

Dartealing Lounge (SF, SoMa)

Dartealing is now serving limited tea service on weekends, and currently have reservations open for their holiday tea!

Maison Danel (SF)

Afternoon Tea, but make it French! Maison Danel specializes in pastries and baked goods, and has a tea service option that includes sparkling wine.

The Rotunda at Neiman Marcus (SF)

An elegant tea service in downtown SF with a dietary restriction-friendly options.

The Garden Court Restaurant at The Palace Hotel (SF)

Luxurious dining under a beautiful glass dome! Their Holiday Tea starts on December 2nd, so if you happen to be in town, head over to The Palace if you're feeling fancy.

Japanese Tea Garden (SF)

Traditional Japanese tea in Golden Gate Park

Afternoon Tea Tasting Experience: A Filipino & Latin-inspired Concept (Daly City)

Hosted on Sunday, December 4th only, this is a 10-course pastry & dessert Filipino-inspired afternoon tea experience!

Pardee Home Museum Tea Service (Oakland)

The Pardee Home Museum is a historic building that invites guests to explore the history of early Oakland. Tea parties of 6-20 guests can be booked two weeks in advance, tour included!

Malaya Tea Room (East Bay)

Located in Alameda in the East Bay, Malaya Tea Room combines traditional English tea with Malayan flavors!

Lisa’s Tea Treasures (South Bay)

Serving traditional English tea, Lisa's Tea Treasures has locations in both Los Altos and Campbell.

iCHINA Afternoon Tea (South Bay)

A new Dim Sum Afternoon Tea located in Westfield Valleyfair in Santa Clara.

Food

Marufuku Ramen (SF, Japantown)

Kui Shin Bo (SF, Japantown)

State Bird Provisions (SF, Japantown)

On The Bridge (SF, Japantown)

Beloved family-owned restaurant located in the Japantown mall, serves Japanese-style Western cuisine. Kelp always orders the Hamburger Steak, but they should have something for everyone!

Hikari Bullet Train Sushi & Bar (SF, Japantown)

Sweet Maple (SF, Japantown)

Luxurious and filling brunch spot with highly Instagrammable meals

Ippudo (SF, Downtown)

Excellent ramen

Little Lamb Hot Pot (SF, Downtown)

Shizen Vegan Sushi Bar and Izakaya (SF, Mission)

Entirely vegan sushi, noodle, and curry options

El Farolito (SF, Mission)

Mission-style burritos (what more do you need in life)

Panchita's Pupusería & Restaurant (SF, Mission)

Pupusas are an El Salvadorian flatbread filled with cheese, beans, meat, or other savory fillings. Great if you are in need of vegetarian/vegan options!

Limón (SF, Valencia, S Van Ness)

Peruvian restaurant specializing in rotisserie chicken, w/ small plates & cocktails

Cha Cha Cha (SF, Haight Ashbury)

Cuban tapas restaurant & bar on Haight St

Ghiradelli Square (SF)

Historic chocolate factory-turned shopping and dining complex

Ferry Building (SF)

A marketplace filled with amazing food & drink options
- ACME bread
- Hog's Island Oyster Co
- Miette
- Daily Driver
- El Porteno Empanadas
- Gott's Roadside
- and more!

Eataly San Jose (South Bay)

An Italian-inspired market with two restaurants located in in Westfield Valleyfair in Santa Clara.

Sweets/Snacks

Uji Time (SF, Japantown)

Ice cream taiyaki

Mochill Mochidonuts (SF, Japantown)

Matcha Cafe Maiko (SF, Japantown)

Sophie's Crepes (SF, Japantown)

Belly Good Crepes (SF, Japantown)

Japanese-style crepes with cute animal faces that you will deffo take a photo of for your socials.

Yasukochi's Sweet Stop (SF, Japantown)

Daydream Cake Shop (SF, Sunset)

Try the cheese wedge-shaped yuzu cheesecake. They also have earl grey molten boba cakes and adorable drinks!

Salt & Straw (SF, Pacific Heights, Hayes Valley)

Ice cream w/ unique flavors

B. Patisserie (SF, Lower Pacific Heights)

U: Dessert Story (SF, Castro)

Dandelion Chocolate (SF, Mission)

Stonemill Matcha (SF, Mission)

Gram Cafe (SF, Stonestown)

Fluffy soufflé pancakes

The Ice Cream Bar (SF, Cole Valley/Haight Ashbury)

1930s ice cream & soda bar (has alcoholic milkshakes)

Boba

Many of the shops on this list are chains or franchises, and have multiple locations all over the Bay. We've mostly listed just the SF locations.

Gong Cha (SF, Union Square)

Teaspoon (SF, Russian Hill)

Sharetea (SF, Union Square)

Brew Cha (SF, Mission)

Plentea (SF, Union Square)

Urban Ritual (SF, Hayes Valley)

Happy Lemon (SF, Embarcadero, Mission Bay)

Known for cheese tea (a layer of salty foam on top of the tea)

Yi Fang (multiple locations, but there is one in Japantown!)

Honeybear Boba (SF, Dogpatch)

Bobabunni (SF, Inner Richmond)

Asha Tea House (East Bay)

Cafes

HOME SF (SF, Sunset, Richmond, Chinatown)

Adorable and colorful lattes

YakiniQ Cafe (SF, Japantown)

Sweet. Potato. Latte.

Sightseeing

Museums

Did you know it just so happens to be Free Museum Weekend 2022 in San Francisco Dec 3rd and 4th? Check out the link to see all participating museums, including both the Legion of Honor and the de Young Museum (SF, Golden Gate Park)

We also recommend the Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles located in the East Bay. It's a lace & trim embellishment shop, with museum exhibition tours available by appointment.

Shopping

Japan Center Malls (SF, Japantown)

The Holiday Pop-Up is hosted in the Kabuki Hotel, right next to the Japantown Malls, so it's a perfect place to explore in your downtime, with plenty of food and shopping options!

Vintage shopping in the Haight (SF)