Exploring Japantown in San Jose California

[@YellowProductions]

✅ You might enjoy watching my walking tour of Little Tokyo in Los Angeles: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKKlgZieibdma68

[@OolongCha89]

Hello! I'm the artist who did the chalk art in front of the Buddhist temple! Thank you so much for showing my artwork, very cool to see it on video!! It's been coated with sealant so while the colors do fade, the general artwork does last for over a year! I'll be making new artwork later this year so please be on the lookout!

[@YellowProductions]

Very cool OolongCha! Very neat art.. and that's cool that it'll last for a year!

[@braveknight2000]

That's funny. I was thinking, "I wonder if the artist will see this." Beautiful artwork!

[@pamyoshida9144]

Thanks for touring SJ Japantown! Come back when that darn sidewalk construction is done! And don't forget to visit Japanese American Museum of SJ the south side of Fifth Street. It is a gem!

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Pam!

[@GarudaPanzer]

You may not see this being two years late, but thanks for the walk through, I've walked through J Town many times when I was younger, but having moved to a different state, I really truly miss it. Thank you.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Garuda! I see the comment and I appreciate it!

[@DavidMartinez-cq3hx]

My grandfather came down to San Jose from San Francisco in 1922 so we have been here since San Jose was just a small farming town, my grandfather worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad, so I can say that we have always been proud of our Japan Town! When I was growing up here in the 70's the Japanese Americans were the biggest ethnic Asian population but a lot of them have left since then. Even though I grew up near Los Gatos my parents would take my sister and I to the Happi House restaurant and get supper yummy teriyaki chicken😋

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks for sharing that background David!

[@johnandmariainmindanao]

A very educational walk tour, great content. The visual is very clear. Another great video💖

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks John and Maria!

[@NostalgiaMan]

This looks so cool. California must be explored more by me

[@markplstk]

I used to live in Japantown for a few years. One of the best times to visit is in the summer during the Obon Festival. Thanks for visiting Japantown.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks for the tip about the Obon festival Mark!

[@sweeney0558]

THANK YOU FOR THE TOUR

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Linda!

[@411curt]

Thanks so much for visiting the neighborhood and spotlighting things that caught your interest. San Jose Japantown is a living community that serves its locals as opposed to a tourist destination. Just FYI, there was a San Jose Japantown history book published in 2014, which sold out. The book is being reprinted with corrections and will be available in September of this year (2022). Chockful of stories and photos of the Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos and African Americans in the neighborhood, the book is entertaining and informative. As the co-author of the book, I highly recommend getting a copy ... the first printing sold out within the first year it was available and the reprint will probably sell out, too. Wishing you all the best in your travels.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks for the tip on your book 411curt!

[@nish221100]

A great book! Thanks, Curt!

[@msfilipinamerican]

I’m a San Jose native and I’ve started living outside of East Side and so far, Japantown was my absolute favorite place I’ve lived at. I was missing it extra today since I’m quarantined and stumbled upon this video. This is great! Also this was uploaded during the time I was moving out too. Thanks for sharing this spot!

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Joy!

[@awesomeadamfrom2099]

Awesome job Chris.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Adam!

[@awesomeadamfrom2099]

No problem chris

[@Izzyla_]

The big Mech at 9:37 is from 80s TV show called Voltron

[@scottman895]

That neighborhood is really nice! I really like the Buddhist temple with the small Japanese garden. I've always been very impressed with Japanese gardens.

[@YellowProductions]

Japanese gardens are always really neat! They do an amazing job manicuring them

[@cecilecorpuz5735]

Way back IN THE 70's and 80's the garden was a lot nicer, there was a fish pond filled with Japanese Koi.

[@MrJimmy527]

Only my memories can take me to between Nickel City and Nickel Arcade in San Jose, California and Jimmy's Great America back in Santa Clara, California while going back in years into the past during lots of beginnings for the whole memories, making us and other people young again, taking us back in years into the past during lots of beginnings for the whole memories back in time and turning ourselves and other people back into young.

[@YellowProductions]

Ahhh.. I miss nickel arcades

[@MrJimmy527]

@@YellowProductions Yeah, we all do. It's so sad. We really miss the whole homes of the old school arcade video games together.

[@soni05131]

The bay area is on my bucket list. Thank you for posting. Love all your vids.

[@brendanboon6548]

Thanks for coming by and highlighting the neighborhood! Wanted to add that on the southern end of the strip (4th x Jackson), a lot of those buildings are from the previous Chinatown in the same area. There are a lot of old, cool maps that show Japanese & Chinese folks coexisting in what was formerly "Chinatown" until maybe the 20's or 30's.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Brendan!

[@peternicola7622]

Great video!! I was there in February to see Japantown, and that construction going on- was not there. :)

[@monique5218]

ive actually JUST went here before watching this and i saw this on my fyp and i actually saw ALL of this so i would say that japantown san jose north CA is very cool!

[@YellowProductions]

Awesome

[@autumbreeze1129]

Being stuck at home til next month because of covid, this was nice to find and an enjoyable watch.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Autum Breeze! Hope you can get out soon!

[@nish221100]

San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin was established in 1902. The current building was built in 1936.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Great tour. Some of the places reminded me of Hawaii. I think it's great they have history elements to the area. Good to remember the sacrifices that previous generations made. 🤙

[@YellowProductions]

Indeed. The multiple Ukelele shops on one street is quite interesting

[@nish221100]

The "Angry Red Guy" is a "Daruma" which is a Japanese reading of Bodhidharma who was the founder of Zen Buddhism. It is considered a good luck talisman: when the wish is made, one eye is colored in. When the wish is realized, then the other eye is colored in.

[@Konaboy]

thanks for sharing, excellent

[@YellowProductions]

My pleasure Darryl!

[@throughmyeyes2929]

Great video Chris.

[@jessicagiraffact]

Thanks for sharing it. I found it interesting. It's useful to know that it's located only 10 minutes from San Jose Airport.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Jj!

[@opwave79]

Awesome! I barely make it down to SJ these days but I’m adding this to my day trip list.

[@YellowProductions]

Awesome Opwave!

[@NothingMaster]

I guess you were jay-walking in J-town, when that passing car beeped at you. 😀 Just pulling your leg, my friend. A great walking tour, as always. 👍🏻👏🏻 P.S. Sad to see the place so deserted.

[@YellowProductions]

Hah! I was using that fancy looking crosswalk!

[@brihow24]

What a lovely area- I would love to visit it sometime!

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Brian! It's a neat little neighborhood

[@carmenhuehnken649]

Thank you very much. San Jose Was neuer on our mag. Perhaps now. Greetings Carmen and Sven

[@YellowProductions]

I think one of the interesting parts of the bay area is seeing all the tech companies. If you haven't researched Santa Cruz, it's kind of a neat beach town

[@KpopN_AZN]

Voltron is the other mecha character on the mural. Thanks for the video!

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Kpopn!

[@JasperRedwood]

And Voltron is an American cartoon with Japanese inspiration.

[@UNDERGROUND2000]

Well done. Like your style.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks!

[@xcharmainex22]

I live in San Jose and it was nice to watch your tour because I haven't been in that area in years. Santo Market seems like a place that you might like to check out. It is a short walk coming from Nijiya Market. I hope you could do a tour for SF Japantown in the future!

[@YellowProductions]

Hi Charmaine. Thanks. And yes. SF Japantown is on my list to get to eventually! :)

[@jameshiga8077]

Hi Chris. Thanks you for the walking tour. I guess the construction crew didn't get the memo of you filming LOL. Didn't know San Jose had a history of Japanese settlers..Love the information that the city put out to inform people of the rich history. It's not as fancy as the LA one, but still a nice place to visit.

[@YellowProductions]

Hi James. For sure Little Tokyo is more elaborate.. but this one is pretty neat too

[@braveknight2000]

I like these kind of videos.

[@stargazer5073]

Omgoodness, I grew up in Santa Clara and had no idea it was there. Now we go to Japantown off the 405 in LA.

[@YellowProductions]

Sawtelle is cool too. I love the noodles at Tsujita

[@stargazer5073]

@@YellowProductions thanks 😊 for the tip

[@stargazer5073]

Go to Los Gatos, great vibe and food...

[@stargazer5073]

Vasona lake park too

[@stargazer5073]

Winchester Mystery house

[@cecilecorpuz5735]

Early 70's to the mid 80's I lived right smack in the middle of JAPAN Town I lived in the building right next to what now is KUMAKU which back then was Hanks coffee shop, the shop just before KUMAKU my family had a small fish Aquarium shop, Drift Wood, and good old BAMBOO 7 is still there, where pops used to go. Sad to say JAPAN Town looks to be as dead as it was way back then. The only time that Japan Town wakes up is during OBON. BTW: You missed out on some of the best POKI as some would say it's just as good or ever better than what is found in HAWAII, at Santos Market on 6th and Taylor street.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks for the poke tip. I'll check it out next time I'm in town 😎

[@braveknight2000]

I'm a native Californian and I've lived here almost my whole life and I'm almost 60. I have never been to San Jose, I don't think. I need to check it out.

[@YellowProductions]

Glad to share something new Shannon!

[@normaiwahashi9549]

Thank you for the GREAT VIDEO! It's nice to see some Nihonmachis (Japan town) are doing okay. S.F. Japantown is not as great as it once was...🐼💛

[@YellowProductions]

I haven't been to the SF Japantown in at least 10 years. Sorry to hear it's declining

[@titoli5253]

It looks like you missed Nikaku Animart. That place has been there like, forever. They had Anime even before anime was cool. I have a few Dragonball books special ordered for me from Japan!

[@YellowProductions]

They were closed up when I walked by

[@titoli5253]

Oh, right. I forgot. There might have been road construction going on.

[@Pixics]

Was this on your same trip to Death Valley?

[@YellowProductions]

Different trip.. I just hopped up to the bay area for a weekend

[@StephenDelaCruz]

I miss San Jose. My old stomping grounds lol

[@ariohandoyo5973]

The love between japan and the US are beautiful they love each other, americans like you love japan always for sure, love japan so much either❤🇯🇵 How have you been? Mr. Christ.😊

[@YellowProductions]

Hi Ario. Have I been to Japan? Of course! I think ive taken at least 15 trips to Japan

[@laosjmt8859]

Please San Jose neighbourhood tour

[@roxas896]

Wow! You share some of the coolest locations in Cali. Thank you so much for sharing🙋🏾‍♀️.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Roxa!

[@alexwallace6120]

You seem to like Japan restaurants and their food,,and visiting other Japan towns,Is your wife of Jappanese heritage?

[@YellowProductions]

Negative... ocgirl is from Taiwan... but we love to travel to Japan! Before the pandemic we would typically visit Japan every 2 years at least

[@alexwallace6120]

ty for telling me!

[@jarrodyuki7081]

Bailey and Santa Teresa!!!!!!!!

[@pizzaearthpancakesandother2549]

Great area! Any sumo cats?

[@YellowProductions]

No sumo cats.. but a sushi shark!

[@maxsmiley7191]

me and my Kids eat Gombei at least once a month, very Good.

[@YellowProductions]

Nice!

[@ctagious]

💖💖💖

[@pleasantsville]

7Bamboo is NOT a divey bar. It’s a hella fun karaoke bar with all positive vibes!!!

[@tripham1982]

Are you here now?

[@YellowProductions]

Shot this last weekend

[@tripham1982]

@@YellowProductions on nice. What was the whole occasion? Just this video?

[@jowah360]

minor but important detail....pronunciation of many words incorrect....like they do on some food channels....it just bugs the hell out of me...

[@NostalgiaMan]

As soon as people see you filming they start honking. Typical lol

[@YellowProductions]

Hah

[@ralfleidig5558]

maybe i can get the wife to wear a geisha outfit