Japan Center

　　    Introduction            The heart of Japantown is the Japan Center, a five-acre (20,234-square-meter) shopping and entertainment complex that opened in 1968. Though not as bustling as Chinatown, it offers a delightful glimpse of Japanese culture in a compact form. Most of the center’s attractions are indoors, making it a great destination even on rainy days.          At the core of the Japan Center stands the Peace Pagoda, which serves as the backdrop for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The center also features Japanese cuisine, communal baths (ofuro), and traditional Japanese performances.     

　　 San Francisco, USA