Highlights
- Modern design and atmosphere
- Historic neighborhood and central location
- Balconies with city views
- Japanese garden & koi pond
San Francisco is home to hundreds of hotels and choosing one can be a real challenge. With so many iconic neighborhoods and tourist attractions, your hotel can shape your entire experience. Luckily, I was recommended the Hotel Kabuki San Francisco hotel by a local friend.
It’s an iconic place to stay in San Francisco’s historic Japantown area. Here, you can experience Japanese culture, from food to art and architecture. Inside, it’s beautifully styled with eclectic touches influenced by the neighborhood and the city itself.
My stay was almost perfect – the only issue being a problem with the air conditioner cooling at night. It was easily fixed, however. I just opened the balcony door and the cool San Francisco air did the trick in minutes.
If you’re planning a trip to San Fran, keep reading to learn if Hotel Kabuki is right for you.
Amenities
- Parking
- Fitness center
- Lobby bar
- On-site restaurant
- Breakfast offering
- Pet-Friendly
What’s it like to stay here?
Hotel Kabuki offers a streamlined experience for people who want to get out and explore. The rooms are modestly sized and equipped with all the basics. Clean, comfy beds, a mini-fridge, coffee maker and big-screen TV come standard.
Floor-to-ceiling windows let tons of light in and most rooms have a slim balcony. I fell in love with the view from my room, which looks out onto the city and hilltop.
Another thing I loved was the self-serve coffee machine in the lobby. I’m fueled by caffeine, so starting the day with a free cappuccino was greatly appreciated.
In the lobby, Bar Kabuki was my daily stop for a round of drinks before dinner. Breakfast is served in the bar each morning for a fee. I only had it once because there are several cafes in the area I wanted to try. The buffet was decent but overpriced for the basic food on offer.
Michelin-starred Nari Restaurant is also located on the property. The dishes are mostly Thai-inspired with interesting spices and local ingredients.
Overall, my experience inside the hotel was very positive with friendly staff and clean facilities.
What attractions are near Hotel Kabuki?
I’ll admit that the more touristy areas are slightly farther away than other hotels. If you plan to walk, places like Fisherman’s Wharf, the Ferry Building and Chase Center are all about an hour away.
The trick is to plan your day with stops that break up the walking. So if you want to visit Fisherman’s Wharf, you can stop for lunch somewhere in the Nob Hill or Polk Gulch area. That splits the walk into two 25 minute intervals.
Of course, you could call an Uber or utilize public transit to get places much quicker. Other popular attractions are a short walk from Hotel Kabuki. Here are some places nearby:
- Pacific Heights – five minute walk for high-end shopping and restaurants.
- Painted Ladies/Alamo Square – 20 minute walk to see quirky colored homes with Victorian architecture.
- The Fillmore – 10 minutes away to this music venue.
- Civic Center – 20 minute walk to massive government buildings like City Hall and the San Francisco Public Library. The Orpheum Theatre and BroadwaySF are here too.
Japantown is closer to Haight-Ashbury than other areas on shoreline. It’s still a trek, but Alamo Square is in between to help break up the walk.
Why stay in Japantown?
My stay in Japantown inspired my interest in architecture and Asian-American history. These folks contributed so much to making San Francisco (and our country) what it is today.
History
Japanese immigrants started settling here way back in the 1800s. San Francisco was the main entry port from Asia so the population got pretty concentrated. They built businesses and shared spaces while bringing new ideas to the American consciousness.
Through some unfortunate government policies, the Japanese were forced into internment camps in the 1940s. This decimated the size and economic impact of the area. Many returned when the policies ended and relations improved. San Francisco even was a sister city to Osaka, Japan from 1957-2018.
In the 1960s, more changes came when the city redeveloped certain areas to construct larger roads. While homes and buildings were demolished,  something beautiful emerged that can still be admired today.
Architecture
The San Francisco Peace Pagoda was part of the redevelopment project. It’s a tall structure meant to inspire peace and reflection. It showcases cooperation between Americans and Japanese, with architects from both countries working together to build it.
Japanese modernist architecture also shines throughout the neighborhood. Hotel Kabuki itself was once a community center for the local Japanese population. Its features clean lines and natural colors which, key elements of this design style.
Most buildings in the area are similar interpretations. It was so cool to walk down Buchanan Street and see the flat, geometric buildings and slanted roofs.
Things to do in Japantown
Authentic cuisines
- Kippu Sushi
- Ramen Yamadaya
- YakiniQ Korean BBQ
Attend a festival
- Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival (April)
- Nihonmachi Street Fair (August)
Shop for rare items
- Visit the first Kinokuniya bookstore in the U.S.
- Hit Japan Center Mall for stores like The Face Shop which sells K-Beauty and J- Beauty products.
- There’s a Shiseido store right across the street from Hotel Kabuki.
Explore the arts
- See over 20,000 works on display inside the Asian Art Museum.
- Snap a picture of the Origami Fountain on Buchanan Street.
- Swing by Tokaido Arts, a gallery of traditional Japanese woodblock prints.
Conclusion
Hotel Kabuki’s location and style will take your trip to the next level. It’s one of the best places to stay in San Francisco if you don’t mind doing some walking.
Looking for activities to add to your itinerary? Explore Sausalito, CA which is just 25 minutes away.
