Representing all of San Jose’s cultural gems in one zine would be nearly impossible—so, we didn’t. Instead, we focused on the Downtown Core, Japantown, Little Italy, the South First Area (SoFA) Arts District, and a vast swath of the city referred to as Beyond Downtown. What this special issue calls the Downtown Core comprises multiple historic districts, including the Historic District, San Pedro Square, and St. James, located between San José State University and the Guadalupe Freeway. Little Italy and SoFA, often considered downtown, as well as Japantown, located north of downtown, remain distinct. Beyond Downtown is meant to capture everywhere else, including The Alameda, Creekside, East Village, Little Portugal, Little Saigon, Mayfair, Santana Row, Willow Glen, and more.
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Downtown CoreFramed by the historic Bank of Italy tower and the iconic Adobe World Headquarters, Downtown San Jose is a beacon of duality: historic and modern, a college town and a business capital. Quaint and business-focused by day, the Downtown Core can be identified by iconic theater venues, legacy and contemporary art institutions, a range of dining experiences, San Pedro Square Market, and a vibrant nightlife. -
SoFA DistrictThe SoFA district is home to San Jose’s South FIRST FRIDAYS artwalk, as well as music venues and galleries that shape the South Bay arts and culture scene. During South FIRST FRIDAYS, galleries are open late for free, offering a perfect opportunity to be inspired by locally and nationally recognized artists. Come for the art; stay for music and drinks.
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JapantownFounded originally as boardinghouses for Japanese men who immigrated to the area in 1887 for labor and farming jobs, San Jose’s Japantown is one of the last three remaining in the United States and one of California’s 24 state-designated Cultural Districts. Today, it stands as a cultural and historic area for Japanese culture in Silicon Valley. The San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin was founded in 1902, and its annual Oban festival each summer honors ancestors who have passed, bringing together the community to celebrate Japanese cultural identity through offerings, dance, and crafts.
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Little ItalyFounded in the 1880s as an original Italian immigrant settlement, this historic pocket is now a gateway between the Shark Tank and downtown. That early history is on full display within the Little Italy San Jose Cultural Center & Museum—and the subterranean speakeasy cellar below it. Enjoy authentic Italian cuisine, grab original San Jose BBQ at Henry’s Hi-Life, pregame at Ancora Vino before a hockey match, and catch live music at Poor House Bistro.
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Beyond DowntownBeyond the downtown core, family-run businesses share the traditions, dialects, and flavors that speak to a diasporic sense of home. In east San Jose, Emma Prusch Farm Park offers fresh produce, and the colorful walls of La Placita Tropicana stand as a core hub in any Eastsider’s memory. Throughout midtown San Jose, vintage and thrift shops reveal both the glamour and grit of an authentic, flashy past. Going west, the Municipal Rose Garden serves as a prime location for picnics and photo shoots. Past this neighborhood, where the roads widen and each home bears a distinct character, the Santana Row shopping center attracts international visitors with a penchant for brand names and fine dining.
