Japantown in Mountain View
Have you been to Japantown in Mountain View? I know that question is a bit tricky to answer because Mountain View doesn’t really have a Japanese shopping district. But if we did, I know all the businesses that would be there!
- Daiso is like a Japanese Walmart. I love this store and almost everything is $1.50. Consider it the Disneyland of dollar-stores. There are over 3000 Daiso Stores around the world, but only 9 are in the United States and we have one of them.
- Nijuya Market is a fabulous grocery store that specializes in organic items. I particularly like that they have an entire aisle of rice. A day without rice is like a day without sunshine…
- Maru Ichi is a super popular ramen restaurant. You’re probably going to have to wait for a table, so wear your jacket since you might be standing outside, but it’ll be well worth the wait.
- Ramen House Ryowa is the other popular place for ramen.
- Sono Sushi is entertaining because customers usually sit at the bar. There’s a moat between the customers and the sushi-chefs and they help themselves to small plates of sushi that float by on little wooden boats. A word of advice: a big glass of plum wine may impair your ability to grab the sushi fast enough, which could result in sushi being dropped in the water. Trust me.
- Sura Sushi is my newest favorite. The food is outstanding, the décor is perfect, and it feels so romantic.
- Sushi Tomi is an old favorite of many Mountain View residents and has a devoted neighborhood following. Kind of feels like everyone knows each other and you always see neighbors saying “hello” to each other.
Yes, there are other Japanese restaurants in Mountain View and I’d love to hear you tell me which ones are your favorites. Sorry to have misled you by telling you that Mountain View has a Japantown. We don’t, but I’ll be sure to mention it to our Japanese mayor, Margaret Abe-Koga, on her Facebook page. Even though she gets a lot done, I’m pretty sure she won’t be able to get a Japantown built during her term in office.
And one other point-of-interest: Mountain View has a “sister city” in Japan. It is Iwata, Japan. You can go to the city website to learn more about the sister city program.
I feel like I learned something about Mountain View from reading this page! Thanks for all of the above!
Also, some of the vendors at the farmers market are Japanese-Americans. I’m thinking of the cucumber vending couple in particular. I think the kiwi & chestnut guy is to, but I’m not as sure about him.
Thanks, Heidi, for your creative idea of a Japantown in Mtn View. I grew up frequenting the Japantown in SF, and visit San Jose’s J-town once in awhile which is always nice. It would be great to have one in our own city. Did you know there are only 3 J-town’s left in the country, and we have two of them here in the Bay Area? The 3rd is in LA. My other favorite Japanese restaurants are Sushi-Tei next to Peet’s on Castro Street and SushiTomi which you mentioned. I think Masa’s Sushi on San Antonio is also within the MV border too. There’s also Vee Cosmetics on Castro that specializes in Shiseido cosmetics. Nijiya is great- we go there at least once a week. They are expanding to include a bakery and a sit down area next door. The Andersen Bakery a few doors down from Nijiya sells AnPan – the yummy pastry with sweet red bean in the middle. Mtn View actually has a sizeable Japanese American community with many families having been here for several generations. There are also quite a few Japanese nationals who are here working for various companies. The Mtn View Buddhist Temple has mostly a Japanese American membership and runs several programs such as sponsoring scouting troops, a Japanese cultural summer camp, housing various sports leagues as well as the Mtn View Kendo Club (the martial art of Japanese Fencing). I would love to see a Beard Papa Cream Puff store in town too. In regards to our sister City of Iwata, we just marked 35 years of sister city relations. So there is quite a connection with the Japanese community and Mtn View. Thanks, Heidi, for your great idea.
Daiso is one of my favorite stores ever!! I spent some time in Tokyo and walking into this store makes me feel like I’m right back in the shops of Yokosuka. Also, Sura sushi is INCREDIBLE!! The things they do with mango and sashimi are super yummy.
Nijiya has a wonderful selection of pre packaged sushi and bento box meals! Great for lunch on the go. A wonderful sit down sushi place I love is Satsuma’s. I love the number of creative sushi rolls they offer. Oishii!
I love this article. i now know where to go shopping and partake of some really good food.
Thanks Heidi
Great list! I’ll have to check out the grocery store! Mountain View has another delightful sushi restaurant, Mo Mo Ya, up by the Safeway on Shoreline.. Large nigiri and super friendly staff. YUM!