Checking In: Hotel Kabuki, San Francisco's Japantown
A little slice of Tokyo in San Francisco ⛩🇯🇵 ...at least this is what I imagine Tokyo is like. Did you know that SanFrancisco's Japantown is one of just three official Japantowns in the US? Beyond the Cherry Blossom Festival in the Spring, it's a hub of Japanese culture, brimming with original restaurants, quirky shops, and unique community vibes.
And, Hotel Kabuki is the perfect place to stay on any visit to San Francisco. Neighborhoods away from the hustle and bustle of Downtown, and the typical tourist drag, it stands near the famous Peace Pagoda in Peace Plaza.
I recently checked into Joie de Vivre Boutique Hotel Hotel Kabuki as a jumping point to explore around one of San Francisco's most underrated neighborhood. The Hotel Kabuki doesn't fall short of those WOW factors.
Home For the Next Two Days
Embracing its Japantown surroundings, Hotel Kabuki is the perfect choice if you're looking for Zen tranquility during your San Francisco getaway. The living-room-like lobby decorated with mid-century couches and lit with vintage factory pendants pay homage to the 60's & 70's counter-culture, blended with Japanese contemporary decore.
The seasonal cocktail menu at the lobby bar focuses on Japanese whiskey and sake. In contrast, the bar menu includes Japanese-inspired bites like shishito peppers and chicken katsu sliders. There're happy hour specials every weekday from 4 to 6 p.m., and every Monday between 5 and 6 p.m., the bar hosts a vinyl hour where you can pick a record to play from the hotel's collection of classics.
Amenities
After checking in, as you make your way through the lobby, a Japanese garden draws your attention to the outdoors. This courtyard is intentionally designed to pull you into the culture that surrounds you, without having to leave the comfort of the hotel. However, the intent is not to keep guests from exploring the neighborhood, but rather to expose them to what lies at their feet, and encourage exploration.
One of the other amenities that I could not pass up, before heading to the famed Fillmore Street, also steps away, was the 3,000 square foot gym. As far as hotel gymnasiums go, few can put as much Zen into a space that is chock full an array of state-of-the-art Life Fitness cardiovascular and strength equipment, Peloton bikes to leather boxing bags.
The mind-body experience is built around another, smaller, Zen Garden, transforming your experience as you transform your body and soul. For wellness-minded travelers, you'll love that the space is open 24 hours a day, there are classes from yoga and Pilates and others in between, during hours that guests can take advantage of.
It's also a pet-friendly hotel and also offers an EV station.
The Room
If you’re lucky enough to snag a room in one of the upper floors of the hotel, you’ll find yourself with a spectacular view of San Francisco. Still, even at the lower levels, Kabuki’s rooms are peaceful and neat, with a few Japanese prints on the walls bringing a distinctive edge that reminds you which neighborhood you’re in. Its plush linens, cozy robes, and eco-friendly cascading rain showers will make you not want to leave!
Rooms starting at $249/night; Hotel Kabuki, 1625 Post St., jdvhotels.com
This stay was sponsored by Hotel Kabuki. As always, all opinions are my own.
