We chose to end our San Francisco exploration in Japantown learning, experiencing and dining. Wow. 

After the 1906 Earthquake, many Japanese and Japanese Americans relocated to this area. Originally referred to as Nihonjin Machi, or Japanese People’s Town, it spanned 30 blocks until WWII broke out and 120,000 Japanese Americans were ordered to relocate, away from the coast. Today, J-Town comprises about six city blocks, and it is considered one of the largest and oldest ethnic enclaves in the United States and the perfect way to end our visit to San Francisco.
We actually came for the Nihonmachi Street Fair, considered the original “melting pot” of street fairs, with many aspects of Asian-Pacific American life—and San Francisco’s cultural life—expressed through performance, tradition, art, music, food, and community outreach and service.
I have a fondness for Japanese toilets and this Toto Toilet booth was very popular with fairgoers. What a crack up!
The event began with the West Coast Lions Dance Troupe delighting the audience.
I love the premise of this dance in the Chinese Culture, "Most cats are curious and playful, often causing a great deal of trouble for their mischievous activities. The great Lion who had originated in heaven, was no different. For years now, Lion had been causing a stir. Deities cam from all over the heavens to complain to the Jade Emperor who ruled over them. The Emperor, thinking to himself, Lion is always getting in trouble, always playing where he should not." We were so glad the lions were playing here today.

The examples of origami were incredible. We were thoroughly impressed with Linda Tomoko Mihara's Star Tessellated Dress, an off-the-shoulder dress and matching high heels each were folded from a single sheet of white parchment paper. I would so wear that dress!
A big focus of our day was food. Oishii!
Treats were had at the Benkyodo Company. In 1906, Suyeichi Okamura opened Benkyodo Co.- one of the original businesses in Japantown. When the family was interned during World War II, it was forced to close temporarily. After the war ended, the shop reopened, and in 1951, Suyeichi's son, Hirofumi, took over. Based on what we witnessed, this 110+ year old business is still going strong and was delicious!
Our final meal in SF was at Sanppo Sushi. Karen needed vegetables and I needed this delicious $11 bento box full of goodness. おいしい