Japantown, San Jose, CA
At a glance
Japantown is ranked #89 of 112 neighborhoods in San Jose with an overall score of 2.7/5. Its standout factors are nearby merchants (4.8/5) and curb appeal (3.8/5), at a median home price of $951.47k. It ranks 80th of 112 in San Jose for safety. The trade-offs are schools (1.7/5) and safety (3.4/5), though prices run about 42% below the San Jose median.
Neighborhood Reviews & Questions
Japantown is one of only three historic Japantowns left in the United States, and unlike a themed district, it is the real, working thing. The Jackson Street core is a genuine cultural main street of Japanese restaurants, groceries, sweet shops and century-old churches, with the Japanese American Museum anchoring the neighborhood's identity. It is small and mostly older residential blocks of bungalows wrapped around that business district, walkable to downtown just to the south, with Backesto Park reaching into its northern edge for recreation. The rarity and history keep it desirable, and the limited housing supply keeps entry tight, which is the honest tradeoff: there simply is not much of it, and what comes up trades on that scarcity. But for buyers who want to live inside a real piece of Japanese-American history with a functioning cultural main street at the doorstep, there is nowhere else in San Jose, or nearly anywhere else, quite like it.
Top Neighborhoods in San Jose, CA
Neighborhood Amenities
Near good merchants4.8
Public Spaces3.7
Curb Appeal3.8
Overall Amenities score: 4
Neighborhood Weather
Neighborhood Photos
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Schools serving this Neighborhood
| School Name | Type | Grades | Houseberry School Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant Elementary | Primary | K-5 | |
| Muwekma Ohlone Middle | Middle | 6-8 | |
| San Jose High | High | 9-12 |
Click links for school listing
info at GreatSchools.org
Houseberry School Score Data
from CA Dept. of Education
Houseberry recommends using these scores as only a starting point, and conducting your own investigation into what schools fit best for your preferences. School boundaries are not guaranteed and may change. It is important to contact the appropriate school district to confirm enrollment eligibility before making any decision to move to a neighborhood.
Median Price
Japantown FAQs10 answers
Is Japantown a good place to live?
Japantown ranks 89th of 112 neighborhoods in San Jose with an overall Houseberry score of 2.7 out of 5. Its strongest factors are nearby merchants (4.8/5) and curb appeal (3.8/5). The trade-offs are schools (1.7/5) and safety (3.4/5).
Is Japantown safe?
Japantown, San Jose scores 3.4 out of 5 on Houseberry's Safety Score, ranking 80th of 112 neighborhoods in San Jose.
What do homes in Japantown cost?
The median home price in Japantown, San Jose is $951.47k, compared with $1.63M for San Jose as a whole.
Are home prices in Japantown rising or falling?
The median home price in Japantown, San Jose is roughly flat over the past 12 months, at $951.47k against $951.47k a year earlier. The full 12-month history is charted in the Median Price section on this page.
Which schools serve Japantown?
Schools serving Japantown, San Jose include Grant Elementary (1.1/5), Muwekma Ohlone Middle (1.7/5) and San Jose High (2.4/5).
What is the weather like in Japantown?
Japantown, San Jose receives 79% of its possible sunshine, 111th of 114 in San Jose. Summer days run 57° to 80°F and winter days 42° to 60°F, August is the warmest month and rainfall averages about 15 inches a year.
Is Japantown walkable to shops and restaurants?
Japantown, San Jose scores 4.8 out of 5 for nearby merchants and 3.7 out of 5 for public spaces. Its overall amenities score is 4.0 out of 5, 6th of 112 in San Jose.
What is Japantown known for?
Japantown, San Jose is associated with Historic Japantown, Jackson Street and Cultural Core. Its highest-scoring factor is nearby merchants (4.8/5).
How does Japantown compare to other San Jose neighborhoods?
Japantown ranks 89th of 112 neighborhoods in San Jose. It ranks 80th of 112 in San Jose for safety (3.4/5) and scores lowest on schools (1.7/5). The highest-ranked neighborhoods in San Jose are Graystone and Calabazas North.
What are the downsides of living in Japantown?
Japantown, San Jose scores lowest on schools (1.7/5) and safety (3.4/5).
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