Northside, San Jose, CA

In San Jose, Northside is the historic neighborhood just north of downtown, and its heart is the Hensley Historic District, a well-preserved core of Victorian-era homes, Italianate, Queen Anne and Eastlake styles, largely built between the 1860s and 1930s and listed on the National Register. That district gives Northside genuine architectural character and a real sense of place, with the landmark Hensley House and its turret among the standouts, and Backesto Park just off its southern edge for recreation. The Hensley House on North Third Street, a Queen Anne with a turret, is the showpiece, and the C.W. Gerichs House sits across the street. Outside the historic core, the blocks get more mixed in age and upkeep, with plainer houses between the restored ones. Many of the old homes sit close to the sidewalk behind porches and small front gardens. Japantown sits right against Northside, and it's where much of the eating happens. Roy's Station on Jackson Street pours coffee inside what used to be a family Mobil gas station. Gombei, a Japantown fixture for decades, serves croquettes and curry rice, and Omogari down the street is known for bottomless banchan, the kind of side dishes that keep coming as long as you keep eating. Over on North First Street, Jackie's Place cooks soul food. Groceries can stay local too. Nijiya Market stocks Japanese staples, a year-round certified farmers market brings in produce, and the Japanese American Museum of San Jose is a few blocks away. Backesto Park, just off the southern edge, is the nearest big lawn for a morning run or a game of catch. Downtown is a walk south, and VTA's Blue and Green light rail lines stop at the Japantown/Ayer station, so plenty of trips here never need a car. A night out downtown can end with a walk home rather than a search for parking. But for buyers who want Victorian architecture and a central, walkable position without the very top-tier price, Northside packs a lot of history and location into the money, especially inside the Hensley streets. It is one of central San Jose's better-kept secrets, hiding in plain sight next to Japantown.