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San Francisco Japantown Self-Guided Audio Tour

TourTruth score 7.6 out of 10

GoodTop 18% in San Francisco

10 reviews · Rated on 1 provider · How we score

  • San Francisco
  • Updated October 31, 2026

Explore San Francisco Japantown at your own pace as local guide Kristin Eriko Posner shares stories of its food, culture, and history.

About this tour

Explore San Francisco Japantown through the stories behind its food, culture, and streets. On this self-guided audio tour, local guide Kristin Eriko Posner shares how history shaped the oldest Japantown in the U.S.

Begin beneath the red torii gate at Sutter and Buchanan Streets, then follow GPS-triggered audio from stop to stop using the VoiceMap app. The narration plays at the right place, while offline maps and audio let you explore without a connection. Pause, restart, or take the route at your own pace. For the best chance to find businesses open along the way, visit Wednesday through Saturday between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.; the tour is available any day, and most stops are open until 6 p.m.

Bring your smartphone, install the app, and use the code on your ticket. Set out to discover the history and everyday character of San Francisco Japantown on this flexible audio walk.

Highlights

  • Explore the oldest Japantown in the U.S. at your own pace
  • Hear local guide Kristin Eriko Posner share neighborhood stories
  • Connect Japantown’s food, culture, and landscape with its history
  • Follow GPS-triggered audio through the neighborhood

What's included

Included

  • VoiceMap application
  • Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
  • Lifetime access to the Food, History and Resistance in Japantown tour

Not included

  • Smartphone
  • Transportation
  • Food and drinks
  • Tickets or entrance fees to museums or other attractions along the route

Ratings on each provider

The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.

Important information

  • Start beneath the red torii gate at Sutter and Buchanan Streets
  • Install the VoiceMap app and use the code on your ticket before arrival
  • Directions to the starting point are available in the app
  • Best taken Wednesday through Saturday between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., when businesses on the tour are open; the tour can be taken any day
Show 6 more
  • Most stops are open until 6 p.m.
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a stroller; infants must sit on an adult’s lap
  • Service animals are allowed
  • Public transportation is available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Frequently asked questions

Where does the tour start?

Meet beneath the red torii gate at Sutter and Buchanan Streets. Find directions in the VoiceMap app.

How do I access the audio tour?

Install the VoiceMap app before arrival and enter the code provided on your ticket. Audio plays automatically based on your smartphone’s GPS.

Can I take the tour offline?

Yes. The tour includes offline access to audio, maps, and geodata.

When is the best time to take the tour?

Wednesday through Saturday between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. is best, when businesses on the route are open. You can take the tour any day.

Can I pause or restart the tour?

Yes. Start, pause, or restart the self-guided tour at any time and explore at your own pace.

How this score is calculated

This score is based on one provider. Viator rates it 5.00 from 10 reviews. We place that rating among all Viator ratings and weight it by its review count. If the tour is found on another provider later, both ratings are combined.

How the score works and rating distribution in San Francisco
  • Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
  • Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
  • Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
  • The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 7.6. Top 18% in San Francisco means it ranks in the top 18% of tours in San Francisco by this score.

Provider rating distribution in San Francisco

How many tours in San Francisco have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.

  • GetYourGuide
  • Viator

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