Credit: SF Planning / De Alva

Japantown Osaka Way / Buchanan Mall Upgrades

Osaka Way / Buchanan Mall is paved with a river of cobblestones, connecting two fountain installations, consisting of origami flower forms designed by renowned artist Ruth Asawa, and surrounded by low, circular stone walls.  Along with Peace Plaza, it’s the geographic and cultural heart of the neighborhood.

The three main goals of this project are to:

  • Enhance accessibility of the Mall for seniors and people with disabilities and limited mobility
  • Rehabilitate the Ruth Asawa fountains that are iconic to the mall
  • Support the business community by embellishing the sense of cultural authenticity and enhancing the commercial edges of the mall

Japantown’s Buchanan Mall (also known as Osaka Way) is the pedestrian portion of Buchanan Street that runs for one block between Post and Sutter streets. This walkway is lined by restaurants, stores, and cultural institutions on both sides, allowing residents and visitors to experience Japantown’s culture in a pedestrian environment.  

This project aims to implement streetscape upgrades identified by the Japantown community through efforts like the 2013 Japantown Cultural Heritage & Economic Sustainability Strategy (JCHESS). After community leaders advocated for funding, former Assemblymember Phil Ting secured a $5 million grant from the California Natural Resources Agency at the end of 2021. This project has been developed in partnership with the Japantown Task Force, Japantown Community Benefit District, the Nihonmachi Parking Corporation, and the Ruth Asawa Lanier, Inc.

Construction, which is estimated to take 12 months, is scheduled to start in Winter 2026

For more information on the project, please visit osakaway.org. 

Outreach Records and Materials

The project team has integrated valuable community feedback received from various surveys, open houses, and focused stakeholder meetings. Various perspectives and insights have been essential in shaping this vision, and the project team is excited to share the latest as they work towards a final design.

Related Resources

Related Projects

Related Reports and Documents

Prior Events
Event InformationMaterials
Community Briefing
Tuesday January 21, 2025
5:30-8:00pm
Location: KOHO Co-Creative Hub – Issei Memorial Hall
1675 Post Street #2nd Floor San Francisco, CA 94115

A community briefing on the Osaka Way Upgrades project to share the latest concepts as the City work towards a final design.

Open House #3
Tuesday February 6, 2024
5:30-7:30pm
Location: Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California – Issei Memorial Hall
1840 Sutter Street San Francisco, CA 94115

An open house to comment on preferred concept for upgrades, including proposed lighting, greenery, seating and more.

Open House #2
Tuesday October 3, 2023
5:30-7:30pm
Location: Onine and in person at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California – Issei Memorial Hall
1840 Sutter Street San Francisco, CA 94115 Online

Second open house to share ideas for upgrades to the pedestrian portion of Buchanan Mall (Osaka Way) between Post and Sutter Streets.

Open House #1
Wednesday May 31, 2023
5:00 to 8:00pm
Location: Onine and in person at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California – Issei Memorial Hall
1840 Sutter Street San Francisco, CA 94115

First open House to share ideas for upgrades to the pedestrian portion of Buchanan Mall (Osaka Way) between Post and Sutter Streets.