Locals head here for its numerous authentic restaurants, teahouses, shops, and the crazy-expensive Sundance Kabuki multiplex movie theater. At its center stands the five-tiered Peace Pagoda, designed by world-famous Japanese architect Yoshiro Taniguchi “to convey the friendship and goodwill of the Japanese to the people of the United States.” Surrounding the pagoda, through a network of arcades, squares, and bridges, you can explore dozens of shops featuring everything from TVs and tansu chests to pearls, bonsai, and kimonos. There are also tons of food options here, from quick snack shacks to sit-down meals. Check out Kinokuniya (tel. 415/567-7625; open daily 10:30am–8pm), the enormously popular and extensive bookstore that offers a wide selection of manga, graphic novels, cookbooks, and much more, in both Japanese and English.