To say Sakura is a a "candy store" would do this neighborhood staple no justice. You'll find Japanese crafts such as super warm hand knitted slippers and quirky bags and tabi socks. All the little comforts you'll need to live in a tiny apartment in Shizuoka. :) All of my favorite pandemic face masks have come from here. They're high quality, pretty, and the kind that form a good shape on your face so you aren't inhaling cotton as you walk down the street. read more

I LOVE this shop. They are constantly updating their products, so even living within a few blocks, I love to stop in. Prices are right on point and you never know what kind of little find you will discover, for yourself or a gift. I always recommend Sakura to our visitors! Great place to get a fun gift for friend or souvenir. Cannot say enough nice things about the owners either. What a neighborhood gem. read more

Great place for Japanese snacks. I like the the seaweed chips they are my favorite types of chips. They had lots of great snacks available. They also have great toys and collectibles. read more

Sakura - My favorite chips and Pusheen the little lion - Gift Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sakura, the Japanese store with cutey things. I found this by pure chance because I had decided to park here because there were a parking spot here next to San Tung. They have Japanese snacks, like green tea crackers, squid snacks, and pocky. But I love the Totoro and Pusheen things that they had, made from Japan! It's so adorable. Friendly cashier/owner too (: read more

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So sad to see the owners retire. Nicest people& enjoy this new chapter in your life. Thank you Store is closed and a cafe is moving in. read more

The lady that was there was very friendly and the store was very organized. I'll definitely revisit when I'm around the area. They have a bunch of Japanese snacks and cute stationary items. The prices are very reasonable also! read more

A neighborhood gem!! Sakura is a small, family-run "convenience" store that sells candy, dried goods, some frozen goods, and cute toys/treats. They're also open during shelter in place, but with a few rules. Everyone is required to wear a mask, I believe you can only stay in the store for 7 minutes, and only a few people are allowed in at one time. There's also a huge Plexiglass screen where the cashier is, which helps to make me feel more at ease in the store. Their selection isn't huge (don't expect to find meat, veggies, or an extensive selection of treats), but they have most of my favorites. And at a cheaper price than Nijiya! You can also find cute Rilakkuma, shiba inu, stuffed animals, food erasers, J-beauty supplies, soap, and dishware here. The owners who run the store are also so sweet and welcoming. Definitely stop by if you're visiting the park or in the neighborhood! read more

I came here about 2 years ago, wishing I found it again and now I did. I got a BIG plushy from there that I still have and love. I'm happy the business still doing good. read more

A little disappointed. I was sorry to see the original store close but highly anticipated the new store opening. After months, the store opened and I went in. The new store had a quarter of the inventory of the last store. It felt empty and not much to buy. read more

This was my second time coming into this cute little store with souvenirs, goodies & Asian food/snacks galore! I drove into the city from San Jose with my boyfriend and I knew I wanted to stop by specifically for these cute thermal lunch bags. I purchased 4 large and 2 medium sized bags for $40! What a great deal. We also purchased a few food goodies for the drive home. Also, the woman working is super friendly and sweet. Will be back again if I'm on this side of the city in the future. read more

Sakura - Gift Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

Was in SF for the Hot Chicolate race and parked across from this Boutique Japanese market. My wife and I decide to take a look inside. It was small as many shops on Irving were but full of great items! The owner greeted us upon entering and offered a warm welcome. He sells everything from food items, candy, snacks, pens, packaged ramen, erasers, knitted bags, kitchen utensils, bowls, etc. A really cool shop! The one item I was hoping to find was sold out. La-Yu sesame seed chili oil with chili flakes. It's the best "hot sauce". It used to be sold at Whole Foods but has since been replaced by another brand. For $1.93/bottle that is a bargain! Normally, this is sold for $3-5! He said that morning, someone came in and bought nine bottles. Btw, huge selection of Pocky biscuit sticks! read more

Sakura - Store front - Gift Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

I absolutely love this store! All things Kawaii and Japanese. I didn't pick up knick knacks. I did drool over their wall of food. They have a lot of Japanese rice crackers, Pockys etc. The lady was nice. She let me browse. Prices are about the same as ichiban kan. read more

Mini ice cream cones shaped cookies filled with cream. Blue container facial cleaner found in Japan only. Endless cute little things and Japanese tea. Japanese seasoning and a bunch of other things you don't need but want. I have been looking for this blue color facial cleanser since Hokkaido 2015. Finally used it and can't find it. Only $7. Incredible. My mom likes their tea selection. Plenty of treats to bribe little kids with. Japan seems to be experiencing a quiet renaissance that stirs up nostalgia for those who lived through the 80s and early 90s, and a new style of kitsch for those teens. Sakura satisfies without breaking your pocket book. Es gefällt mir gut. read more

I love their Bentos, Katsu Sandos, onigiris and other prepared meals. Reminds me of Japan...The owner and staff there are very friendly and nice...The old Sakura store had more grocery type items but, I really do appreciate the pre-made food items for easy lunch and/or dinner options, along with homemade dessert options as well... read more

This cute neighborhood shop has different homemade Japanese dishes made fresh every day -- bentos, onigiri, curries, katsu sandwiches, just to name a few. I've been coming here every day and haven't gotten tired of it yet. Everyone who works here is super friendly. So lucky to have them in the neighborhood!! read more

If you think the bento boxes are great you should consider ordering food directly. It's even better. I've been eating food from the shopkeep for almost a decade now and I could eat it for the rest of my life. HAPPILY for the rest of my life. read more

Prior to COVID, Sakura has always been my favorite neighborhood store to pop in just to check what's new and cute. I recently came here to support local businesses, and it was a pleasant surprise to see the owner is sewing cloth face masks for the community. LOVE them even more now. read more

Sakura - I don't know if this needs a caption - Gift Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The best Japanese variety store. Really nice items, high quality for great prices. You can always find a unique gift for someone here. Holiday shopping, birthday gift, you can find it here. Also have a great selection of Japanese food and Ramen. read more

Sakura - Miso Ramen- the best - Gift Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

fresh food selection, everything is so yummy! my go to neighborhood market for any occasion!

Sakura is such a cute little Japanese shop with very friendly proprietors selling some food and non-food items. I really like going there!

I stumbled on this cute little store after lunch and was so surprised they had so many items that I wanted! I only had enough time to check out the front of the store (the hanging lunchbags in the window is what drew me in) and was amazed at the selection they had. Like other people said, it's like a mini Daiso in Sunset. I think some of the items are better quality than Daiso, like their reusable bags and lunch bags. I ended up purchasing a cute Japanese floral lunch bag. The man who helped me was really friendly. I like these Mom and Pop shops, I hope they stay in business a long time! read more

I stop by here when I'm in the neighborhood. I almost always find something I really want.... Today I bought laundry bags and soap. Last time I bought snacks, Totoro stickers, and headphones for my phone. The owners are super nice, and this is a fun shop to browse in after lunch at San Tung, or Manna. read more

Sakura - My new excellent $8 laundry bag! So great I bought 3!!! - Gift Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This little Japanese shop is crammed with goods, even with things hanging off the ceiling. Some of the merchandise is quite similar to what you'd find at Ichiban Kan (they had the same lunch sets) crossed with what you'd find at Super Tokio. The owner is Japanese (from some part that doesn't eat natto) and very sweet. About half the store is devoted to grocery items - fresh sushi and rice balls, frozen food (the best sellers are ice creamy, gyoza, and natto), ramen, Pocky, and Hi Chew. The Pocky and Hi Chew selection is excellent (yes, they have Hi Chew Durian). They also have kimonos, a Hello Kitty/Sanrio section, containers, socks, toys, tights, tee shirts, slippers, bath & body items, notebooks, barrettes, earrings and keychains. The prices range from $1 and up. It's not a 100 yen store but everything does seem to be discounted. For example, they had some cute croissant tote bags for $18 that usually retail for $22. My picks: * Ninja t-shirts and beanies for kids - who doesn't like ninjas? * Tohato caramel corn (vanilla flavor) - yum * Dog and frog knit hats for kids It's the only Japanese discount store in this part of town and you could probably find most of what they have elsewhere but the prices are reasonable and they have a little bit of everything. read more

Sakura - Gift Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

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What a sweet little store! I had my nails done at High Touch Salon a couple of doors down the street and found myself wandering the (so clean, not a speck of dust in sight!) aisles of Sakura. I was in search for these special cookies my little boy loves (cookie on the outside, filling on the inside) and they had them in 3 different fillings of chocolate, cream and strawberry. I bought 'em all. The big find for me was this little tube of Japanese grapefruit face wash. I expected a liquid but even better, this was the consistency of a zinc paste with a slightly granular, exfoliating scrub. Heaven! My skin feels like a baby's butt. (Those Japanese women with perfectly poreless complexions can't be wrong and my skin feels fresh and tingly, all for $3.99!!) I can't wait to use it in the morning to "wake up" and they had it in different versions, from Amino Acid to Clay and more. That was a true find, for a fraction of the price ($3.99!!) for something "less than" at Kiehls that would be 5X the price. Pick some up for yourself and for Christmas gifts. I picked up some special ramen noodles, cookies for my little boy, facial scrub and more little sundries, all for $15 and change. I'll be coming back for all of it and more. Gentle on the pocketbook, chock full of little surprises and stocking stuffers. Run over here and pick up some unusual and wonderful stuff for yourself and friends. read more

Sakura is a japanese convenience store, part daiso and part nijiya. small cute space, everything neatly stacked. aisles small but not cramped. inventory is mostly groceries, candies, referigated/frozen stuff. some household items (never look at these). didn't see sake, didn't took. not into sake anymores. buys: -sapporo miso ramen, (.70?) -peach hi-chew(.78) -nissin tonkotsu artificial pork flavor ramen(.62?) footnotes: -everything reasonably priced -friendly greetings from cashier, associates -luv the miso/ton... ramen.., hi chews 4.5 stars read more

They carry Japanese groceries here! Picked up some Nishiki rice, furikake, and some instant crispy rice. Very cute store with handmade goods. Sheba inu (sp?) doggie cute stuff. Stuffed animals. Candies. Love this neighborhood shop. read more

Sakura is a hidden gem in the Inner Sunset. Tucked away in the residential area, this tiny, family-run store is filled with miscellaneous items, food, and snacks -- cute stationary, small kitchen appliances, candy, chips, bottled drinks, instant ramen, seasoning sauces, etc. The list goes on and on. You don't come into this store looking for something in particular, but instead to browse around and see what items you don't need, but want. For example: a garlic-shaped container for storing fresh garlic. One thing I expected to find here was green tea kit kats, but Sakura didn't sell those the times I visited. Oh well. However, I found a small 1oz can of matcha powder here for less than $7. That only meant new baking adventures to come! :) read more

This cute little Japanese store is so hidden on Irving Street, I didn't even know it was here until we parked right in front of it one day on our way to lunch. Items you would find at Daiso like Japanese snacks, ramen, kitchen utensils, bath & body products, stationary can be found here. Some Hello Kitty/Sanrio products, too. They also have a very small refrigerated section with frozen takoyaki and a frozen desserts. All very reasonable priced. The employees are super friendly, too! read more

Sakura - Gift Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The one time I'm actually thankful for long wait times and cold evenings around Irving is because it allowed me the serendipitous discovery of Sakura. Jiwon M. and I wandered in looking for shelter from the cold and found our hearts melting as well by the small treasure trove of Asian goodies. There's a random assortment of goods featuring well-known Japanese characters in the middle table and off to one side, flanked by shelves of snacks and a small selection of stationary items. A stand in the front features hand-made cards by a local artist. It seems like the place where you never really know what you'll find until you look inside. Also the sort of place you would never think twice about when walking by until you've discovered the cozy little corner of the world within. Let's keep this our little secret? I purchased two small notebooks for $1.49 each from a lovely elderly man. Inner Asian girl satisfied. read more

Sakura is like the Ichiban Kan's & Daiso's of the world, but it seemed like somethings cost a bit more, a little bit more. There wasn't much that I wanted, just got a pretty small box. The cashier is nice & spoke in Japanese to me...I don't know any...good thing she spoke to me in English after, maybe I looked confused to her. I guess if you wanted to practice your Japanese, you could talk to her. read more

Sakura - Gift Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great little Japanese store with random items that you never knew you needed and for first cheap; i.e. note card organizer. They have a wide variety of items: shampoos to fake eyelashes, Japanese snacks/candies to kitchen strainers, and pens to mochi --the possibilities are endless, especially when they get shipments of different items all the time. The place is very well kept and very organized. They will charge you if you need a plastic bag though so either bring your own or do what I do and buy one of their uber cute reusable bags they have on sale. Last, but definitely not least, the woman at the counter is super sweet, like all the time. read more

If you were to ask a bunch of people that live in the Sunset, I'm sure the vast majority wouldn't have any idea that a cute little gem like this even exists. it's a small little hole in the wall type of joint, but they sell an impressive assortment of Japanese stuff. A lot of their shelves are devoted to food like ramen and snacks/candy, but they also have a small little freezer for frozen gyoza, and even a little refrigerated unit that sells small bento boxes and onigiri. So random, but pretty cool nonetheless! Beyond the tasty treats, they also sell various items like bath products, stationary, clothes, and random other trinkets. In essence, the place is like a smaller version of Ichiban Kan, which is like a smaller version of Daiso. The workers are all super friendly and polite...couldn't ask for more. I don't know how it compares exactly, but I think the prices might be just a shade higher. If it is, the difference is negligible though, and it certainly beats having to head to J-Town or down the freeway. And besides, it's always nice to support small little shops like Sakura! Already looking forward to my next trip down to 9th Ave! read more

Taking covid seriously by only allowing 6 people in store at a time - the sweetest owners who are always so kind and stocked full of amazing snacks+cute things! Definitely stop by to support them and stock up on Japanese goodies! read more

Easily one of my favorite places in the neighborhood! An amazing little store with great variety and prices on snacks, handmade crafts, and all sorts of other small gifts. I come here all the time to get frozen karaage, gyoza, udon, ramen, various drinks, and even masks and soap! There's a little something for everyone here, plus the owners are soooo sweet! Can't recommend this place enough. read more

I am disappointed. I relied on old store for staples like Yamamotoyama teas, S&B Crunchy Garlic with Chili Oil, kimnchi, wasabi furikake, etc. I also loved the couple who ran it & bought handmade pillows & many small perfect gifts for myself & others. Now they mainly seem to have candy, snacks, cold drinks & pre-made food. Sort of a semi-stocked semi-convenience store. Also, despite a supposed mskeover, the store is not a very welcoming place. It used to feel full of life & magical. I always brought visitors there. So far I've only bought one thing--some fukujinzuke, pickled vegetables, because I was making Japanese curry. Every time I go in I ask the people (always different people) if they will be getting more grocery items. They seem friendly yet totally uninterested or unable to respond. I am getting everything I bought regularly from Sakura at other further awsy stores--at the Tokyo Fish Market in East Bay or in Japantown. It's a huge loss for the neighborhood unless you just want lunch or snack food. read more

Sakura is a great addition to the SUNSET=] The owners are so nice! I come by the store here and there and the owner always recognizes me. She's so nice! I love Japanese merchandise! Here, you can find little knick nacks that are just way too cute! It's a mini store that offers a variety of office supplies, clothing, household items, beauty products, Sanrio items, and a great selection of FOOD! In particular, I like the little ice cream cups. I usually buy red bean. mmmm...=] I haven't been here in awhile, but i do plan to when I get the chance. read more

One of my favorite stores in the city. So many choices of great items. Plus, the staff is so friendly.

This is a small quaint store. It holds a lot of japanese brand material. What caught my eye was the name of the store otherwise I probably wouldn't have walked in. The person working the register was friendly and they have fresh food packaged to go as well. They also have the instant ramen all college students love if they are on a low budget. read more

The store owners are super nice!!! Im in love with their pocky selection! It's nicely displayed! :] Everything they sell here is fast and covienent! read more

Sakura - Front of the store with oversized pocky boxes!!! :D - Gift Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Totally love this little store. It's got a nice charm to it especially with all the snacks and candy! The shop lady is really nice and give you a very welcoming atmosphere. She'll chat for a bit with you if you're near the counter. There seems to be a lot of regular customers that comes in. Some candy and snack examples: Meji Chocolate (milk and black) Yam Yams Boten Rice Candy Mochi Ice Cream Wasabi Peas Good Good Eats snacks Various Japanese chips Bag of Mixed Japanese crackers Various gums like coffee gums HI-CHEW! Lot of various kasugai gummy candy bags Green Tea Wide selection of Calpico Melon Soda Other food stuff are cup/bag ramen, spices, and various sauces. At the counter, there's some pre-made food that changes. I've seen mochi, sushi, and cake there. There's also a fridge for cold drinks nearby. There's also a random stationary inside the store. Pens, pencils, lead, etc. Then there misc other stuff like bathroom stuff such as hair gel, make up, etc. There's a small basket of hand made animal message cards here. It's a small basket near the door so it's very easy to miss, but it's definitely worth a look. The store accepts credit card! read more

Sakura - Message cards they sell - Gift Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

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