Visiting San Francisco, California From Overseas?

Here is some useful information for international visitors to San Francisco, California:

The San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (SFCVB), in partnership with San Francisco International Airport (SFO), has expanded San Francisco’s official travel Web site, www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com, to offer essential visitor information and resources in seven languages: French, German, Italian, Korean, Spanish, Mandarin, and Japanese. The SFCVB, in association with SFO, first launched its Japanese Web site http://www.sf-japan.or.jp/
in 2000 and a Chinese language Web site, www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com.cn, in December 2007. The SFCVB has offices in 11 countries, including China, Japan, Korea, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, India, Australia, Argentina, and Brazil. In 2008, San Francisco welcomed 16.4 million visitors, an increase of 1.7 percent over 2007.

Each Web site includes essential travel information most requested by international visitors to plan and navigate a trip to San Francisco; including information about currency exchange; transportation to San Francisco from SFO; departure and arrival information, airport maps and details on shopping, dining, ground transportation and more; transportation within the city and to the surrounding areas; hotel listings and online reservations; a list of wedding resources including how to obtain a marriage license at San Francisco’s City Hall; a calendar of events; information about San Francisco neighborhoods including shopping, restaurants, nightlife, and arts and culture; as well as helpful suggestions on trip planning and attending conventions.

International visitors recorded by San Francisco International Airport (SFO) show that nearly 4.5 million passengers arrived into SFO in 2008 from international destinations. In addition, historically, over 25 percent of total hotel occupancy in San Francisco stems from visitors from outside the U.S.

Lecture: Edo Shigusa, The Manners of Merchants

San Francisco, CA, USA

Much has been made of the Bushido ethic of Japan’s samurai warrior caste. But even as the Tokugawa shoguns ruled Japan, in the bustling, million-person metropolis of Edo another refined code of conduct and values was emerging from the city’s boundlessly energetic merchant class. Even today, the collective wisdom of “Edo Shigusa” offers us rich lessons on how to live together in a prosperous and peaceful community. Join Reiko Koshikawa, prolific writer and chair of NPO Edo Shigusa, for a lesson on living and doing business in ancient Edo. In Japanese, with English interpretation.

When: Tuesday, August 4, 2009, 6:00 to 8:00 PM

Where:
Hotel Kabuki
1625 Post Street
San Francisco, CA USA
map

Cost: This event is free and open to the public; no need to register.

Intensive Japanese Speaking Classes in San Francisco

Start something new this summer! The Japan Society of Northern California is offering a special summer course is designed for those who would like to learn beginning conversational Japanese. This course focuses on practical Japanese expressions used in daily life. If you are planning a vacation to Japan or would like an intensive introduction to speaking the language, then this could be the course for you! I study Japanese at the Japan Society, and love their courses. I also love the location, which is an easy walk from the Montgomery BART station in downtown SF.

Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7/28 – 8/27/09, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Registration Deadline: August 3, 2009
Location: Japan Society of Northern California
500 Washington Street, Suite 300
San Francisco, CA 94111 (map)
Teacher: Mr. Katsuhiro Otsuka
Cost: US$300 for non-members, $195 for members
Register: Japan Society