Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month

San Francisco Chinatown. Photo courtesy of Viator.

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is celebrated every May with festivals, performances, exhibits and more. The impact of the APPI community is apparent in all aspects of Bay Area culture. Today, 27% of Bay Area residents – just over two million people – identify as AAPI, second only to Honolulu. This month we acknowledge the history and contributions made by the AAPI community, and we encourage our readers to do the same! 

Use BART's Trip Planner for detailed routes and transit options.

East Bay

Oakland Chinatown at the corner of 7th and Webster Streets in the 1970's. Photo courtesy of Visit Oakland.

Settled in the 1850s, Oakland is home to one of the oldest Chinatowns in the US, and it's just steps from Lake Merritt Station. Here you'll find multi-generational Oaklanders speaking English, Cantonese, Taishanese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Tagalog and other languages. While there won't be many tourists, you can find almost anything else. Visit the Oakland Fortune Factory, where a mother-daughter duo makes beautifully dipped fortune cookies by hand, one of the last bakeries to use the technique. Or drop by the Asian Branch of the Oakland Library to check out the "Asian Interest" collection, which has cultural books translated into English. 

South Bay

Sushi boat from Kazoo. Photo courtesy of Visit San Jose.

There are only three historical Japantowns in the US and two of them are BARTable. Located in San Jose, near the Berryessa/North San Jose Station, Japantown (affectionately called JTown) is home to dynamic eateries with regional fare from Japan and Hawaii (Hukilau is a local favorite). Take a stroll down the busting streets to find chic shops like Classic Loot, selling vintage clothing, and the legendary karaoke bar and lounge, 7 Bamboo, that's been in Japantown since the 70's.

To learn more about AAPI history you'll want to visit the Japanese American Museum of San Jose that's home to a unique collection of artifacts dating back a century.

San Francisco

Bollywood dancers performing at the Asian Art Museum. Photo courtesy of the Asian Art Museum.

San Francisco has a plethora of resources to learn about AAPI culture and just as many opportunities to engage with the community. On May 19 the Asian Art Museum will celebrate the 20th AAPI Heritage Month with a day full of kids activities, special programing and tours. RSVP to the event here. In addition, the San Francisco Public Library is hosting free AAPI focused "read and learn" events and workshops for all ages, events and locations can be found here.

Visit the APA Heritage Foundation's website here for a full list of SF happenings. 

Yosakoi dancing. Photo courtesy of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California​

If shopping is how you prefer to show support than we suggest visiting Japantown San Francisco. Find your Kawaii or a vintage Kimono at one of the two-dozen specialty shops located in Japantown. Feeling overwhelmed? Start with a self-guided walking tour of the district to get a better feel of the neighborhood, its history and landmarks.

The Japanese Cultural and Community Center will celebrate Kodomo no Hi (Children's Day) with a free family-festival on May 4. More info can be found here. 

SF Chinatown Dragon Gate. Photo courtesy of Dylan's Famous Tours.

A list of SF Chinatown's best businesses would stretch a mile long, so we'll share bit of history and encourage you to explore on your own. SF Chinatown is the largest Chinatown outside of Asia and the oldest in the nation. With 15,000 residents in the 20-square blocks you'll feel the burst of energy once you cross the Dragon Gate. The Chinese Historical Society of America is a great place to start if you're new to the neighborhood. They host community events and folks in the gift shop have great recommendations if you want to shop, eat or sightsee. 

The Chinatown Volunteer Coalition will hosts a bi-monthly night market as well as their annual AAPI Heritage Festival to celebrate the Asian diaspora living in Chinatown and beyond. This years festival will be on June 1. Follow them here to stay updated on upcoming events.

The Bay is a melting pot, and it's important we highlight the individual cultures that contribute to it. Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month is great opportunity to learn and explore more of the Bay Area's rich culture. We hope to see you at these BARTable experiences!

How are you celebrating AAPI Heritage Month?

We want to hear from you! Let us know on social media, @SFBARTable #SFBARTable! Keep up with us on Facebook and Instagram to see all of the best BARTable events, places to eat and have fun around the Bay.