Nichi Bei Bussan

This is a great place, in San Jose’s beautiful Japantown, for your Japanese traditional wear and Japanese karate needs. I came here for a visit with a friend of mine for yukata and kimono shopping. The clothing is pretty pricey but it’s appropriate for the high-​quality designs. The yukatas I wanted ranges from $ 60-​$ 80+ so I wasn’t able to purchase anything during my time there. If I save enough money, then I’d just buy one to wear when I’m out with my Japanese boyfriend.
Despite the pricey clothing, it was just nice walking around and looking at the place.
They have a mini-​museum, containing old photos of Nichi Bei Bussan locations (such as one in San Francisco in the old days) as well as newpaper clippings, which tells a brief history of the story as well as the development of San Jose’s Japantown.
If you’re in Japantown, then I suggest you guys pay these guys a visit and check out their beautiful clothing.

This was probably the best little shop we found in Japantown. They have a huge assortment of very authentic items. I won’t go to into detail and do the disservice of spelling everything wrong or not knowing what everything is called.
The two women working the counter were incredibly friendly. They were having a small problem with the cash register (authentic old fashioned cash register) but they were handling it like champs and it did not affect our transaction at all. They even took the time to strike up a bit of friendly conversation!
A++++ for this place because of authenticity, selection and customer service!

I love the idea of supporting local communities, but the prices of the kimonos and kimono accessories are extremely high. You can purchase many of the items online and have them shipped from Japan for cheaper than they are selling here.

I love the idea of supporting local communities, but the prices of the kimonos and kimono accessories are extremely high. You can purchase many of the items online and have them shipped from Japan from a proxy site like rinkya for cheaper than they are selling here, including shipping. Rakuten, ichiroya, heck even eBay has these items cheaper.

When I sold my house, I didn’t have room to bring many things. As I was working out what I was taking in my car, I couldn’t take my shiki futon – the mattress. I didn’t have the kake futon, the comforter because it seemed rather excessively expensive at the time.
Now, I’m soon to move into a new place with no bed of any kind. I visited this store to order both shiki futon and kake futon. Of course, the style I wanted was at the higher end. With tax, over $ 1000 – that’s a lot for a twin set – more than a western-​style queen-​sized mattress and box springs set. Mind you, these are hand-​made. I didn’t ask but I wonder if the fabric is dyed by hand also. I suppose not. It was too intricate and regular but anything is possible with a disciplined mind and steady hands.
They had an alternative color of the shiki futon, but I wanted the dark blue set, and the pattern was attractive without being floral.
I was treated well by the staff, and they had to call to make certain that what I wanted was available. There was some delay due to a temporary shut down, but they assured me that they would be ready in just a few weeks.
Update 2014.07.15: I got two voice messages today to call the store because they didn’t know which fabric I chose – and they had not ordered the products. It’s been 13 days. Just like a clam ready for a plate, I was steamed.
When I was in the store, we went over the color choices multiple times. If there was a problem with the color choice, why didn’t someone call me within the week they took my deposit of half the money?
When I talked to someone, they gave me various reasons for the failure. I tried to be understanding, but I kept repeating «13 days», because the product was likely going to take 3 or 4 weeks anyway. Extending that time another 2 weeks was miserable, since I have no furniture at the moment. I literally am sleeping on the floor.
I asked for a refund of my deposit. I would go buy a western bed for less and be okay with it somehow.
Finally, I talked to Arlene, and she explained about o-​bon festival. I understood. I’m Japanese. I know about the preparations and the distractions. She apologized and I accepted.
When she talked to the company, by some miracle, they said that they could probably ship the two pieces by Friday (this is Tuesday) and the store would probably receive them by Wednesday. That actually seems about the time frame I initially expected.
I hope it’s true.

I love coming here, even if it ‘s just to browse. You can get fabrics by the yard here. There is also martial arts gear here, you can buy staffs, escrima sticks and I believe also gi’s but I can’t recall. Will update my review in the future with more details.
#392

Just a great little store with beautiful and authentic Japanese items for gifts or personal use. Friendly people running the store, these types of stores are getting far and few between, a must stop if visiting the area!

Cute little Japanese shop at the outskirts of San Jose Japantown. Prices are… well, typical high Japanese prices. :P Lots of various trinkets and great stuff to outfit your house with, or give as gifts.

nichi bei is a great and convenient store for kimonos, but their style is very old… like 90s to early 2000s old. some are also handmade and donated by several seniors from yu ai kai too! I love this store because of the traditional kid toys, kitchen ware, fabric and how to books etc. they sell. highly recommended if you’re looking for kimono/​yukata at a somewhat cheap price :)
If you want something more modern look up yukata kimono market sakura online.

This store has all the different Japanese items from traditional clothing to fabric to dishes to martial arts gear. The staff is really helpful. Yes, a lot of the merchandise IS expensive, but everything is of high quality, even those that are second hand. I bought a yukata, obi, and zori there and some of the staff was really helpful in helping me try it on and make sure that I knew how to wear everything properly and liked how it looked. Left really happy with my purchase and with the service of employees.

This store has a very nice variety of fabric! There are a lot of Japanese base items sold here. These items range from the little rectangle slippers to nun-​chucks.
The store is decorated all over. I believe there is a martial arts class here. Many types of martial arts books are sold here as well.

Best store in Japan town EVER! Lots of cool stuff. I came here looking for a judo gi, and I fond everything else here too.
The staff is super friendly, if you don’t find what you’re looking for, tell them and they WILL help you out. Amazing, and I didn’t get attitude like I was bothering them, but instead got the store manager to make a special order just for me. Then ended up talking to her for like 40 minutes after about older Asian quality and craftsmanship.
This is a MUST SEE kind of place, nothing I say can prepare for what you will encounter here. Every time I try to leave this place I get stuck looking or taking about another great product of their’s.
Love this place!

This is a great place to pick up yards of lovely fabric in Asian motif prints. I just picked up a few yards of a pretty Hawaiian Trendtex cotton yesterday.
The people who work there are very friendly. The woman told me about the Obon festival. Unfortunately I just missed it but I will check it out next year. She told me that you can learn the dance steps at the annex near the temple before the festival. The guy who cut the fabric for me was very courteous and careful not to damage it while cutting. I think this is a family owned business. I’m not against big corporations but I think it’s nice to support local businesses. They usually carry special items you can’t find easily at larger stores.
They also have a nice selection of beautiful Japanese housewares that would make nice gifts. Some are very pricey but some are affordable. I wouldn’t worry about the carcinogen warning sign that Rachel R. pointed out. Many stores that carry crystal, pottery, and even electronics will have the Prop 65 warning sign. This warning is required even when the risk is minimal. Sometimes a product is free of carcinogens, as far as the manufacturer knows, but they can’t make a guarantee for a vendor they used for a part of the product.

nichi bei bussan carries exotic and/​or esoteric artififacts from japan as well as interesting items regarding japanese culture. they don’t carry items you can easily find in a daiso or a supermarket (food, snacks, cheap knock-​offs).
highlights: an overview:
–martial arts books, equipment, and magazines
–japanese clothing (kimino, fans, socks)
–japanese ceramics (tea pots, dishes, sake sets)
–books, utensils on/​for japanese cooking, culture
–etc.
buy:
–sustainable sushi: a guide to saving the oceans one bite at a time (15.95)
temaki:
–some stuff may seem pricey but the items are genuinely japan made, not made in china (by child labor?)
–had free rein to browser, no hassles…

So much merchandise and you can tell this is authentic, Japanese stuff but so expensive =(I really wanted to get these socks that has a special spot for your big toe so you can wear flipflops with them but the ones I wanted were… a tad too much… booo! Maybe I’ll get them next time. =)
The owner of the shop was kind but he hanged around you like a fly to a light. It was really uncomfortable. I know that we were the only customers around and customer service is an important thing but at least let us breathe. =(The experience would have been so much more enjoyable.
However, there are a lot of neat things in this shop. The place is colorful and vibrant. It was cute and full of culture. From the tea sets to the decorated chopsticks, and the kimonos and origami paper, this place can really come to life with its rich colors. I may come back and purchase a pair of chopsticks for my cousin, since she’s into things like that and the pair of socks… hopefully I won’t be treated like I was going to steal next time. =/​…well that was how I felt… maybe he was just trying to be helpful. Idk…-_-’

This place is cool. All sorts of traditional Japanese things from Kimonos to buckwheat pillows. The prices are fair. Nice staff too. Probably my favorite shop in Japan town SJ.

Cool store and super friendly staff! They have affordable karate uniforms and other martial arts thingies, as well as books and material and tchotchkes and all kinds of stuff I would really like to spend money on!
The ladies there took care with my son to be sure he had a gi that fit properly for the martial art he is studying, they didn’t just sell him the first thing that looked like it fit okay. I really appreciate considerate, caring customer service like that.
I’ll be back for my yukata next spring!

I needed a Kimono for a party and Unilocal recommended this place. The staff was very nice and extremely helpful, including the owner. She showed me how to wear the Kimono and how to tie the Obi.
Their stuff is relatively affordable depending on the quality that you want. If you want good quality, obviously it will cost you more. Anything you want that relates to Japanese culture, you will find it here. I’m glad that I found this place and very content with my first Kimono purchased.

NBB was San Jose Japantown’s first department store. It was great because it specifically served the Japanese-​American community before and after the turbulent years around WWII. Today, it still does, but has a wider range of patrons which is great. It has everything from martial arts equipment, to dishes, art, toys, real Japanese futons, and more. It has a nice neighborhood feel to it. I remember when I was a kid, we used to go and get our rubber ninja stars there. To me, it’s very nostalgic.
It’s still a family run establishment, so the people are really friendly and can help you find anything you are looking for. They can even special order stuff for you.

First time in the Nichi Bei Bussan store. It’s in SJ Japantown and store full of stuff from Japan.
Japanese flip flops
flip flop socks
fans
martial arts stuff in glass cases
martial arts badges
Japanese tea pots
kimonos
fans
origami
books
etc, etc.
no taiko drums/​sticks, No food/​snacks.

Very cool stuff w/​lots of nifty things
I wanted to buy a gi, just to play around w/​. Unfortunately my gf said no. Oh wells, I’ll play karate when I’m older