So much to see, so little time! Make the most of your short stay in San Jose with this checklist of must-see places and must-try restaurants. Your 48-hour adventure starts now.
Start the morning with a leisurely stroll down San Pedro Street and fuel up with a cup of coffee and pastry from Voyager Craft Coffee. Walk off breakfast on your way to The Tech Interactive and prepare for a hands-on experience to learn about how technology has impacted society and the science behind the inventions. Plus, guests get to beta test the latest and greatest technology in Silicon Valley, many of which are not yet available to the general public. After roaming the museum, escape reality with a cinematic adventure in the largest IMAX dome screen in the West. IMAX movies average about 45 minutes in length and it’s very easy to lose track of time playing with the gizmos and gadgets in the museum, so give yourself a few hours here.
The Tech Interactive offers immersive displays for guests of all ages to learn about the intersection of science, tech and society.
Walk to the San Jose McEnery Convention Center light rail stop and hop on any northbound rail car for a short trip up North 1st Street to explore one of three remaining historical Japantowns in the U.S. Grab a delicious lunch at Minato, a favorite among foodies (including Parts Unknown host Anthony Bourdain) for authentic sushi, udon and katsu. Walk off your meal by exploring the neighborhood's traditional Japanese stores and modern boutique shops. Satisfy your sweet tooth at Shuei-Do Manju Shop for handmade Japanese pastries, the Bay Area's oldest manju shop. And if you time it just right, you may be able to sit in on service at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, open to all.
San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin welcomes all visitors and is an organizing pillar of the San Jose Japantown community.
Use your day pass and catch light rail back to the Convention Center stop for a short walk to SoFA District, San Jose’s visual arts and entertainment district. Get a caffeine boost from Academic Coffee or Nirvana Soul for an afternoon pick-me-up while you explore a wide range of galleries along this eclectic urban strip. Visit Anno Domini Art Gallery to see art from emerging artists around the world or Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Lantino Americana (MACLA) for a contemporary arts space grounded in the Chicano/Latino experience. Check out the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles Museum, devoted solely to quilts and textiles as an art form, or the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art for rotating exhibits of contemporary art.
The San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles preserves, celebrates and promotes the knowledge and appreciate of the craft as part of cultural expression.
Your next stop is Mezcal Restaurant for regional Oaxacan cuisine. This adventurous dining experience is known for homemade moles and chapulines (fried grasshoppers) sautéed with garlic, lime and salt. Before heading back to the hotel, indulge in a nightcap along First Street and select from a cluster of spots like Nomikai, 55 South, Paper Plane and the brand new Still O.G. for signature craft cocktails and spirits.
Sleep in a bit and begin your day with a lovely breakfast at Tostadas where you'll find an extensive menu of Mexican-inspired breakfast plates. Then, head west out of Downtown to visit the world-famous Winchester Mystery House to tour the marvelous Victorian mansion of Winchester rifle heiress Sarah Winchester. Discover an extravagant maze of architecture with puzzling twists, like stairways to nowhere and windows opening to walls. It’s said that Sarah Winchester designed her mansion intending to confuse the spirits of Winchester rifle victims that haunted her. Keep an eye out - many visitors have claimed to have paranormal experiences! If you get the chance to visit on Friday the 13th or around Halloween, you can take a special flashlight tour after hours.
The Winchester Mystery House is one of the most famous haunted houses in the United States.
Cross Winchester Blvd. to Santana Row and explore the European-inspired, pedestrian-friendly village in West San Jose, known for high-end shopping, dining, nightlife and spas. After you’ve filled your shopping bags, take a lunch break at one of the many incredible restaurants here or head down the street for casual and walk-up-to-order food at Falafel’s Drive-In, a San Jose institution and featured on the Food Network’s Diner, Drive-Ins and Dives. Be sure to pair your gyro or falafels with their signature banana milkshake.
Next up, head to the beautiful Rose Garden neighborhood for a visit to the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum where you can view the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on exhibit in western North America. Among the 4,000 exhibits on display see authentic objects from pre-dynastic times through Egypt's early Islamic era. Step outside and wander through the replica 18th dynasty Rosicrucian Peace Garden. Just one block from the museum, smell the beautiful rose blooms at America’s Best Rose Garden, the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, a 5½ acre park with 4,000 roses and over 250 different rose varieties.
Your ticket to the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum also gets you into a show at the Rosicrucian Planetarium. Check their schedule for viewing times.
Before heading out to dinner, grab a cocktail inside the Signia by Hilton San Jose lobby lounge.
San Jose is fortunate to have warm evening weather year round so all you need is a light sweater for your 15-minute walk to San Pedro Square Market, a lively evening in a social dining atmosphere. Choose the cuisine that suits your mood from a variety of vendors at the food hall. Once you’ve made your entrée selection head to the outdoor patio and have a seat next to the Peralta Adobe to admire San Jose’s oldest building. Stay on San Pedro Street for a night of bar hopping with craft cocktails at Five Points or tiki drinks from Dr. Funk.
If you happen to be in San Jose Pedro Square during a San Jose Sharks or any professional sports game broadcast, be prepared to catch yourself cheering for our home team with the enthusiastic crowd.
