There’s an actual duplicate of San Francisco in Japan, and it’s bizarre | by The Daring Italic | Jun, 2023
The primary time I visited, I used to be mentally unprepared and a bit gobsmacked at how correct all of it appeared at first. After the preliminary shock of feeling teleported again to the Bay light, I instantly needed a drink, so I headed straight for the Buena Vista, hoping to match notes on their infamous Irish coffee. Sadly although, actuality rapidly crashed in, actually — the buildings are all simply fronts, a film set if you’ll. It is a theme park designed by a Hollywood movie studio, in spite of everything. No overpriced Irish coffees for you!
As I walked round this pretend Japanese alternate universe “San Francisco” in a bemused daze, I began to see the cracks within the façade. The streets have been just a bit too clear, and the air was lacking that ocean odor, regardless of their site proclaiming, “With its location proper off the lagoon, this space enjoys the odor of sea air, identical to the true port metropolis.” Um, not fairly.
Possibly I’ve spent too many hours enjoying Theme Park Tycoon, however I couldn’t assist however consider all of the missed alternatives right here: The place’s the cable automotive themed curler coaster? Or no less than a vomit-inducing 4D movement simulator experience of your loopy Uber driver taking the streets of Russian Hill just a bit too quick?
Hell, if this have been a Disney park, you’d know there’d no less than be animatronic sea lions with annoying barking sounds performed on hidden audio system on a steady loop. Or character actors imitating the late, nice “World Well-known Bushman,” nonetheless startling unsuspecting Japanese vacationers, regardless of passing away 4 years in the past.
As a longtime San Francisco resident (and frequent traveler) I did notice one thing although — I’ve really, um, been to the imitation Japanese model of Fisherman’s Wharf virtually as many occasions as the true factor! I assume that’s what occurs whenever you hardly ever play tour information for visiting household and buddies. Nonetheless, I’ve to confess, I really feel fairly a bit satisfaction over the truth that I dwell in a metropolis fascinating sufficient that one other nation went by way of all the difficulty to painstakingly recreate a near-exact duplicate of it — even when it’s a neighborhood I by no means really go to.