Hotel Tomo

The Hotel Tomo is a Best Western in name only, as it is managed by renowned San Francisco-based boutique hotelier JDV Hospitality. Its distinctive lobby features a bank of plasma screens playing Godzilla movies and a vending machine selling T-shirts and toys from Asian-American brand Giant Robot. While such bold elements reflect the excitement of contemporary J-pop anime, manga and street fashion, Hotel Tomo’s foundation of serene lines and pale, uncluttered open spaces bow to traditional Japanese interior design.

Each of the Hotel Tomo’s 125 guest rooms holds a glow-in-the-dark desk blotter and features an enigmatic anime wall painting created by artist Heisuke Kitazawa. Electric colors are used as accents in the spacious rooms’ clean pine and neutrally-toned laminate appointments. In a nod to the Eastern-inspired theme of the hotel, the traditional Gideon’s Bible is joined by a copy of The Teachings of Buddha. Upper floor rooms feature impressive views of San Francisco’s urban landscape.

The Best Western Hotel Tomo is located in the heart of Japantown and offers a cultural experience outside of San Francisco’s traditional tourist and business centers. Guests are well positioned to experience many of the cultural offerings of Japantown, including authentic Japanese cuisine and spas. Fillmore Street, popular for its edgy boutiques, cafes, and clubs, is located just a few blocks away.

Located in the hotel is Mum's Restaurant and Bar, specializing in savory Japanese shabu-shabu. For the uninitiated, a shabu-shabu meal consists of thinly sliced meats and vegetables cooked at the table in an iron hot pot and served with an assortment of dipping sauces. The term shabu-shabu translates to "swish-swish" in English and refers to the sound of the meat cooking in hot water.

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