Buddhist Church

I am not member of this church, but I always go to the Ginza Bazaar obon every summer (usually the 3^rd weekend of July)! It’s so fun! I go straight for the food where you can get udon, chicken salad, gyoza, bbq chicken, ribs, curry, hot dogs, spam musubi and baked goods like cookies and pies. Plus there’s a silent auction for cool things, games for the kids, bingo, cultural demonstrations for kendo and ikebana, taiko and hula performances, booths to buy handcrafts, books, children’s books. It’s all in a small area, but it is jam-​packed with activities! And they have bon odori Japanese dancing usually on Sunday in the early afternoon outside. Great fun!

BCSF connects individuals and families in jodo shinshu buddhism and japanese culture. A great place to take an intro to buddhism course for adults or dharma school for the kids. Also has scouts, basketball and a language school for busy families. Don’t miss Bodhi Day (Buddha’s Enlightenment) service, Hanamatsuri (Buddha’s Birthday) or Ginza Bazaar with Obon Dance.

The Buddhist Church of San Francisco is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the United States. It is the «mother temple» for the Buddhist Churches of America.
I have been a member of this temple for many years — it has many wonderful programs for kids and families, newcomers to Buddhism, and in-​depth workshops and study groups. There is an English language service and a Japanese language service — both services are open to all.
As the mother temple, it also has one of the most impressive altar spaces in the United States.
I also highly recommend considering the BCSF if you are considering a Buddhist wedding in San Francisco. I ultimately got married at the Buddhist Church of Oakland, partly due to difficulty scheduling a reception in San Francisco for the wedding dates I wanted, but the Buddhist Church of San Francisco was the first place that I looked. The main temple hall is absolutely gorgeous and the temple staff is very helpful in making wedding arrangements.
The Hotel Kabuki is within walking distance if you’d like a fancy and more formal reception, and also has garage parking.
If you’d like a smaller, more youthful reception, the Hotel Tomo! is also nearby and has a Japanese comic book theme. There are also many restaurants nearby for more reception options. There is one wedding planner for both of these hotels, and he is very helpful, full of energy, and has lots of great ideas.
The BCSF is also an «equal opportunity» marriage location, so it welcomes gay couples.