I’m a software engineer in Japan. This is my record of Staying in San Francisco for about 1 month. The document is reported general information, school in English, sightseeing in San Francisco. If you stay in San Francisco, please refer to this record. 私は日本でエンジニアをやっています。 これは約1ヶ月間サンフランシスコに滞在した際に作成したドキュメントです。 サンフランシスコに関する一般的な情報や観光スポット、留学情報などが載っていますのでぜひ参考にしてください。

1. Report of staying
in San Francisco
Apl. 25th – May 23th 2015
Daisaku Manda

2. Introduction
Iʼ’m a software engineer in Japan.
This is my record of Staying in San Francisco for
about 1 month.
If you stay in San Francisco, please refer to this
record.
2

3. General
3

4. Place
4

5. Weather
San Francisco is located in California.
However, It is cold year-‐‑‒round because of the influence of the
sea and the westerlies.
Actually, temperatures change drastically, so difference between
the morning and evening changes about 10 degrees.
Therefore, Ultra-‐‑‒Light-‐‑‒Down Jacket of UNIQLO is so convenient!
-‐‑‒ Details：http://www.sftodo.com/sanfranciscoweather.html
5

6. Cost of living
San Francisco is one of the USʼ’s most expensive cities for
visitors, probably behind only New York City.
I heard that rent is higher in San Francisco than in New York.
The below list is a comparison between SF and NY.
Details:
http://www.numbeo.com/cost-‐‑‒of-‐‑‒living/city_̲result.jsp?country=United+States&city=San+Francisco
%2C+CA
6

7. Public order
There are quite a few homeless in town: at least 2-‐‑‒3 people in
one block.
In particular, Tenderloin area is dangerous. There are many
drug addicts.
You should not walk alone at night in this area.
7

8. Transportation
8
Public transport is substantial.
There are Buses, high-‐‑‒speed rail BART, CALTRAIN, subway, and
cable car.
By the way, cable car are used mainly by tourists.
Clipper card is quite convenient.
Clipper
card

9. Cable Car
9
Cable cars are a symbol of San Francisco.
The cable car is the only transportation on the historic
site registration list.
The citizens usually take buses everyday, because the
fee is $2.25, but Cable cars cost $6.

10. Cityscape
10
There is Luxury district, financial district, slums.
A variety of life is mixed in town.
It may be a kind of symbol of the USA.

11. School in English
11

12. Comparison of school
School Scale Feature Cost
Converse MID Class members are within 5-‐‑‒6
people.
$4,730
Intrax MID 75% of each program is that it is
devoted to conversation
practice.
$3,166
KAPLAN LARGE They have prove a track record
for TEST.
They publish books for TOEFL.
$3,625
Embassy LARGE Traditional School
(more than 40 years)
$3,414
12
I chose Inrax. Because school scale is suitable
for me, and I can improve conversation skill.

13. Comparison of housing
13
The cheapest one is a hostel.
Type per DAY per WEEK per Month
Hostel
(Shared room,
Shared bath)
-‐‑‒ $300.00 $1,080.00
Hostel
(Private room,
Shared bath)
-‐‑‒ $425.00 $1,580.00
Homestay $43.00 $301.00 $1,290.00
AirBnB
(average)
$200.00 $1,400.00 $6,000.00
Hotel $250.00 $1,750.00 $7,500.00

14. Material
My Teacher recommended below materials.
n General practice
Ø http://www.bcc.co.uk/skillswise/english
Ø http://www.npr.org/
p National public radio
n Listening practice
Ø http://www.ted.com/talks
14

15. Foods
15

16. Japanese Foods
16
Of course, There is also Japanese food: Curry, shabu-‐‑‒
shabu, ramen.
Anything If you go to Japan Town!

17. Beers
17
I was drinking beer every day because in my hostel it was just $2.
I like "BLUE MOON" that is Belgian beer!

18. Seafood -‐‑‒Crab-‐‑‒
18
Famous restaurant of crab called "Crustacean".
The combination of crab and garlic pasta is delicious.

19. Takeout
19
I usually have dinner at hostel.
Takeout is culture in San Francisco.

20. Sightseeing
20

21. Alcatraz Island -‐‑‒ Impossible escape prison island -‐‑‒
21
If you want to go to the island, you must take a tour cruise. the fee is
$30.
The ranking on "TripAdvisor" is very high.
Actually, I had a very good experience.
You should certainly join the tour, when you visit San Francisco!
Details : http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/

22. Fisher Mans Wharf
Speaking of San Francisco = “Port” = "Fisher Mans Wharf".
You can see sea lion, and you can overlook the San Francisco harbor.
22

23. Golden Gate Bridge
23
This is most famous spot in San Francisco.
Total length 2,737 meters. The height of the main tower is quite
long, 227 meters from the surface of the water.
I walked from end to end. You can overlook the city of San
Francisco.

24. Baker Beach
24
There is a beach where you can see the Golden Gate
Bridge.

25. Clock Tower
25
There is a Clock Tower where you can take a ferry.
The retro schedule board is so cool!

26. Japan Town
26
There is also a Japanese city in San Francisco.
“DAISO” is famous in other Asian countries.

27. AT&T Park
27
Compare to Japan, the infield seats are large, and the Stadium is
large at outfield.
What a good stadium!
I watched Ichiro (Marlins) vs Aoki (Giants) .

28. Stanford University（1/2）
28
This is a symbol of Silicon Valley.
You can go by Caltrain about 1 hour From Palo Alto Station to San
Francisco Station.
It said, “Innovation of Silicon Valley needs the university”.
Hoover Tower / Memorial Church is famous.

29. Stanford University（2/2）
29
I joined a tour of "d.school" famous of Design Thinking.
On the tour is possible to learn the essence of Design Thinking
every week Friday at noon.
Details : http://dschool.stanford.edu/about/#tours

30. UC Berkeley
30
This is a major public research university located in Berkeley,
California.
BSD Unix is famous. It felt traditional and quaint.
Details：http://www.berkeley.edu/

31. Yosemite National Park [1/2]
31
This is famous in Mac OS.
We reserved a hotel, but the hotel was located on the opposite side of the park.
And We found the road to be impassable due to the weather.
We experienced a 16 hours drive and finally We cannot see main spot.
You MUST check the schedule of road in Yosemite! [Especially Nov.-‐‑‒May]
Details : http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

32. Yosemite National Park(continuing..)[2/2]
32

33. Museum
33

34. California Academy Of Science @SF
34
Museum where you can learn about science.
On Thursday night you can be see the museum while drinking.
Details : http://www.calacademy.org/

35. Exploratorium @SF
35
Museum of the experience type.
Kids can learn while theyʼ’re playing with exhibitions.
Japan should have a museum like this!
Details : http://www.exploratorium.edu/

36. Asian Art Museum @SF
36
You can see differences between Asian countries and other countries.
For example, Japanese culture as seen from the United States.
It is a very stimulating experience.
Details: http://www.asianart.org/

37. Computer History Museum（1/2）@SV
37
Starting from the "REVOLUTION", you can understand the history of computers.
It starts from very large typewriter, you see the history of software / robots etc.
It's an amazing experience for me.

38. Computer History Museum（2/2）@SV
38
You can see a photo of Appleʼ’s two founders – Steve Jobs & Steve
Woznijk, Lisa computer, Windows 95, Google.
The exhibit ends with "What's Next?". Cool!

39. The Tech @SV
39
Hands-‐‑‒on Museum in San Jose.
But unfortunately I arrived too late to look at it.
Details:https://www.thetech.org/

40. Others
40

41. Coffee
Coffee is popular. Howard Schultz that founded Starbucks
refers to Peet's Coffee. There are Blue Bottle Coffee/Ritual
Coffee Roaster/Philz Coffee etc. is called third wave coffee.
41

42. Park
There are very many parks.
This is probably one reason that the landscape of the city is good.
Also, There is ecology.
We must separate garbage.
42

43. Manga
43
We heard that Japanese "Manga" is popular in the
world.
Actually, in San Francisco Asian people usually watch
“Anime[video]”.

44. App Store in San Francisco
44
I want to buy Apple Watch, but It is only Online..

45. Taiwan Fes
45
The Taiwan festival that was just held.
The top right corner seems to be a traditional dance.

46. Bay to Breakers
46
This is the oldest consecutively run annual footrace.
The runner is wear fancy costumes. So Interesting!
Details：http://zapposbaytobreakers.com/

47. Finally
47

48. Differences of Culture
48
I felt differences of culture.
Just One Phrase
JAPAN Polite & Respectful
USA Diversity& Allowance
CHINA Active & Group

49. Then
49
I watched many Ted Talks in San Francisco.
And Most impressive video is “The Worldʼ’s English Mania/Jay
Walker”.
Jay Walker explains why two billion people around the world are trying
to learn English. He shares photos and spine-‐‑‒tingling audio of Chinese
students rehearsing English ̶— "the world's second language" ̶— by the
thousands
Details：http://www.ted.com/talks/jay_̲walker_̲on_̲the_̲world_̲s_̲english_̲mania?language=en
『English is
common language
in the WORLD』

50. 50
Thanks.
Contact: daisakku@gmail.com