Red bridge with lights

San Fransokyo Square Land Guide, Tips & Photo Tour

Welcome to San Fransokyo Square, the newest addition to Disney California Adventure Park! Inspired by the futuristic city from Disney’s “Big Hero 6”, this vibrant area brings the world of Baymax and Hiro to life for all ages to enjoy. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned Disney parks fan, our guide will help you make the most of your time in San Fransokyo Square.

Sign on lamp post

In this article, you’ll discover all the dining, shopping, entertainment, and attractions this high-tech hub has to offer. We’ll provide tips on navigating the area, best times to visit, and insider secrets you won’t find in the official guides. You’ll learn where to snap the perfect Instagram photo with Baymax, taste innovative cuisine fusing Asian and Californian flavors, and explore imaginative shops filled with “Big Hero 6” merchandise.

San Fransokyo Square adds an exciting new dimension to Disney’s California Adventure, and our guide will ensure you experience it to the fullest. Let’s explore this vibrant community inspired by two iconic cities – welcome to your sneak peek inside San Fransokyo!

Official Opening

Red building with signage and hanging lanterns

San Fransokyo officially opened on August 31st, 2023, transforming the former Pacific Wharf area into an immersive new land inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios film “Big Hero 6”.

Theming and Location

San Fransokyo transports guests to a stylized mashup of San Francisco and Tokyo. It is situated between Cars Land and Pixar Pier, with the iconic San Fransokyo Gate Bridge connecting it to Paradise Gardens Park.

City on a wharf

 

The area features a futuristic aesthetic with vibrant architecture and neon accents seen from both the exterior of the pier and from inside the land.

Dining Options

San Fransokyo Square offers a variety of dining options showcasing a fusion of Japanese and Californian flavors and we have to say, we’re very impressed with the turnaround on dining options here. Before the change Pacific Wharf was at the bottom of our list for dining options but now it’s jumped to the top!

Aunt Cass Café

Sign hanging from a pole

Aunt Cass Café is a quick-service restaurant inspired by the cafe run by Hiro‘s aunt in the Big Hero 6 film. The cafe serves Japanese-inspired fare like curry beef bowls, clam chowder bowls, and shrimp katsu sandwiches, all served in freshly baked San Francisco sourdough bread bowls from the adjacent Boudin Bakery tour. Sweet treats include fluffy Japanese-style cheesecake. The cafe has an open kitchen layout with seating both indoors and outdoors. Here’s a brief overview of the menu:

Baymax made out of bread

  • Curry Beef served in a sourdough bread bowl
  • San Fransokyo Clam Chowder served in a sourdough bread bowl
  • Shrimp Katsu Sandwich
  • Fluffy Japanese Cheesecake

Lucky Fortune Cookery 

Chicken Sandwich on a plate

Lucky Fortune Cookery is a counter-service Asian restaurant decorated with red paper lanterns. The menu features Asian fusion dishes like karaage chicken sandwiches, beef bulgogi burritos, teriyaki chicken bowls, and yaki udon. Vegetarian options are available. Guests can dine outdoors on the patio opposite the restaurant. Here is a brief overview of the menu:

  • Karaage-inspired Crispy Chicken Sandwich
  • Teriyaki Chicken
  • Beef Bulgogi Burrito
  • Yaki Udon with Karaage

Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill 

Colorful ad on side of building

Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill is a Mexican quick-service restaurant with a colorful, festive decor. The menu highlights street-style Mexican dishes like tacos, quesabirria, burritos, and Mexican corn on the cob. Margaritas and other cocktails are available, in addition to beer and non-alcoholic beverages. There is covered outdoor seating on the patio. Here is a brief overview of the menu:

  • Quesabirria
  • Carne Asada
  • Al Pastor
  • Pollo Asado
  • San Fransokyo-style Street Corn

Rita’s Turbine Blenders 

Bakery building with water tower and signs

Rita’s Turbine Blenders is a walk-up margarita stand serving a variety of frozen and classic margaritas in flavors like strawberry, lemon-lime, and pomegranate. Non-alcoholic options are also available, like strawberry lemonade. Chips and salsa are sold to accompany the margaritas. Guests can find seating nearby to enjoy their drinks. Here is a brief overview of the menu:

Turbine Twirler frozen drinks in wild cherry, lemon-lime, strawberry, and blue raspberry flavors

Mobile Ordering

Mobile ordering is available at Aunt Cass Café and Lucky Fortune Cookery.

Character Meets

The healthcare companion robot Baymax from “Big Hero 6” greets guests in San Fransokyo Square. Guests can give Baymax hugs, fist bumps, and take photos.

Shopping

The San Fransokyo Maker’s Market offers merchandise like apparel, art, and accessories inspired by “Big Hero 6”. It has a salvage yard aesthetic with nods to Hiro’s Megabot and Baymax.

Baymax painted on a red wall

Attractions, Events, Easter Eggs and Photo Opportunities

Nearby attractions include Cars Land, Pixar Pier, and Paradise Gardens Park but San Fransokyo Square itself does not feature any attractions at this time.

Currently no events specific to the land have been scheduled.

Hidden Easter Eggs in San Fransokyo Square

San Fransokyo Square is filled with subtle references and tributes to Big Hero 6 that fans will enjoy spotting:

  • The establishment date on the San Francisco Canning Company sign is 1928, the year Mickey Mouse debuted
  • Inside the Ghirardelli shop, animated murals show scenes of daily life in San Fransokyo rather than San Francisco
  • The koi fish turbine added outside Ghirardelli powers San Fransokyo in the film
  • Throughout the land there are nods to Hiro and friends’ robotics activities, like salvaged robot parts
  • The Makers Market merchandise location is the first shop ever added to this area of the park
  • Guests can find Baymax’s healthcare chip among the items for sale at the Makers Market
  • Aunt Cass’ Cafe sells a lemon-lime soda called “Lemonade That Wasn’t” – a reference to the film
  • The illegal robot battle club from the movie is represented through the Kabuki District sign

Keep your eyes peeled in San Fransokyo Square to catch all the Big Hero 6 references and tributes sprinkled throughout!

Best Photo Spots and Opportunities in San Fransokyo Square

Daytime Photo Spots

  1. San Fransokyo Gate Bridge: This iconic landmark spans the tide pools linking San Fransokyo Square to the Paradise Gardens Park obelisk and offers a great backdrop for photos.
  2. Floating Wind Turbine: After crossing the San Fransokyo Gate Bridge, you can capture the floating wind turbine atop an old fishing net tannery, powering the district from high in the sky.

Nighttime Photo Spots

  1. Illuminated Lanterns: At night, illuminated lanterns light up the side of the buildings that make up the main strip of San Fransokyo Square, adding shades of red to the new street art and iconography.
  2. Street Art and Murals: Newer additions like street art and murals have some illumination of their own, making them great photo spots at night.

Character Photo Opportunities

  1. Hiro and Baymax: Guests have the opportunity to interact with Hiro and Baymax outside a converted warehouse at the Hamada Bot Shop.

Unique Backdrops and Details

  1. Hiro’s Megabot and Baymax’s Battle Glove: These nods to the Big Hero 6 team’s adventures can be found throughout San Fransokyo Square and make for interesting photo backdrops.
  2. Street Art: The area is decorated with street art and colorful banners celebrating the Big Hero 6 team, providing unique and vibrant backdrops for photos.

Remember to explore the entire area and discover your own favorite spots for capturing memorable photos in San Fransokyo Square.

Tips for Visiting San Fransokyo Square

Plan ahead so you can get the most out of your visit to San Fransokyo Square. Here are our top 3 tips for this land:

  1. Get there early to see Baymax. Baymax, the beloved healthcare companion from Big Hero 6, greets guests in San Fransokyo Square. Try to arrive early in the morning or after a parade when wait times may be shorter to meet Baymax and get pictures and hugs.
  2. Mobile order ahead of time. Take advantage of mobile ordering at Aunt Cass’ Cafe and Lucky Fortune Cookery to skip the lines. Place your order while waiting in line for an attraction or walking around the land.
  3. Stop by at night to see all the lights. At night, San Fransokyo Square lights up with vibrant neon signs, paper lanterns, and other decorative lighting. It’s especially beautiful along the San Fransokyo Gate Bridge. Stick around into the evening to see the land transform.
San Fransokyo Square brings the world of “Big Hero 6” to life through immersive theming, dining, character experiences and shopping and a breath of fresh air to California Adventure Park as this was one of the last areas to be re-themed more “Disney”. We’re excited to see what the future of this land will bring including character meets, events like the Food & Wine Festival and if it will inspire any new parades or shows.