Overview of San Jose

Renting a house in the Downtown area will give you a great spot to call your own in San Jose. You can be in the heart of everything, experiencing the many cultures of California's third-largest city one minute, then be kicking your feet up on your sofa relaxing the next. Commuting is as easy as walking, and keeping up with the film and music scene is just as simple - and much more fun - near Downtown San Jose house rentals.

Feel the festivities

Film and music fans will want to check out houses for rent in Downtown San Jose. The neighborhood is home to some of the city's best annual events, which take place in local parks and other venues. 

The annual Cinquefest Film Festival screens nearly 200 international films from 44 countries during its 13-day run each year. The festival is an important independent film event where new and emerging artists showcase their art and craft. The 95,000 critics, film lovers and aspiring movie makers attend each year to see experimental cinema and experience the fun atmosphere in the neighborhood. Besides screenings, the festival also offers technology and movie-making forums for professionals and students.

Downtown San Jose houses for rent are also in a prime location for the San Jose Jazz Festival, made up of two separate seasonal events -  Summer Fest and Winter Fest. The San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, held at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in Downtown, features international stars, emerging artists and regional favorites playing jazz, blues, salsa, Latin, R&B and more on its 12 stages over the course of  three days each August. The Winter Fest is an indoor jazz affair with venues almost as beautiful as the music. San Jose Jazz, which organizes these events, also sponsors Free Jazz Wednesdays on the first and third Wednesdays of every month at the Jazz Jam at the Hedley in Hotel De Anza. And, if you want more jazz, First Fridays presents emerging jazz musicians as part of the South First Fridays Art Walk.

Taking in the culture

Downtown isn't just a cultured, vibrant place to live when festivals are in town, although that would be frequently. Film and music lovers will feel right at home at the San Jose Museum of Art. With seasonal music, multimedia exhibits and more traditional installations, the museum is the artistic center of Silicon Valley and within walking distance from rentals in Downtown San Jose. It's a great place to visit during your lunch break to get a sense of what's going on in the Downtown art scene that week. 

Local shops, coffee places and community areas are also great to check out around Downtown and the nearby San Jose State University Campus. The SJSU campus blends into the community and offers a variety of lectures that are open to the public, so residents can learn more about their interests or pop in to discover a new academic subject. 

Houses in Downtown San Jose give young couples and families a great location to explore the culture and activities that they're passionate about.