<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-04-002107
<TYPE>4/A
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040102
<FILING-DATE>20040108
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>SJW CORP
<CIK>0000766829
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4941
<IRS-NUMBER>770066628
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>CA
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>374 W SANTA CLARA ST
<CITY>SAN JOSE
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>95196
<PHONE>4082797800
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>LOEHR ROBERT A
<CIK>0001245326
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4/A
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-08966
<FILM-NUMBER>04514905
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>374 W SANTA CLARA STREET
<CITY>SAN JOSE
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>95113
<PHONE>4082797961
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>374 W SANTA CLARA STREET
<CITY>SAN JOSE
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>95113
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4a.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4/A SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4/A</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-02</periodOfReport><dateOfOriginalSubmission>2004-01-06</dateOfOriginalSubmission><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000766829</issuerCik><issuerName>SJW CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>sjw</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001245326</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>LOEHR ROBERT A</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>374 W. SANTA CLARA STREET</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>SAN JOSE</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>95113</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Corporate Secretary</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4.0000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>86.6500</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4.0000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">This transaction represents conversion into deferred stock units (DSUs) of deferred equivalent rights resulting from the April 29, 2003 stock option grant.  These DSUs vest according to the following schedule: 25% after one year of service measured from April 29, 2003, and the remaining shares vest in three equal annual consecutive installments over the three year period measured from the first anniversary of April 29, 2003.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Robert A. Loehr, Corporate Secretary</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-08</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
