 |
||
|
||
THINGS
TO DO IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA |
||
| |
||
|
Little Tokyo Historic District |
||
|
||
Little
Tokyo is located in downtown Los Angeles and is is the cultural
center for Japanese Americans in Southern California. The
heart of Little Tokyo and the center of activity is Japanese
Village Plaza. The plaza is easy to find just look for the giant wooden fire tower that guards the entrance. Inside Japanese Village Plaza you will find stores selling everything from mochi ice cream to Japanese pastries and breads. Plaza restaurants offer a wide variety of Japanese food items including Sushi, Takoyaki, Mitarashi dango, Pork Shu Mai, and Shrimp Balls. For most of the year Little Tokyo is fairly quite especially during the week but during the month of August Little Tokyo celebrates Nisei Week Japanese Festival and Little Tokyo comes to life. Nisei Week activities inclue a parade exhibits of Japanese art and culture, a taiko drum festival, a Japanese Festival Street Faire, a car show, and other events. There are also two Japanese gardens that are open to the public—one is next to the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center and the other is a rooftop garden in the Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens, formerly the New Otani Hotel. Little Tokyo is clean and safe and almost in the shadow of the Los Angeles City Hall. Plan on spending at least a half a day here. Park the car and take a walking tour to really enjoy Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. |
| |
 Japanese Village Plaza Little Tokyo |
Things to do and see in Little Tokyo include: Japanese American National Museum, a must see attraction dedicated to sharing the experience of Americans of Japanese ancestry. 369 East First Street Los Angeles across from Japanese Village Japanese Village Plaza - The heart of Little Tokyo with shopping and restraints lo acted at 350 E 1st St Los Angeles, CA 90012. Go For Broke Monument - Commemorates Japanese Americans who served in the United States Army during World War II. 160 N. Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA - Museum devoted exclusively to contemporary art. 152 North Central Avenue Los Angeles, CA Kyoto Grand Hotel Garden - Japanese gardens open to the public located next to Japanese Village Plaza. Little Tokyo Historic District covers most of Little Tokyo but can really be seen along the north side of 1st Street where many of the original buildings are located. Little Tokyo was declared a National Historic Landmark District in 1995. At its peak, Little Tokyo had approximately 30,000 Japanese Americans living in the area. May of the original buildings have been replaced with condominiums and shopping malls. What is left of the original Little Tokyo can be found in about four city blocks. The area is bounded on the west by Los Angeles Street, on the east by Alameda Street, on the south by 3rd Street, and on the north by First Street and the Los Angeles Civic Center. Little Tokyo is smaller than Chinatown which means less walking and more time for shopping and dinning. |
Japanese American National Museum |
 Little Tokyo Historic District |
Each Thursday from about
11:00 am to 2:00 pm the Little Tokyo Farmers Market is held
next to City Hall. The market features tented booths that
sell fruits, vegetables along with food including grilled
sausages, Hawaiian barbecued chicken pus the usual farmers
market fair. Directions: Little Tokyo is about a mile from Union Station and is located in the area between First and Third Streets and Main and Alameda Street. Accessible from the 101 freeway, exit Alameda. Some restaurants and shops close as early as 3;00 PM so its best to visit early. Little Tokyo is the fist stop from Union Station on the metro Gold Line going South. Chinatown is the first stop going North from Union stations on the metro Gold Line. |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Discount
Tickets |
Half
Price Family Deals |
Beach
Camping |
Fun
Things To Do |
|