Little Tokyo is an area of downtown Los Angeles that’s filled with wonderful Japanese dining, shopping and culture. It’s a fun place to visit, whether you’re a tourist or a local and it can also be a good base of operations to explore this big city. The area, close to LA’s city hall, is roughly from Los Angeles Street to Alameda Street and between 1st Street and 3rd Street.
What to do
Most importantly, I recommend leaving time just to walk around and explore the area, as it’s only a few square blocks. There are also several great museums there. The first must-see is the Japanese American National Museum (100 North Central Avenue), which celebrates the Japanese influence on American culture, throughout history. The museum also documents the experience of Japanese-Americans. It’s a fascinating place to visit, with exhibits ranging from the detention camp experiences of World War II, to the current temporary exhibit celebrating Giant Robot and anime art. The museum is closed on Mondays and open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and noon other days and until 8 p.m. on Thursdays. Adult admission is $9 and visitors can save $2 if they take Metro.
Next to the Japanese American National Museum is part of Los Angeles’ Museum of Contemporary Art known as The Geffen Collection at MOCA. This location is closed until April 2013 for renovation and modern art lovers can walk a few blocks to the MOCA Grand Avenue (250 South Grand Avenue). Adult admission is $12. The museum is closed Tuesday and Wednesday and is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. most other days, with late hours on Thursdays. Metro riders get 2-for-1 admission.
Visitors are welcome inside the Koysan Buddhist Temple (342 East 1st Street) except during private services. The Temple is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and if they have time, staff will give tours and provide an introduction to this religious site.
Shopping
There are many gift and souvenir stores within the Little Tokyo area, especially along 1st and 2nd Streets. For cool Japanese anime and related gifts and collectables, the best place to go is Anime Jungle (319 East 2nd Street).
For some more unique things to see (and eat), I recommend a visit to the Woori Market (333 South Alameda Street #100) in the Little Tokyo Marketplace about two blocks from the main Little Tokyo area. Aside from some very cool little restaurants in the mall (and Beard Papa’s cream puffs), I like to visit the market, which really does feel like a market in Tokyo. It’s filled with fresh produce and other products, and has several rows filled with Japanese candies and snacks, which make great gifts and souvenirs. I’ve been there on the weekends when they bring in a huge, fresh tuna and cut it up and sell it right there in the fish department.
Where to eat
The whole area is filled with various sushi and Japanese-style restaurants of various types. My favorite is Koraku (314 East 2nd Street), a small Japanese diner-like ramen house. You know it serves great food by the large number of police and firemen always eating there. I like to sit at the counter and order Tan Tan Men ($8.95), which is a huge bowl of spicy ramen with noodles, pork and vegetables. Diners should note Koraku does not accept credit cards, cash only.
For desert, be sure to try some mochi, or Japanese ice cream. Head to the source, where it was invented over 60 years ago, Mikawaya (118 Japanese Village Plaza). Mochi is a kind of rice desert, mochi ice cream are little balls of mochi with ice cream inside and they are addictive.
Where to stay
Hidden in the middle of Little Tokyo is a real Japanese hotel. The Miyako Hotel (328 East 1st Street) is right on 1st Street, across from multiple restaurants and the two main museums. The hotel has a restaurant and a cafe, a spa and all rooms include WiFi. Rates with breakfast start at $129 per night.
For those without a car, the hotel is a block away from the Gold Line station, which connects to Union Station and Southern California’s rail network. It’s also about six blocks from the Red Line station, which goes to Hollywood and Universal City.
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