Cheap & Cheerful Taste of Japan - Little Tokyo

One of my favorite cities withing the city is Little Tokyo. Occupying roughly four large city blocks. (Los Angeles Street to the west, Alameda to the east 3rd Street on the south, First Street on the north) Little Tokyo is home to not only the Japanese American National Museum and Geffen Contemporary but scads of charming restaurants and shops.

Two beautiful gardens are open to the public. One is the rooftop garden of the Kyoto Grand Hotel (120 South Los Angeles Street) and the other is an 8,500 square foot garden called "Garden of Clear Stream" that is adjacent to the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center.

Be sure to check out the 1995 art project titled "Ornoide no Shotokyo" (Remember Little Tokyo) by artists Sheila Levrant de Bretteville and Sonya Ishi.Embedded in the sidewalk of Little Tokyo National Historic Landmark is a timeline of the history of Little Tokyo with each decade from the 1890s to the 1940s represented by a light colored band with brass inscriptions. A final band in dark charcoal-black cement recalls the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II.

Every year Little Tokyo hosts Cherry Blossom Festival in April and Nisei Week in August( complete a large parade, pageant, athletic events, exhibits of Japanese art and culture) a taiko drum festival, the Japanese Festival Street Faire, and a car show.

Any day is a good day to visit little Tokyo.

http://www.visitlittletokyo.com/