Little Tokyo Downtown Los Angeles Day Trip Things To Do & See

Little Tokyo is located in downtown Los Angeles and is the cultural center for Japanese Americans in Southern California. The Japanese Village Plaza is the heart of Little Tokyo and the center of activity. The Plaza is easy to find. Just look for the giant wooden fire tower that guards the entrance. Inside the Japanese Village Plaza, stores sell everything from mochi ice cream to Japanese pastries and bread.

Little Tokyo was once home to around 30,000 Japanese Americans. Unfortunately, condominiums and shopping malls have since replaced most original buildings. The remaining area of Little Tokyo is confined within a four-city block. This area borders Los Angeles Street to the west, Alameda Street to the east, 3rd Street to the South, and First Street and the Los Angeles Civic Center to the north.

Things to do in Little Tokyo

Nisei Week Japanese Festival

Little Tokyo Los Angeles is usually peaceful throughout the year, particularly on weekdays. However, the Nisei Week Japanese Festival is held here in August, bringing life into Little Tokyo. The festival comprises a parade showcasing Japanese art and culture, an exhibition of Japanese art, a taiko drum festival, a Japanese Festival Street Fair, a car show, and several other events during the week.

Japanese American National Museum

The Japanese American National Museum is a must-see attraction dedicated to sharing the experience of Americans of Japanese ancestry. Here, you can learn about the Japanese internment during World War II, including details about the Manzanar internment camp. The Museum is at 369 East First Street, Los Angeles. Across from the museum is Japanese Village, the heart of Little Tokyo. Website.

Little Tokyo Historic District

On the north side of 1st Street, you can still see a few original buildings that date back to the early days of Little Tokyo in downtown Los Angeles. This one-block section of First Street, which starts at the Japanese American National Museum and ends at San Pedro Street, has been declared a National Historic Landmark District since 1995. Some of the original buildings still standing in this historic section of the Street include restaurants, a tea shop, a hotel, a gift shop, and the Little Tokyo Visitor Center. The Historic Landmark District is a great place to start if you want to learn more about the area’s rich history.

Japanese Gardens

Little Tokyo has two Japanese gardens. One is located near the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, and the other is at the DoubleTree Los Angeles Downtown Hotel, previously known as the Kyoto Grand Hotel. However, the Kyoto Garden is only accessible to guests. The James Irvine Japanese Garden is the second Japanese garden at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center. It is open to the public, but its hours of operation are limited.

Little Tokyo LA Restaurants

Japanese Village Plaza has an excellent selection of restaurants offering Japanese food, including Sushi, Takotoyaki, Mitarashi Dango, pork shu mai, and Shrimp Balls. Yamazaki Bakery is a well-liked store in the Plaza, renowned for its Japanese steamed buns, cakes, pastries, and bread. Another popular eatery in the Plaza is Hama Sushi, which exclusively serves raw sushi dishes. Customers can sit at the bar and observe the sushi chefs as they prepare their orders. Rakkan Ramen, located across from Japanese Plaza, offers delicious and affordable Ramen.

Go For Broke Monument

The Go For Broke Monument is a commemorative structure that honors the Japanese Americans who served in the United States Army during World War II. The monument has the names of over 16,000 Japanese American men and women inscribed on it who served during the war in the European, Pacific, and China-Burma-India theaters. The monument is at 160 N. Central Avenue in Los Angeles, California.

Little Tokyo is a clean and safe area located in the shadow of the Los Angeles City Hall. The best time to visit is during the Nisei Week Japanese Festival, but any weekend will be fine if you want a more relaxed trip. Plan on spending at least half a day here. Park your car and take a walking tour to enjoy Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, fully.

Getting to Little Tokyo Los Angeles

Little Tokyo is located approximately one mile from Union Station, between First and Third Streets and Main and Alameda Street. You can easily access it from the 101 freeway by taking the Alameda exit. Please note that some shops and restaurants might close as early as 3:00 pm, so visiting earlier is better. If you’re traveling by Metro Gold Line, Little Tokyo is the first stop going South from Union Station, while Chinatown is the first stop going North from Union Station.

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Nearby Little Tokyo:

The Last Book Store

Angels Flight Railway

Grand Central Market

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