Come say hello to Kitty on her own turf
(Credit: Courtesy of Sanrio)
There's some serious awesomeness hidden within this continuously evolving shopping neighborhood, from quaint bakeries and storefronts to giant multi-level shopping plazas like the Japanese Village Plaza (where New Year's and Nisei Week activities are held) and Mitsuwa (the largest Japanese supermarket chain in America). And don't forget the Farmers' Market every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine, on the south lawn of City Hall between Main and Spring.
Bet you didn't know:
Little Tokyo (also known as J-Town) has been around since 1885, when a Japanese seaman opened up a restaurant on Jackson Street and founded the community. Now, Japanese-owned shops selling traditional handmade treats and snacks dominate 1st Street.
Beyond origami, kimonos and fans:
Yes, there are oceans of traditional souvenir stores, selling everything from tea sets to candles and incense. But the progressive and kitschy urban culture of contemporary Tokyo is also represented—there are some excellent sneaker stores and killer Manga specialty outlets. The latter also carries those cool Japanese magazines that flip right-to-left, full of ultra-modern graphic design and Harajuku fashions. And because Little Tokyo borders on the fashion and art districts, there are a handful of stores that represent cutting-edge local designers.
Warning: you'll probably have to wade through jungles of Spongebob Squarepants backpacks before you unearth the best of Little Tokyo.
But isn't that half the fun?
Below are some Little Tokyo shopping haunts not to be missed. But first, a few tips:
Park in the lot on Central between 1st and 2nd Streets. It's free for two hours with validation.
Don't waste your money on the air-brush computerized nail varnishers. We tried them, they suck.
And don't forget to check out West L.A.'s J-Town, which is home to Nipponese culture emporium, Giant Robot.
