little tokyo: downtown’s bigger success story
The Historic Core may have won the 2007 Los Angeles Neighborhood of the Year Curbed Cup for its well-known “Cinderella story,” but it’s not the only Downtown neighborhood that deserves recognition for progress.
Little Tokyo should merit a Cup of its own for transitioning into the most entertaining and “complete” neighborhood we have today. Within a two-block radius of the Japanese Village Plaza, visitors can find museums, an assortment of restaurants, sidewalk cafes, specialty shops, several bars, temples, big-name retailers, three grocery markets (yes, three), hotels and several new housing developments.
It has become a destination for locals, day-trippers and tourists of all nationalities. Hordes of pedestrians and the area’s high rents prove its appeal, and it’s my favorite district by far.
But like the rest of Downtown LA, things haven’t always been so rosy.
In the 1990s Little Tokyo was hit hard when the Asian economic slump discouraged Japanese tourism to the United States. Many mom and pop shops closed from lack of business, and the feel of the neighborhood became dismal.
Only in recent years with new housing projects such as Savoy, Little Tokyo Lofts and Hikari has there been a resurgence of street life and other investment. The Metro Gold Line Station under construction at 1st and Alameda will only intensify growth.
While I prefer to discuss Downtown as a whole compared to the rest of Los Angeles, Little Tokyo can stand on its own. Along with the Historic Core, it’s a model of successful urban revitalization.
7 comments
And I find that Little Tokyo tends to stay awake a little later than the rest of Downtown.
good topic, i love little tokyo!
one of the three markets in little tokyo is an organic market. fred makes a great point – i love that koraku is open til 3am most nights. and not only do they have that italian gelato place, a pinkberry and cefiore, but they have an open ‘gina.
Thanks to this post I think I will be paying a visit to pastagina tomorrow , if it is not raining.
I am so thankful for angelenic. You guys have been a source of information that no other blog can compete with.
I love how you guys got top billing in the downtown news this weekend after only being around since last summer. But you guys are on the ball. The photos are fabulous , clear and crisp, there is no agenda , just plain reporting. I am just fascinated every time I read your blog.
This blog is just plain fabulous , a true neighborhood blog , which promotes all of the neighborhoods in downtown in their uniqueness and their being a part of the whole.
Yeah, what Don said. I love that you’re focused on the positive, what’s possible and what’s coming our way.
Check out the Japanese Gardens! There are two very beautiful examples in the neighborhood. One is located behind the cultural center on San Pedro (between 2nd & 3rd). It is really sandwiched into a tiny lot between the center, the Union Church and the residential tower. To get there, you actually have to take the elevator to the basement of the cultural center. Not really well-marked, but worth the hassle.
The other garden is a bit larger. It is located on the third floor of the now renamed New Otani Hotel. There’s a special elevator to it from the lobby. Quite easy to find. The view of downtown from the garden is good, too, with many of the historic core buildings fronting the more modern skyline.
I can’t wait until the long discussed park on the block with the Japanese-American Museum, MOCA and the theater housing the East/West Players. That would be another welcome development and clearly an improvement over the parking lots. Alas, it seems years away.
One other comment I’d make is about the cafe space at the Japanese-American Museum. This is quite a lovely little space with the rock and gurgling water. Mysteriously, when I was there on early Sunday afternoon, the cafe was closed. A while ago I’d noticed new signage heralding a new cafe. I”m not sure if it is a going concern. Still, I’m puzzled that this beautiful space is not being used. ‘Tis a pity.
Love Sushi Kamasa on 2nd Street. Wonderful service and yummy sushi.
Little tokyo is truly amazing and has been the sole reason why I have gone to downtown los angeles the last ten times. I remember how the neighborhood was well over six years ago and even then there was a true sense of community in the area. Now with all the investments going on downtown its bounds to only get better.