Mini Little Tokyo Tour!

Ramen place!

August is the MOST EXCITING Little Tokyo Time!

Around Nisei Week www.niseiweek.org there are a lot of events going on.

For my little tokyo novice friends, here’s suggested one day Lil Tokyo Trip.

Parking – I personally like to park on a lot on 2nd between Los Angeles and Union.  It is on the South side of 2nd, across the TOT (Teishoku ya of Tokyo)  $4 / all day – weekend.

Eat – SO MANY CHOICES!!!  Last Sunday when we were there, we went to Koraku – the best Ramen place!  But because all of my white friends ordered Ramen (Japanesefied Chinese noodle sou

Chinese meat balls at KORAKU!

p), I had to order “Nikudango Teishoku” – Meat balls.  It comes with salad, soup n rice.  $7 to $12 / plate.  They open LATE, too!  I used to stop by hear after performing.

Eat – Roam around the Village – between 1st n 2nd / Alameda n Union.  Be courageous, just step in to any of those restaurants.  They all have menus in English and there are very few places that don’t speak English in Little Tokyo nowadays.

wellers court

Shopping – to get some dried up squids at MARUKAI (I love SQUID), or to get some Manga at Kinokuniya bookstore, go to Marukai in the Wellers court.  The Marukai market here does not require membership cards (but they do have a lot of member only discounts – so look at the price tags carefully).

Eat – Tofu Cheesecake at CURRY HOUSE.  Pea discovered it.  I am not the biggest fan of tofu, but I LOVE IT!  And you don’t feel too guilty… for some reason….  I don’t know why.  I don’t think soy is good as what people think it is…

Shop – Cute stickers at Kinokuniya!

Kodak moments – Do people still say that?  I mean… “kodak moment” is as dead as “dial tone.”  ANYWAY – stop by at

I LOVE THEM!

the Wellers Court entrance.  BEAUTIFUL lights under the awning.

When you are ready for some fun snacks….

Walk back to the Village and —->

MOCHI ICE CREAM at Mikawaya -

Mikawaya - the original packed ice cream mochi

or … CAKES at Yamazaki …

or … Sweet Red Bean cakes or fried octopus balls at MITSURU

Sampo – Random Walks …

Again, there are something going on EVERY WEEKEND in Aug

get alllllllllll the Yamazaki cakes to go!

ust in Lil Tokyo.

Last week, we stop by at Obon Festival, and happened to see our GOOD FRIENDS – Andrew Freund and Byamba at SUMO ASSOCIATION.  By the way, they have a huge event on 22nd – www.usasumo.com

Some more sumo

I luuuuuvvvee stopping by at BLOOMING ART GALLERY in the village.  My Hunney Squid always get me some LUCKY CHARMS.  Last weekend, I got “GREEN BLING FROG” charm.  Also, their VAST collections of John Lennon’s art works are “MUST SEE!”

There are a lot of galleries and museums in Downtown, but I love just wondering in to one of “open door galleries” in Downtown LA.

Flying sumo wrestler chasing cakes...

We stopped by at a small new and CLEAN gallery.  Their collections were “eh,” but their display lighting was horrible.   I used to work at art galleries in Tokyo where I learned how to sell.  Basically, when you

are selling an art piece, you sell the stories that comes with the piece.  So I pay attention to: LIGHTING, COLOR (of wall and arts) and ORDER.  Here is the fun example.  From a certain angle, “Flying Sumo Wrestler” piece could look like he was chasing “CAKES.”  These are two separate art works, by the way.

Also, don’t forget to stop by one of temples!

[I will post “Meditation Tours” later for more details.

PLEASE don’t forget to check out the NISEI WEEK PARADE on the 15th!