Thursday, May 19, 2011

1. Yagura - Japanese Village Plaza

In the front of the Japanese Village Plaza there was a giaaaaaaant tower. It was very tall and made out of red wood (probably). THere was a ladder inside and it made me want to climb it.
So taaaaaaall! *A*

2. Ellison Onizuka Monument - Weller Court

In front of Weller Court, I stumbled upon a strange, giant black box. It was almost as tall as me and shined in the sunlight, so it was probably made up of marble. On it was a description of a man named Colonel Ellison Shoji Onizuka, a pilot from USAF.
What a handsome man~!

3. Go For Broke Monument

Past the wall right next to the Japanese American National Museum there is a monument in honor of the Japanese soldiers who sacrificed their lives in World War II.

Such a nicely built monument!

4. Japanese American Community Cultural Center - Japanese Garden

Our group was walking towards the Japanese American Community Cultural Center and we found Sensei waving while holding a gate. That gate to a small Japanese garden. It was a pretty nice garden, with a small pond in the middle.

In front of the Japanese American Community Cultural Center with Jessica!

5. Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple

On East 3rd Street is the Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple. I never got to go inside, but it opens at 10AM and my group was checking out the other sites.

6. Kyoto Grand Hotel - Restaurant and Japanese Garden

After walking three staircases and going to the very top of Weller Court I found another small Japanese garden, but there was also the Kyoto Grand Hotel's entrance. I think it was nice how the hotel lead to Weller Court with all the restaurants.
A waterfall in front of the entrance.

7. Imagawayaki - Mitsuru Cafe

Mitsuru Cafe was closed when we first went there, but I remember trying these before. THEY WERE DELICIOUS! It's like a pancake filled with red bean.
Yuuuuuum!

8. Takoyaki - Mitsuru Cafe

In Japanese Village Plaza there was Mitsuru Cafe, but it was closed on Mondays. They make takoyaki there, but since it was closed we didn't get to try any. But I took a picture of the takoyaki cupcake-looking thingy.

Takoyaki maker!

10. Five items from Fugetsudo - Japanese Village Plaza

11. Five items from Mikawaya - Japanese Village Plaza

In the corner of Japanese Village Plaza there is Mikawaya. They sell mochi. It was closed when we first went there, so we didn't get to go inside.
Looks good!

12. Kinokuniya Bookstore

On the 2nd floor of Weller Court, there was Kinokuniya Bookstore. It had lots of Japanese books, magazines, and stationary.  I wanted to buy a pencil and eraser but I found out they were $10, which was too expensive. They also had anime and gaming goods, which I also wanted to buy.
Kinokuniya Bookstore with Leighton!

13. Five photos of replicated food on display

Some restaurants displayed replicates of some of their dishes. Although it was plastic, it still made me kind of hungry and want to try their food. But I am poor, so I decided not to buy any food. TT

Fake food at Rafu Bassan!

14. Jungle Collector's Shop

In the lower level of Japanese Village Plaza there was Jungle Collector's Shop. They sell a lot of anime and gaming goods. They were still pretty expensive though, especially the larger scaled figures.
So many anime figures and other stuffs!

15. Marukai Market

Marukai Market is in the lower level of Weller Court. Its pretty much just a small grocery store with mostly Japanese food, and some other little trinkets.

Random snacks from Marukai!

16. Tokyo JaPANESE OUTLET

In the middle of the Japanese Plaza there is the Tokyo Japanese Outlet. They have lots of various japanese goods such as pencils, pens, and even beauty products. I wanted to buy a couple of pencils here.
Cute lil' eraser and lead case~.

17. Bunka-do

On the way to Weller Court was a store called Bunka-do. It had a lot of plates. snacks, and miniature displays of historic Japanese thingies.

18. Anzen Hardware

The name Anzen Hardware would suggest that it could be a Japanese version of Home Depot, but it isn't. It's actually a pretty small store that looks nothing like Home Depot. They sell Japanese culinary supplies, so if you're in need of any knifes this would be the place to go to! They can also sharpen your knives for you.
Surprisingly people can still walk through.

19. SK Uyeda Department Store

Across from Weller Court is the SK Uyeda Department Store! They mostly sell more older-style-Japan products. You can buy nice kimonos there for a cheap price, and if you're looking for a new bed, you can buy a futon over there! Although they may be a bit pricey, they might make your nights a lot more comfortable!

20. Rafu Bussan

On the way to Weller Court while following around Sensei, we passed by Rafu Bussan, a restaurant. Displayed in front of it was replicates of some of their dishes. It was Sensei's favorite restaurant.


I wonder what this means...

21. Weller Court - Multi-level Restaurants

WHen I first walked into Weller Court, I noticed there were lots of restaurants on every level, the first, the second, and the third. I'm pretty sure each of them served really good food, but sadly I didn't eat at any. TT

SO MANY RESTAURANTS TO CHOOSE FEROM! D:

22. Any Izakaya

Being a Japanese area, there has to be Izakayas, pubs that sell appetizer-type foods and drinks of course. A common dishe people usually get is yakitori, skewered chicken. In Little Tokyo there is Honda-Ya, Izayoi, Furaibo, and Haru Ulala.

Looks good!

23. Japanese American National Museum

After getting off the Metrolink, we gathered in front of the Japanese American National Museum. I'm not sure if it was closed. The building was made up of mostly see-through glass, and the interior could be be seen from the outside.

Lots o' glass!

24. MOCA: Museum of Contemporary Art

Not everything in Little Tokyo has to be historic, there is also the Museum of Contemporary Art! It holds many modern sculptures, painting, and photography. On the way to Little Tokyo I remember seeing the back wall painted with gigantic eyes which were really detailed, almost if they were real! Too bad I didn't actually get to go see it and go inside. ; ;
That sculpture kinda looks like a Transformer.

25. The Frying Fish

In the Japanese Village Plaza, the Frying Fish is in the back corner. It was closed when we first got there, so we didn't get to go inside. But they have a revolving sushi bar. It'd be nice if I went there to eat, but it'd get really pricey and I'm not rich.

Sushi chefs  in the inside of the revolving belt.

26. Koyasan Buddhist Temple

Koyasan Buddhist Temple is another temple inside of Little Tokyo right next to the Japanese Village Plaza.

27. Little Tokyo Marketplace

9. Statue of Kinjiro Ninomiya

On the corner of 2nd and San Pedro is a statue of Kinjiro Ninomiya. We saw it on the way to Weller Court It kind of looked like a little kid though.
I wonder what kind of magazine he's reading...