Little Tokyo Towers

When I was about 4 or 5 years old, my paternal grandmother moved from Silver Lake to Little Tokyo Towers. It's a senior housing complex on Third Street. They live independently in small apartments.

I remember visiting her and going up the elevator. I can't recall exactly what floor she …

Conservancy Walking Tour: Little Tokyo Towers
提供： lthistory

JACCC and the James Irvine Garden

From Little Tokyo Towers, we would take my Oba-chan out to dinner. We would walk through a shortcut path that passed by the JACCC's Japanese garden.

I've actually only been inside the garden a few times, but I've passed by it a lot, and since it sits a little below …

James Irvine Garden
提供： jdecker

JACCC Plaza

We would walk across the JACCC Plaza past the Isamu Noguchi sculptures. Actually, growing up, I didn't know the plaza was designed by Noguchi. I just thought that they were really cool rocks.

I wonder what Noguchi would think to know that people don't recognize them as art and that …

Isamu Noguchi sculptures
提供： vkraus

JVP

After walking through the JACCC Plaza, we would cross Second Street at the crosswalk and head through the Japanese Village Plaza (JVP). They have a variety of shops and restaurants. Many have changed owners over time, but there's a few that have been around for a long time.

LTHS Walking Tour: JVP
提供： lthistory

Mikawaya

This is one of the stores that have been at this location for quite a while now. Mikawaya sells manju and other Japanese sweets. They're also really busy on hot days because they have shaved ice.

One of my cousins has worked at Mikawaya for a long time now. I …

Mikawaya in the Japanese Village Plaza
提供： vkm

Aoi Restaurant

I don't remember us going to eat anywhere except for Aoi Restaurant on First Street. I've been going there since I was a little kid, and it always feels a little like coming home whenever I step inside. I couldn't even think of trying to figure out how many meals …

Aoi Restaurant
提供： vkm