Spearheading the new movement is Little Tokyo Table Tennis<\/a>, a cult clothing store on First Street where fashion designers have rebranded the pastime of ping pong. The slip of a shop sells upcycled sportswear, hand-stapled sports fanzines and logoed rackets, which you can take along to its weekly games, held on Tuesdays from 6-9pm in the echoey halls of the Terasaki Budokan community centre, a block and a half away. They draw hundreds of enthusiasts, and all levels are welcome to try their hand on the tables; expect pumping house music, and impressive displays of both athletic backspins and retro sportswear.<\/p>\n A couple of doors further along First Street \u2014 known as \u2018Ramen Row\u2019 with its many noodle joints \u2014 is Fugetsu-Do<\/a>, Little Tokyo\u2019s oldest confectionary shop. Since 1903, the Kito family has been hand-crafting sweet, bean-filled manju cakes and mochi balls, 2,000 of which are made daily in the kitchen at the back, separated from the antique shop counter by a wisp of fabric.<\/p>\n Ramen have evolved into a core dish of Japanese cuisine and can be enjoyed all year round on ‘Ramen Row’.<\/p>\n Photograph by Cavan Images, Getty Images<\/p>\n A block away is Azay<\/a> restaurant, another storied institution. From the outside, it resembles a Parisian bistro, with jaunty cafe curtains and tables spilling out onto the pavement. It\u2019s no accident: the founder, originally from Kyoto, trained in France before opening this local hotspot, where the menu shines a light on both European and Asian dishes. You can\u2019t go wrong by ordering the traditional Japanese breakfast, featuring dainty bowls of fluffy rice, saba mackerel and jiggly cubes of tofu.<\/p>\n Gamers and fashionistas will find much to love in the recently opened Hypland<\/a>, a block south. The shop is chock-a-block with limited-edition apparel, including Sonic the Hedgehog and Attack on Titan collaborations. There\u2019s also a chill-out area with sofas, computer consoles and some good old-fashioned board games.<\/p>\n Steps away is Japanese Village Plaza<\/a>, a pedestrianised outdoor shopping hub where, come spring, cherry blossom covers the pavement like confetti. Its labyrinth of alleyways is lined with bubble tea cafes, Japanese bakeries and kawaii gift shops, their shelves heaving under the weight of Hello Kitty collectables. Arrive early at Monkey Pants<\/a>, a one-in-one-out boutique \u2014 the queue can stretch when the latest Sonny Angel dolls drop. At the Gashapon Bandai Official Shop<\/a>, floor-to-ceiling vending machines dispense miniature Japanese toys. For rare anime figurines, head to Anime Jungle<\/a>.<\/p>\n Nearby, Kinokuniya<\/a> bookstore is the place to hunt for manga books and calligraphy art supplies, before a long, lingering lunch at Sushi Takeda<\/a>. Behind an unassuming door in the Weller Court shopping mall is one of LA\u2019s finest sushi restaurants: its omakase experience invites you to sit back and let chef Hide Takeda lead you through a 16-course culinary journey, sampling slivers of blue fin tuna and slurps of earthy miso soup along the way. The counter has the best seats in the house, offering a front-row view of the chef\u2019s masterful knife work, just within chopstick reach.<\/p>\n For something cheap and cheerful, head to Kura Revolving Sushi Bar<\/a> where drinks are served by singing robots \u2014\u00a0a\u00a0surefire hit with children. Across the street, Somisomi<\/a> offers goldfish-shaped waffle cones filled with a swirl of soft-serve ice cream. The adjacent Isamu Noguchi Plaza, overlooked by the Japanese American Cultural &\u00a0Community Center<\/a>, provides the perfect setting to devour the sweet treat. Its exhibitions and workshops focus on time-honoured Japanese arts, like flower arranging and calligraphy. There\u2019s also the Aratani Theatre for opera, plays and dance performances, and pop-up culinary events in a garden with cascading streams.<\/p>\n As night falls, Lounge Ohjah<\/a> dazzles as a sleek, low-lit karaoke lounge with plush leather seating, tucked away on the second floor of the Miyako Hotel Los Angeles. With\u00a0an extensive sake list and a song catalogue spanning both English and Japanese hits, it\u2019s the place to channel your inner J-pop sensation.<\/p>\n How to do itSeveral airlines fly from Heathrow to Los Angeles. Miyako Hotel Los Angeles has 174 minimalist guest rooms, plus a bakery, karaoke lounge and a striking mural of Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. From $151 (\u00a3115).<\/p>\n This story was created with the support of Los Angeles Tourism<\/a>.<\/p>\n Published in the November 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-1392184752_RESIZED.jpg\")
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