Shopping Guide To LA's Little Tokyo
Little Tokyo exists at the intersection of the traditional and the new. Over 100 years old and squeezed into just six square blocks, it is host to events ranging from parades to live music. While there is no shortage of shops here, the number and density can be overwhelming. Barry Lancet has used his vast knowledge of Japanese culture and his California roots to select his favorite shopping spots that sell everything from serene teapots to the clothing that embodies the wild Japanese street style.
Anzen Hardware
309 E 1st St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 628-2068
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anzen-Hardware/
Little Tokyo's favorite hardware store is not your typical nuts-and-bolts place – it's where people go to discover new things. You'll find an array of Japanese kitchenware (teapots, kettles, chopsticks, cast-iron pots), Japanese garden gear (rakes, seeds, etc.), tools (woodworking, modern, antique), and a stunning collection of Japanese steel culinary knives all packed into this long and narrow store.
Related: Dining Guide To LA's Little Tokyo
Kinokuniya
123 Astronaut E S Onizuka St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 687-4480
http://www.kinokuniya.com/
Tucked away on the second floor of the Weller Mall, the Little Tokyo branch of the Japanese bookstore chain offers a great selection of books, including Asian fiction Japanese themed mysteries. You will also find LA's best collection of books on Japan, encompassing martial arts, Asian philosophy, Japanese cuisine, swords, language books, manga, and dozens of other topics. They stock current books, magazines, and manga in Japanese as well as English, and sell Japanese stationery and other knickknacks.
Raggedy Threads
330 E 2nd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 620-1188
http://www.raggedythreads.com/
The vintage store of your dreams carrying boots, blouses, hats and antiques. The stock has been handled with care and selected with an eye to quality and style. There is nothing overtly Japanese here, other than the care in which they handle their ware and the steady stream of Japanese customers (wholesale and retail), but if you like vintage, this store will speak to you.
