Little Tokyo Los Angeles Guide: Dodgers Shops, Ohtani Mural, Food & Metro Tips

Before heading to a Dodgers game,

we highly recommend stopping by Little Tokyo in Los Angeles.

There are several shops where you can buy Dodgers merchandise,

along with Japanese restaurants and Japanese grocery stores.

For travelers from Japan,

the area can feel especially comforting because Japanese language, food, and culture are all around you.

If you want to pick up a Dodgers jersey or souvenirs before the game,

Little Tokyo is a great place to start.

You may also find plenty of ideas here to make your Dodgers experience even more enjoyable.

✅Check Dodgers tours with a tour escort

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How to Get to Little Tokyo: Is the LA Metro Really Unsafe?

To visit Little Tokyo during our Los Angeles trip,

we traveled from

Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE

and used the Metro.

You need a TAP card to ride public transportation in Los Angeles.

It works like a reloadable transit card.

You can buy one from a ticket machine,

but if you use an iPhone,

we found it very convenient to add TAP to Apple Wallet and load money in advance.

At the station,

you simply tap your phone or TAP card at the gate when entering.

During our trip,

we did not need to tap again when exiting.

The fare was $1.75 per ride at the time,

so we loaded small amounts as needed.

We had often heard that “the LA Metro can feel unsafe,”

but during our ride in the morning,

we did not experience anything particularly frightening.

We also saw a few Japanese tourists,

which made us feel less nervous.

That said,

the atmosphere felt very different from public transportation in Japan.

Some passengers brought bicycles onboard,

and one person was playing rap music loudly.

It definitely made us feel,

“This is Los Angeles!”

Shohei Ohtani Mural and Dodgers-Themed Bread Near Little Tokyo

As soon as we arrived in Little Tokyo,

we saw an impressive mural of Shohei Ohtani near Miyako Hotel Los Angeles.

This is not just a regular mural.

By scanning a QR code available near the mural,

you can access an AR experience connected to the artwork.

If you are an Ohtani fan,

this is definitely worth checking out.

🏨 Check Miyako Hotel Los Angeles rates on Expedia

Dodgers-Themed Bread at Okayama Kobo Bakery & Cafe DTLA

Next,

we visited Okayama Kobo Bakery & Cafe DTLA inside Miyako Hotel.

One of the most fun items here is bread shaped like a Dodgers cap.

It had a soft, sweet texture similar to Japanese melon bread,

with blueberry and cream cheese inside.

It was delicious.

We also liked that it was easy to take with us before heading to the stadium.

Dodgers Merchandise and Matcha Drinks in Little Tokyo

We visited two places to shop for Dodgers merchandise:

Vantage and Dodgers Clubhouse.

Vantage: Affordable Dodgers Souvenirs and Japanese-Speaking Staff

At Vantage in Little Tokyo,

there were photo spots featuring a Shohei Ohtani display

and a giant bobblehead.

The shop has also been featured by YouTubers

and has attracted many visitors from Japan.

One of the nice things for Japanese travelers

is that Japanese-speaking staff were available during our visit,

making it easy to ask questions about the merchandise.

We found a variety of affordable small Dodgers items,

including Hello Kitty x Dodgers merchandise

and Shohei Ohtani bobbleheads.

There were also stickers and pins,

which are easy to buy as small souvenirs.

This is what the shop looks like from the outside.

A large Shohei Ohtani poster makes it easy to spot.

Dodgers Clubhouse: Plenty of Shirts, Jerseys and Accessories

The Dodgers Clubhouse in Little Tokyo

had a different selection from the stores we visited at Citadel Outlets and Dodger Stadium.

So if you enjoy shopping for Dodgers merchandise,

it can be worth visiting more than one location.

Inventory can change from day to day,

so if you find something you really like,

it may be better to buy it rather than assume it will still be available later.

Some T-shirts were relatively affordable,

while simpler and more stylish designs that felt easy to wear every day

were more expensive.

Popular designs were sometimes sold out in smaller sizes such as S and M.

We saw more stock in larger sizes.

We also found cute Dodgers hair accessories,

including large bows, bow clips, and scrunchies.

They were more expensive than ordinary hair accessories,

but of course,

you are paying for the Dodgers branding.

They would be fun to wear to a game.

A scrunchie in particular felt easy for adults to wear too.

There were also children's T-shirts,

jerseys,

satin-style jackets,

and even cute dresses for girls.

If you are attending a Dodgers game with children or grandchildren,

the kids' merchandise section is worth checking.

We also found baseball bat-shaped pens

that looked perfect as small souvenirs.

Dodgers Clubhouse also has a location at Citadel Outlets.

You can read our report from the Citadel Outlets store here.

The Matcha Trend in LA: MIDORI MATCHA

After walking around the shops,

we stopped at MIDORI MATCHA for a break.

The café serves drinks made with organic matcha.

We tried a strawberry matcha drink.

It cost a little over ¥1,000 at the exchange rate during our trip,

and it was surprisingly delicious.

We liked it enough that we wished we could buy the same drink in Japan.

During our stay in Los Angeles,

we noticed many young people walking around with matcha drinks.

It almost felt like we saw more matcha cups than coffee cups in some areas.

The bright green color may be part of the appeal too.

We found that drinks in Los Angeles were often quite expensive,

sometimes costing more than ¥1,000.

However,

the portions were also large,

so sharing one drink worked well for us.

It was also very photogenic.

Japanese Village Plaza Was Much Busier Than We Expected

Before visiting,

we had read information suggesting that Japanese Village Plaza could sometimes feel quiet.

But when we arrived,

it was busy even on a weekday.

There were many Japanese visitors and Japanese-speaking people around,

which gave us a sense of familiarity that we had not felt around our hotel.

For Japanese travelers who are nervous about using English,

or older travelers visiting Los Angeles for the first time,

this can feel like a relatively comfortable area to explore.

Our $10 Tipping Mistake at SUSHI GALA 😂

We had lunch at SUSHI GALA in Japanese Village Plaza

and ordered yaki udon and fried rice.

The yaki udon cost $17.99,

and the fried rice cost $18.99.

This was the shrimp fried rice.

The portion felt like about one and a half servings.

The soy sauce flavor was quite strong,

so it felt satisfying and filling.

The yaki udon was delicious too.

The three of us shared these two dishes

and still felt full.

The walls inside the restaurant

were decorated with manga covers.

It was interesting to see Japanese manga being used as part of the interior design.

Then,

we made a memorable mistake.

We intended to leave a 10% tip,

but somehow we ended up leaving a $10 tip instead.

That was painful 😂

The staff member even came to the door to thank us,

and at the time we simply thought,

“What a kind person!”

We only realized our mistake later.

So when paying in the United States,

check the final amount carefully before confirming the payment.

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Nijiya Market: A Good Place to Buy Food Before a Dodgers Game

After our tipping mistake,

we discovered Nijiya Market inside Japanese Village Plaza.

The store sells onigiri,

prepared foods,

bottled drinks,

and many familiar Japanese grocery items.

For travelers who want something simple before heading to a Dodgers game,

it can be a useful place to pick up food and drinks.

Food and drinks at major sports venues can be expensive,

so buying something beforehand can help reduce your overall spending.

Combining items from Nijiya Market

with bread from Okayama Kobo

also gave us plenty of options.

Reusable shopping bags are useful as well,

since stores may charge for bags.

Final Thoughts: Visit Little Tokyo Before a Dodgers Game

Little Tokyo is a fun area to visit before a Dodgers game,

especially if you are interested in Shohei Ohtani,

Dodgers merchandise,

Japanese food,

or Japanese culture in Los Angeles.

You can see the Ohtani mural,

browse several Dodgers shops,

enjoy Japanese restaurants,

and visit a Japanese grocery store all in one area.

For Japanese travelers visiting Los Angeles for the first time,

Little Tokyo can also feel reassuring because of the familiar food, language, and atmosphere.

We especially recommend it for older travelers

who prefer a slower and more comfortable sightseeing experience.

If you have time before your Dodgers game,

Little Tokyo is definitely worth adding to your itinerary.

✅Check Dodgers tours with a tour escort

We traveled to Little Tokyo from

Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE.

You can read our full hotel review here.