Little Tokyo in Downtown Los Angeles is the heart of this year’s annual Nisei Week festivities. If you haven’t been, just know JTown offers a wealth of places to visit that illuminate the community’s past and vibrant present, all in celebration of Japanese American culture and heritage. Running from August 9th to 17th, 2025, with a theme of “kansha” (gratitude), here are 10 Great Places to Visit during Nisei Week 2025.
1. Fill Up on Tradition at JACCCC
Throughout the week-long festivities, the air will fill with the sounds of traditional Taiko drumming, especially the closer you get to Eigitsu-kai and the Plaza Festival at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC). The JACCC is a central hub for Nisei Week activities. The Eigitsu-kai, referring to traditional Japanese dance and music performances, are a highlight, often taking place within the JACCC’s venues. The Nisei Week festival events are scheduled at the JACCC and its various spaces throughout the week. Cultural exhibits, such as bonsai, calligraphy, and ikebana, are typically on display inside the JACCC building on various dates during the festival, including August 9th, 10th, 16th, and 17th.
Cultural Cornucopia at Aratani Theatre (JACCC) The Aratani Theatre, within the main plaza of the JACCC, is a premier venue for Japanese and Japanese American performing arts. During Nisei Week, the Aratani Theater hosts the much-anticipated Coronation + Awards Celebration on August 9th, where the Nisei Week Queen and Court are crowned in a stunning production. This is a chance to witness the pageantry and talent that define this festival. Lastly, the Plaza Festival on August 16th and 17th will transform the JACCC Plaza into a lively space with cultural exhibits, food, games, and entertainment, including the Nisei Week Taiko Gathering on Sunday, August 17th. The address for the JACCC is 244 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
2. Sounds of the Culture at Grand Parade
The Nisei Week Grand Parade is a vibrant cornerstone of the annual Nisei Week Japanese Festival, transforming the streets of Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, into a lively spectacle. This free, family-friendly event draws tens of thousands with its diverse array of participants, including traditional Japanese dancers performing ondo with rhythmic movements, colorful kimonos, powerful taiko drumming, local high school marching bands, martial arts showcases, and numerous community groups.
The parade once even featured the impressive Aomori Nebuta float from Japan that graced the 2007 parade. Historically significant, the parade first stepped off in 1934 during the Great Depression, aiming to attract second-generation Japanese Americans (Nisei) to Little Tokyo and boost local businesses. Though the festival and parade were interrupted for six years during World War II due to the forced relocation and incarceration of Japanese Americans, they resiliently resumed in 1949. Over the decades, the parade has evolved, embracing modern elements while staying true to its core mission of celebrating Japanese American heritage. Dignitaries, parade marshals, celebrities, community heroes, Japanese and local politicians, and the newly crowned Nisei Week Queen and her court also feature prominently. The parade takes place on Sunday, August 10th, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
3. The Gift of Tradition at Little Tokyo Street Fair
Little Tokyo Street Fair – Coming August 16th
During Nisei Week, the various events found within the labyrinth of Little Tokyo create a dynamic, festival atmosphere with plenty of opportunities for finding one-of-a-kind traditional Japanese keepsakes. The most significant of these is the return of the Little Tokyo Street Fair, presented by Bozu Plants and The Kiosk Boys. On August 16 from 11 am to 6 pm, visitors may stroll through the alleyway between 1st and 2nd Streets, past the miniature spaceship monument dedicated to Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka, the first Asian American to reach space back in 1986. In full view of the street, each kiosk offers something truly unique, with a diverse range of vendors from traditional Japanese goods to contemporary art and fashion, making the street fair an absolute treasure hunt of Japanese culture and heartfelt mementos.
Presented by Bozu Plant, a family-run business that specializes in curating exotic plants and pairing them with one-of-a-kind handcrafted pots, each BOZU design is unique and personally selected to match its new owner. Some of their plants, such as the sacred bonsai, are believed to bring good luck and prosperity. But if you want to find an authentic Bozu Plant, besides the quarterly return of the fair, select Bozu Plants are only available for purchase at Boxx Coffee Roasters in the Arts District. @bozu_la
Note: Weller Court is a unique urban courtyard and a great spot to relax. You can find everything from handcrafted ceramics and the unique souvenirs of the Little Tokyo Street Fair to all-you-can-eat Wagyu, including a full-service grocery market, inside its facility.
4. Taste of History at Fugetsu-Do
As the oldest business in Little Tokyo, established in 1903, Fugetsu-Do is an indispensable stop. This family-owned confectionery has been making traditional Japanese sweets like mochi and manju for over a century. A visit here offers a taste of history and a delicious cultural experience, a true testament to the enduring spirit of the community.
5. Say Hello to LA’s First Female Sushi Chef at Eigikutei
Eigikutei is housed in the same building as the second-ever American sushi bar. The restaurant was opened in 1929 by Kinji and Hisano Morishita. It has survived the war years and internment, to become part of the transformation of Los Angeles cuisine. Equally vital to Eigikutei’s identity is Tomoko Morishita, the restaurant’s co-owner and America’s first female sushi chef. An authentic Japanese dining experience, Eigikutei offers several Kaiseki menu options, including its coveted Kyoto-style Kaiseki tasting menu.
Kaiseki, often called the height of Japanese dining, is a seasonal multi-course meal where every course is prepared using a special technique. The restaurant’s offerings include a customizable Shabu-Shabu Kaiseki with various grades of beef, a Kani Yosenabe Kaiseki featuring crab, a chef’s choice Omakase-style Sushi Kaiseki, and a unique Plant-Based Vegan Kaiseki. Diners consistently highlight the exceptional service and the high quality of the food, making it a popular choice for special occasions and an exceptional find for visitors during Nisei Week. www.eigikutei.com
6. Shake a Leg at Natsumatsuri Family Festival
Photo Courtesy NiseiWeek.Org
This free, annual summer event is held at the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) in Los Angeles, celebrating Japanese culture with family-friendly activities. The festival, which takes place at the museum’s Democracy Center and Plaza, features cultural performances by groups like Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko and East LA Taiko, along with interactive activities such as origami, summer-themed crafts, and scavenger hunts. Attendees can also enjoy storytelling sessions and free admission to the museum’s exhibitions. The 2025 festival is scheduled for Saturday, August 16th, from 12 PM to 5 PM PDT, and while it is a free event, reservations are recommended.
7. The Rafu Shimpo Building Leaving Soon
Take a moment to visit the historic Rafu Shimpo building on 2nd Street. For 122 years, this building served as the home of the oldest Japanese American daily newspaper. With the newspaper’s recent move to Montebello, the building will soon be empty. This visit offers a poignant opportunity to reflect on the legacy of The Rafu Shimpo and its immense importance to the Japanese American community, marking the end of an era for this vital institution in Little Tokyo.
8. Say a Prayer at the Site of the Azusa Street Mission
Located within the JACCC Plaza, this site holds profound historical significance as the birthplace of the global Pentecostal movement in 1906. While the original mission building is no longer standing, visiting the plaza allows for a moment of reflection on the diverse history of Little Tokyo and its unexpected connections to wider historical movements.
9. Catch the Show Crazy Talented Asians
The David Henry Hwang Theater is a vital cultural institution. Home to East West Players, the nation’s largest and longest-running Asian American theatre, it will host “Crazy Talented Asians: Nisei Week Edition 2025” on August 16th, a star-studded musical cabaret celebrating Asian American talent and the Little Tokyo community. The show is curated and hosted by AJ Rafael.
10. The Grand Finale – Ondo Public Street Dancing & Closing Ceremony
This grand finale of Nisei Week will take place on 1st Street, between San Pedro Street and Central Avenue. This is where the community gathers to dance in the street to live music, marking the close of the festival. This event is scheduled for Sunday, August 17th, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Note that 1st Street in this area will be closed to traffic for the event.
