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ashmeister
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Age: 36
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Location: Singapore

18 Jan 2011, 9:36 pm

Okay so here's the deal. Currently I'm preparing for college in the fall at USC (Yes, I said USC), where it starts in August, but before that, I'm planning to leave for the US in May or June and get my own apartment and a job, preferably at Sherman Oaks (Yeah I know. Sherman Oak's a bit far from USC's campus) there for a number of reasons, one of which is Anime Expo 2011. And I heard of this place in Los Angeles called Little Tokyo, which is what is called a Japantown and one of 3 in the US, which are:-

1. Little Osaka, San Francisco, California
2. Japantown, San Jose, California
3. Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California

On top of that, I've watched videos and heard of other foreign people living in Japan or have been to Japan, like a few Americans and famous British-Chinese blogger Danny Choo.

Now, my question is has any of you ever been to the 3 Japantowns above or any other Japantown elsewhere or Japan itself? And if yes, how were your experiences at such places like?


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Dantac
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19 Jan 2011, 10:59 am

I've never been in California but I've been to many places in Japan.

It would be impossible for any place in the US to come anywhere close to being like Japan so I think that the closest thing they can do is have 'true' Japanese food and products that you can buy... and a few temples and gardens... but I doubt they can emulate the ambience.

Tokyo is a place where the hight-tech, super-modern & massive engineering co-exists with the simplistic, low-tech and traditional world. To give you an idea, they have stores that are the size of US malls (massive buildings 4 blocks wide, 20 stories high and 7 stories under ground..some even have their own subway stop underneath)... inside its very modern technology and decorations but once you step inside a shop its like reality flips over and you're almost thrown back in time.

One of the most memorable stores actually had a replica of a medieval japan shopping district built inside it.. on underground levels 4 through 6. Amazing.

Osaka is almost like Tokyo but smaller in scale but they've kept a lot more of their traditional arts,architecture and foods alive & standing. Osaka people also have a business-like mindset so if the town is populated mainly by Osakan expatriates you can expect them to be very formal and get to the point rather than dance around niceties for a long time (which Tokyo people do). Also... Osaka is renowned for its amazing food so chances are if you love their food, go there!