Little Tokyo History

Little Tokyo, spread across 67 acres of land, is an international centre for tourists. It maintains its character as a small town with quiet places to eat, shop and live. It has a number of cultural, religious and educational institutions that unify the Japanese American community of southern California. The place has its museums, buildings and public art that are reflective of the economic and social changes that the community has been witness to for the past several decades.

http://www.publicartinla.com/Downtown/Little_Tokyo/little_tokyo.html

The history of the town dates back to 1886 when Charles Kame from Japan opened a Japanese restaurant in the area. Within a few years a small community of immigrants (Issei) from Japan had settled in the area. The town came to be called Little Tokyo when 2000 immigrants were recruited by Henry Huntington in northern California to work for the Pacific Electric Railway in 1903. These immigrants were not given citizenship rights, not allowed to own property and were subject to employment discriminations. Unlike them their children (Nissei) were however American citizens by birth. They did well in schools, could own property and could vote.

http://www.bronzeville-la.com/

Much of the city's landscape was changed by construction work during the 1970s and 1980s. However the character of the town is maintained by a group of 15 structures that lie on the northern end of First Street.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Tokyo,_Los_Angeles,_California

For tourists who are eager to stay at the place there are several hotels Los Angeles ca that are located there.