Welcome to Metro Stop Highlights, a series where we showcase the various stops along the A Line Metro in Los Angeles, California. Our sixth stop is Little Tokyo. As you exit the Metro in Little Tokyo, you’re welcomed by the traditional Japanese artwork and appetizing smell of ramen from various restaurants. Whether you’re contemplating visiting the MOCA Geffen Museum or getting a matcha from the variety coffee shops, here are some of our favorite things to do near the station.

James Irvine Japanese Garden

Just a 7-minute walk from the metro station, the James Irvine Japanese Garden at JACCC is a Japanese-style zen garden open to the public every weekday. Along with various plants and trees surrounding the space, the garden also showcases outdoor sculptures by Japanese artist Isamu Noguchi. We recommend enjoying the calming garden’s beautiful nature with a simple book and coffee.

Fugetsu-Do Bakery Shop

Since 1903, the family owned Fugetsu-Do Bakery Shop has been selling one of a kind mochi in the center of Little Tokyo. While the constant long lines seem intimidating, the delicious rice cakes and snacks make the wait all worth it. While the shop offers numerous flavors of mochi, our personal favorite is the blueberry and red bean mochi. 

Midori Matcha

You may notice the signature Midori Matcha cup most people hold while visiting Little Tokyo. This cafe offers a variety of pastries, drinks and soft served matcha ice cream. With every drink hand whisked, the smooth matcha makes the shop a go-to while going about your day in Little Tokyo. We strongly recommend the Matcha Lavender Latte and Matcha Vanilla Latte.

The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA

Lucky for you, the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA is a brisk two minute walk from the Metro stop. The museum hosts new exhibitions each year, so be sure to check out the Olafur Eliasson: OPEN exhibit, a magical, mirror-heavy assemblage, which is showing until July 6 of this year. After checking out the art, we cannot wait to visit our favorite pieces again with our discounted $10 student tickets. 

Yoboseyo! Superette

Are you looking for a birthday gift for a friend? A new favorite latte? A Strawberry Matcha Napoleon Cookie? No matter what you came to Little Tokyo to find, Yoboseyo! Superette is the store for you. With walls covered in flowy murals and shelves decked in deliciously unique drinks, you are sure to find a hidden gem inside.