Summary
- Usually, Chinatown has a unique atmosphere, but it’s different here. The car-centric nature of American cities has even influenced Asian towns.
Even though LA is said to be an inclusive city, there has been long-lasting discrimination, even from European countries. Several museums show how people of other nationalities have adapted to the USA.
Highlights
Little Tokyo
- As a result of WWII, many Japanese people were incarcerated, and the museum in Little Tokyo mostly discusses this issue.
- We tend to infer nationality by appearance, but Japanese Americans are American citizens. Despite this, they were considered enemies during wartime.
Chinatown
- Compared to the vast residential area, the commercial area is quite small and much less lively compared to other Chinatowns in the world.
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes
- This museum focuses on the Mexican legacy of California and consists of historical and artistic collections.
- California used to be part of the Mexican Empire, and the exhibition tells us how it eventually became part of the United States.
- As many cultural museums have artistic collections, this museum also features marvelous art created by Mexican Americans.
Public Library
- It’s known for its pyramid-like rooftop.
- The fabrication space and the great collection of books about art were impressive.
Other Interesting Places
- City Hall offers a free observation deck if it is open.
- The buildings in LA can be quite artistic, and I particularly liked the one that looks like a power cell.
Airport
- Traveling to the airport can be a nightmare. As the display at the station was broken, it is not maintained well at all. The shuttle bus just left without loading passengers, and it even took over 30 minutes until we finally got one. Regardless of the transportation method, you should spare 2 to 3 hours just for transportation.
- The airport itself is really beautiful, despite the broken infrastructure.
Opinions
- The very empty Chinatown shows us how car-centric cities can be destructive to local communities. In such societies, we have to build parking, but it limits density and becomes a burden to store owners.
- Mexican contemporary art is wholly unique; it first looks like a historical piece, but modern artistic techniques are used in many places. Recreating classical pieces with the latest techniques seems to be interesting.
- I believe that beauty should be built on top of convenience. We should spend money only after we have secured everything essential. However, art seems to attract people very strongly, too.
