DISCOVER 5 MORE MUSEUMS, LANDMARKS, AND MONUMENTS OF AAPI CULTURE IN LOS ANGELES

SuihoEn (“Garden of Water and Fragrance”)
Photo: Yuri Hasegawa

Los Angeles is home to some of the largest Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) enclaves outside of their native countries. Generations of AAPI immigrants and Asian Americans have helped make LA one of the most diverse cities in the country. From cultural institutions to landmark buildings, World War II monuments and more, explore the rich cultures and vital histories of the AAPI community in Los Angeles.

1) JAPANESE GARDEN

6100 Woodley Ave., Van Nuys 91406818-756-8166
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Using reclaimed water from the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant, Dr. Koichi Kawana created Suiho En (“Garden of Water and Fragrance”) to provide beauty, relaxation, inspiration and a better understanding of Japanese culture. Dr. Kawana designed over a dozen major Japanese gardens in the United States, including the botanical gardens at LACMA. Spanning 6.5 acres, Suiho En is fashioned after “stroll gardens” constructed during the 18th and 19th centuries for Japanese Feudal lords.
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2) JAPANESE VILLAGE PLAZA

200 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles 90012
213-620-0764
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The first Korean American architect, David Hyun studied architecture at USC and designed Little Tokyo's Japanese Village Plaza - including the famous Yagura Fire Tower - as well as several Modernist residences across LA. The historic shopping center is home to retail stores Sanrio, Japangeles, and Popkiller; and dining spots like Hama Sushi, Oomasa, and Ramen Maruya.
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3) KOREAN BELL OF FRIENDSHIP

3601 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro 90731
310-548-7705
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Korean Bell of Friendship | Photo: Yuri Hasegawa

The Korean Bell of Friendship is a massive bronze bell housed in a stone pavilion located at Angel’s Gate Park in San Pedro. The 17-ton bell was presented by South Korea to the people of Los Angeles in 1976 to celebrate the U.S. Bicentennial and to symbolize friendship between the two nations. Four pairs of figures - a “Goddess of Liberty” and a Korean spirit - are engraved in relief on the bell. The bell is housed in a stone pavilion with 12 columns, each one representing an animal of the Korean zodiac. Formally known as the “Belfry of Friendship,” the pavilion is featured in The Usual Suspects (1995).
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4) KOREATOWN PAVILION GARDEN

W Olympic Blvd & Irolo St, Los Angeles 90006
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The 5,000 square-foot Koreatown Pavilion Garden is a traditional Korean gazebo with a small garden. Formally known as Da Wool Jung ("harmonious gathering place"), the Pavilion was built by South Korean craftsmen in January 2006. Although Korean immigrants started arriving in LA a century ago, it wasn’t until the 1960s that modern Koreatown began to take shape, when a grocery store opened across from the Pavilion's location on the northeast corner of Olympic and Irolo.
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5) NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles 90007
213-763-3466
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The largest natural and historical museum in the Western U.S., the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) has amassed a world-class collection of more than 35 million objects, some as old as 4.5 billion years. Highlights include Becoming Los Angeles, Age of Mammals, Dinosaur Hall, the Gem and Mineral Hall, the outdoor Nature Gardens, and NHM's famed dioramas.

The Fabric of Community is NHM's online exhibition of more than 450 tapa and woven mats from the Pacific Islands. Tapa were originally used for everything from clothing to ceremonial gifts. The tradition of tapa remains strong in Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji, and is experiencing a resurgence in Hawaii. The fabrics are often gifted at weddings, funerals, and other important life events.
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