P l a c e s to S e e

You may or may not know it, but there are golden opportunities to experience a bit of Japanese culture right here in San Diego! So, if you're strapped for cash like so many of us are, you don't need to shell out all your money out on a plane trip to get an idea of what Japan is like (though it would still be nice.) There are several places where you can observe Japanese culture without worrying about putting a dent in your wallet. We've visited a few ourselves. Although we do provide pictures from our visits, we highly encourage you to go and check it out for yourself!

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Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Ok, so LA isn't exactly in San Diego but it isn't that far and if you happen to be there, go check out the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. There's a nice little Japanese garden and a whole building dedicated to Japanese art. The design inside the building is beautiful with a fountain that spirals down from the top along side of the walkway and you can see all sorts of art from there. These are just a few pictures, so you really need to go there to see it yourself.

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Japanese Friendship Garden
What?! A beautiful Japanese garden here in San Diego?! Yep! Just check out the Japanese friendship garden downtown in Balboa Park. It's a great place to relax and take in the beauty. You can also take advantage of the Tea Pavilion just outside of the garden. There you can try out some Japanese food!

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At the Mingei Museum
Unfortunately, the exhibits shown are only temporary although it does create more opportunities for the public to see different art. You can take a look here to see a little of what you missed if you couldn't make it there to see it for yourself.

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Mitsuwa Marketplace
They've got all kinds of stuff like books, toys, collectibles, food, food, and more food. Check out the latest manga or eat some takoyaki all in the same place. It's definitely worth checking out.

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