Reasonable area + Japanese culture? (Los Angeles, San Diego: transplants, apartment, preschools)

[movingforward11]

Hi, we are a family looking for an area to live that 1) has Japanese culture, including bilingual or supplemental schools, preschools, etc., and 2) that is affordable. We've looked around quite a bit but it seems difficult to find a place that fits both criteria. Any ideas?

[EscapeCalifornia]

What do you define as affordable? Costa Mesa in Orange County has lots of Japanese businesses.

[capoeira]

How about San Diego?

San Diego Japanese School

Minato Gakuen

Mitsuwa Marketplace San Diego

Nijiya Market

Japanese Friendship Garden of San Diego (http://www.niwa.org/display/Newsletter.asp - broken link)

[the city]

Japantown in San Francisco?

[FresnoFacts]

You can also check around Fresno and also Clovis and Reedley. Quite a large Japanese population in the area.

I'm not aware of a Japanese school but the temples and churches are quite active and would know more or might even offer a program. The JACL is also active in the area, I know the former District Governor. Here are a few other links to give you a feel for the groups in the area.

Shinzen Japanese Garden

Home

Nisei Farmers League

Fresno Buddhist Temple

Welcome to The United Japanese Christian Church

North Fresno Japanese Chapel

MOA-FRESNO.ORG

[thomasw98]

Try the Gardena area of Los Angeles.

[movingforward11]

Thanks for the replies and links. The links were very instructive and give us a lot of good leads.

Looking at a list of two big Japanese supermarket chains (Mitsuwa & Nijiya), a good indicator probably of a community in the area, here are their locations:

• San Francisco Store 1737 Post St., San Francisco, CA 94115
• San Mateo Store 1956 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94403
• San Jose Store 240 Jackson St., San Jose, CA 95112
• San Jose 675 Saratoga Ave., San Jose, CA 95129

• Little Tokyo 333 Alameda St., Los Angeles, CA 90013
• Little Tokyo 124 Japanese Village Plaza Mall, Los Angeles, CA 90012
• Santa Monica 3760 Centinela Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90066
• San Gabriel 515 W. Las Tunas Dr., San Gabriel, CA 91776
• Sawtelle Store 2130 Sawtelle Blvd., #105, West L.A., CA 90025
• Rolling Hills Store 2533B Pacific Coast Hwy., Torrance, CA 90505
• Torrance 21515 Western Ave., Torrance,CA 90501
• Torrance Store 2121 West 182nd St., Torrance, CA 90504
• Puente Hill Store 17869 Colima Rd., City of Industry, CA 91748

• Costa Mesa 665 Paularino Ave.,Costa Mesa, CA 92626

• San Diego 4240 Kearny Mesa Rd. #119, San Diego, CA 92111
• San Diego 3860 Convoy St., #109, San Diego, CA 92111

We're not from California, so of these areas, which would be the most affordable, highest quality of life, least crime, least pollution in your opinion? We'd appreciate any local knowledge of where might be the best of thosre rough areas. (We might not have to live smack dab in those town, but could also live outside of town if there are some reasonable suburbs)

Thanks again for the great responses. This forum is very helpful.

[thomasw98]

Depends on what you mean by affordable...Can you give us a $ number?

Comments on the ones I know:

San Francisco: not very many Japanese people living there. At least not "transplants" such as yourself.

Sawtelle: Not many Japanese families around there

Rolling Hills "store": actually, that address is in Torrance. Some Japanese families living there, and some living in Palos Verdes/Rolling Hills area just south...but that area is expensive. $1 million for a basic house.

Torrance: lots of Japanese living there in various little enclaves. Gardena is one. The area around the Yaohan store is another (there is a big Toyota corporate building near there). You could also try searching for Japanese cram schools such as Kumon...some of the caucasian kids take classes there now, but many of them cater to the Japanese locals.

Definitely don't go for anything called "Little Tokyo" as those are just tourist traps for white people without a clue.

[movingforward11]

As far as affordable, let's say a 2 bedroom apartment for $1400.

So it seems that looking at the research on these areas, it comes down to a choice between:

- San Jose area (Sunnyvale / Cupertino)
- Torrance / Gardena
- Irvine / Costa Mesa
- San Diego

Which would be the most affordable and highest quality of life for a family (safety, traffic, crime, community, people)?

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by movingforward11

As far as affordable, let's say a 2 bedroom apartment for $1400.

So it seems that looking at the research on these areas, it comes down to a choice between:

- San Jose area (Sunnyvale / Cupertino)
- Torrance / Gardena
- Irvine / Costa Mesa
- San Diego

Which would be the most affordable and highest quality of life for a family (safety, traffic, crime, community, people)?

San Jose and Irvine are probably the cleanest of those 4. However, you are going to have a hard time finding a 2 bed for 1400 a month in those areas.

I live in Irvine and the average for a 2 bed Apartment is close to 2000.00.
I used to live in Redwood City (Near Sunnyvale) and it was even higher there.