As someone who grew up in LA I totally know what you mean. Especially with your point about visiting Tokyo. I miss how safe it felt there

The Zombies outside roaming the streets is totally out of control

love this, insightful honest review. Thank you!!

I'm sorry Justin. Hopefully things get better. Glad to see you uploading again 💛

I'm considering moving to DTLA and this is very helpful :) thank you for sharing!

New subscriber here. I used to live on 1st and hope back in 2014 when DTLA was back on the rise. It's sad to see what has become of the city since then, I'm so grateful after seeing your video for making feel better about my decision to leave the area. I was just like you, I loved being in little tokyo with all of the great Japanese food and culture, and I loved being in a central location that allowed me to go to Pasadena or Hollywood or even Santa Monica with just a train ride. But after seeing the rise in crime, I'm good. I'm so glad I'm not there anymore and hoping things get better for major metropolitan areas in the US, but it seems like there's a general decline across the board. Thanks for the video!

I'd be careful about loosely recommending the Beach Cities neighborhoods to anyone because the cost to live there is gonna be a whole lot. Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, may still be pricey but I know that it's more likely to be more affordable than those neighborhoods but the flaw is that it can be far depending on where people wanna live by.

I went to Dover Street Market and Juice Store to buy some designer clothes for my sister. No offense but the thought of Skid row, the largest homeless camp, in California being just blocks away from a fashion district is kinda unsettling. Good thing they both had security. I've had friends who lived in K-Town who couldn't live a day without Korean food decide to move cuz there was too much crime they had to put up with. Days ago I saw on the news how Little Tokyo has stores deciding to close because rent is increasing as well as crime. Like adding insult to injury by those elected and sworn to protect and help us.

That's so true about feeling like you don't have to be looking over your shoulder in Tokyo. The same would apply to other Asian mega cities like Seoul. I wonder how long a vending machine would last on a street corner in downtown L.A.

Ayyyye the algorithm read my shirt and found a matching shirt random video. BlackRock don't stop!

4:18 is motivating to make changes for the better 🔥

dude thank you for this video ive been considering moving to little tokyo myself i love that area and the city atmosphere being surrounded by people but every video i find about it is either people going on about restaurants or breaking down statistics and numbers not about the actual experience of living there

Downtown anywhere always got me feeling like I gotta stay on point 24/7. One reason I carry my .40 with me everywhere. Get you a lil something to keep you safer too, especially in LA. Miss playing Ball with you Justin, glad you still making videos

You seem cool, I'm also Justin, it's nice to meet you.

Check code is riding the expo line to Santa Monica and long boarding to Venice. Only if you’re willing to risk your life though 😂

Your friends could take the metro direct to little Tokyo on the yellow line. It’s kinda awesome. I don’t think it’s that dangerous to walk outside of little Tokyo tho.

If you can afford to live in Downtown LA and pay those insane prices, then you might as well live in a much nicer place like Pasadena or San Diego for example, Probably more or less the same price wise.

I grew up in LA and downtown has always been a dumpster lol

love the videos im out in OC if you'd be down to collab !

Pacific Beach San Diego might be for you.

What part/s of DTLA do you feel is the safest?

Hahahahahaha no one wants to sit in an hour and a half of traffic. I’m guilty

I would move to L.A than anywhere in the world.

I actually work for Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) for almost 2 years already, so I drive around to all of their school sites and work on their network. I worked on Royball Learning Center (a big high school), which is actually really close to Little Tokyo and China town. Don't get me wrong, I like the job and people I work with, but the driving and environment of Downtown LA is just horrible. There were days where they had to shut school down early because there were shooting 2 blocks down the streets. Food is expensive, parking is always a pain in the ass, and it's just so unsanitary too with homeless people everywhere asking for money. The pollution in the air has always been bad too. Most people work their whole life and can never afford to buy a house because of the outrageous prices. I would never buy a house in LA even if I have the money, because I would rather just go live somewhere else for 1/3 of the price and twice as big space for a house purchase, better retirement, cheaper cost on food and gas, and cleaner air. Justin, if you're a big fan of ramen, I recommend you taking the opportunity to visit Japan. Maybe even try to live there for few months and see how you like it. The food there is 10 times better than back in the state, and it's just way cleaner too because it's not processed food.

California is very underrated.

What options are you thinking for out of country? :o

Take the train to avoid the traffic.

Ive found decent night life walking in little tokyo & arts district. Downtown like skidrow & fashion district is a no from me tho. Homie got mugged a few months ago

You suggest Miami over LA?

yo i need a ramen date

You must live only 15miles aways if trafficis 1.5hrs away lol ill link up with you you for rammen

California is still the most populated state, and people go to Cali to get famous. California has more opportunities for famous people than how is it thaf the most popular state in America is seen differently? I hardly ever saw homeless tbh.

long time downtowner here. my mother and friends also think I'm crazy because I like living down. dtown you either love it or hate it. living downtown isnt for everyone. That was true before the pandemic, but especially after. dtown is definitely more intense and violent now. that being said. at its peak, dtown is great if you love high energy urban areas, want lots of stuff to do. you also don't need a car. I love southbay and the beaches but I wouldn't want to live there. I'm not interested in the quiet surban life to each his own

culture? lol

The beaches along California are crap

8 months lemme check u out, Ngl u make make me laugh, U don’t know about nun, ur in a dangerous area that doesn’t gaf about u, go n tell , btw where u from, where u grew up at , ok let’s see what u know