If you are looking for nice Japanese stationery (cards, postcards), origami, a Japanese crest (ka-mon), or other little gifts, you might like this place. It carries mostly the nicer end things, but there are definitely things you can purchase for under $5. I was glad that not everything in here was cutesy-Sanrio stuff because there's a Sanrio store right around the corner. Most of the items here are appropriate for a sophisticated crowd, too. Bonus: they accept American Express. read more

Left undecided about an item which we later decided we wanted, but had already traveled back home. They helped us find the product as mail it to us for a small charge. Great service. read more

Quaint Japanese store really nice to find unique items. It's a must see. You never know what you are going to find. read more

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What a wonderful store with a great selection of plates, tea cups, etc. Awesome prices, awesome selection, friendly seevice. Absolutely a can't miss! As far as the comments about closing 15 minutes before, I do think there's an element of courtesy to it. Having been to Japan, it's possible they're just trying to close on time while not catching anyone off guard. They approached me as well at 745, it would seem odd to do that if they personally found it passive aggressive and frowned upon. But either way, a great great place. I plan to save space in my suitcase on future trips to LA to support them. read more

I really appreciate the history in this store, you can almost feel it--It's been in Little Tokyo since 1946. They are doing safe practices and going the extra mile to help customers. Thank you. read more

Small store but it's full of unique gifts that anyone would appreciate. They have origami, artwork, books, and other cool stuff. Probably one of the oldest stores here in this village! read more

Nice little store in Los Angeles Little Toyko district. Owner and staff are very friendly. This is one of the few places in the LA area that has a good selection of 17" high japanese dolls with kimonos. read more

this is a total 1950s throwback gift shop they have access to dead stock handmade pottery, porcelain and cast iron thingies I always find something interesting here examples: Japanese scissors, animal figurines read more

If you're looking for little gifts and cultural ware, Bunkado is a fantastic first start. In Little Tokyo, they can be counted on for selling specialty items. Tradition is important in the Japanese culture and they sell the items that fits the bill perfectly if you want to adhere to cultural expectations. And the shop ladies are so nice and accommodating. read more

This is my absolute favorite shop in Little Tokyo. 5 stars for customer service! I always try to pop by here when I'm downtown. I don't always buy, sometimes I just like to walk the aisles and breathe in the Japan-iana (is that a word?) Prices are extremely reasonable. You can buy paper lamps for a fraction of what they'd cost elsewhere. Same for wooden placemats (which I've also seen at Pottery Barn). Simply gorgeous pottery. Fantastic book selection covering Japanese culture and art. Very sophisticated selection, in fact. A few visits ago I bought two tiny ceramic lucky cats for friends. The purchase price was possibly $10 total, but I believe it may have been less. The kind shop ladies offered to gift wrap them both. They spent 10 minutes meticulously wrapping these two tchockies, as if they were precious diamonds! Asking me what paper I wanted, what sort of bow and then again, asking me if I liked how they tied the ribbons. Who does this ?!? Absolutely amazing in this day and age to get such happy, kind meticulous service for something they perhaps made a $6 profit on. 5 stars for fun, eclectic and affordable merchandise. 5 stars for superb, old-world style customer care and service. This shop should be on everyone's downtown "must do" list. read more

Cute spot. The little old ladies that run the shop are very sweet and helpful. I was looking for an inexpensive Buddha figurine for a short film and they had a beautiful one for $2.50. read more

Bunkado - Home Decor Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This is my go to place for interesting, delightful gifts. It is always on my path for my Christmas search. From the unique and whimsical to the traditional / cultural, to the useful there are always choices here. I adore the selection of dishware. The brac a brac curios are cute and sweet. I have bought two of the more expensive fans here and used them in performance for much of my career as a performer. The incense selection is large and of a very pleasing quality. You must hear the big secret of Bunkado though; it's where all the drag queens buy their fans! They are the only store in LA selling big colorful fans of a particular make that make a prominent "FRRRAPP!" sound upon flicking open. A must-have for any queen. read more

super cute little gift stop in the heart of little tokyo. store was rather small and the walking space was small. a lot of people walking through so it was slow to look around. smelled like feet? i got used to it after a while. the store was filled with amazing japanese goods. it wasn't your basic japanese store. they had pretty authentic goods and decorations like dolls and statues from japan. the front was filled with post cards, and i got a few for room decor. there was a large variety! the store was pack filled with stuff, but i'll try to list a lot of things that they had. 1) a bunch of post cards. black and white. illustrations. everything 2) authentic japanese dolls 3) lots of little cute novelties like lucky cat statues and little coin purses. 4) origami paper, bags and totes. there is definitely something that you would like in there! there is also a second floor which i found kind of creepy. it was their new floor for books. i went upstairs and it was empty and some music was playing and i got super creeped and went back downstairs. i ended up getting a lucky cat statue/coin bank about the size of a palm. it was $8. and 3 of the $1 post cards. i walked up to the desk and a woman came over to serve me. she had very fluent english. she was also fluent in japanese (she was having conversation with other workers at the front when i walked in) i guess the fluent japanese showed authenticity? she was incredibly kind. very good service. she opened the box with the lucky cat to check for any marks or damages, and was very very kind. i really enjoyed the service. definitely worth it to buy little souvenirs for your friends here when visiting la! read more

Literally the biggest goldmine of Japanese music since I've discovered Book Off. I love silver age J-Pop and Japanese music from the early 80's and 90's. If you go to the upstairs level, they have a HUGE selection of music on cassette for only 50 cents and CDs for $3, as well as laser discs and 8tracks (which they so kindly have let me have for free on several occasions). Aside from that, the downstairs area that most people browse through has some very interesting items as well. Nice stationary and bizarre stickers. Definitely one of the best places to browse through in Little Tokyo. Staff is very kind too! read more

Why I absolutely love this shop the best over the others... just something about it seems magical. I don't know why. My best friend and I stopped here first, on our visit to Little Tokyo. We were both smiling the whole time scouring through the cute loot they had to offer. In astrology my friend is an Ox and I am a Rat. The first thing I saw on the shelf toward the front of the store was a Rat and Ox figurine sitting there together... now mind you there 10 other figures but those two were just staring at us! We thought it was fate and had to buy the figurines, which were only $3! Bargain for these cuties. The rest of the store was just as enjoyable and I love all the dish wear and tea cups! Can not wait to register here for my wedding... lol read more

The go-to spot if you're looking to find a gift for someone who loves all things Japanese or a creative greeting/birthday card. The items in this gift shop are authentic and has a bit of everything. I like to come in and pick up my new years daruma and zodiac ceramic animal for the year. I purchased so much stuff during a recent visit that I think they threw in complimentary ohashi (chopsticks) in celebration of their 70th store anniversary! Congrats Bunkado - we love you in Little Tokyo!! Come and support this local business! read more

What a gem. A little bit of everything at this store. A great selection of sake sets, tea sets, plate and bowl sets. The two women that run the store are very helpful and kind. Upstairs is the bargain/wholesale price area! Mainly bowls/plates/cups but also a kimono rack, and other treasures. Definitely head up there first. read more

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Free gift wrap and friendly service adds to the charm of this Little Tokyo gem. Although not nearly as large as Rafu Bussan, Bunkado has a few dishware treasures which is at a slightly higher grade than Rafu. Their bentos are more traditional but again the selection is more limited due to space. Don't miss BUNKADO!!! read more

Very cool Japanese culture related finds here. Sure, you wouldn't just buy a bunch of stuff here for personal needs, but it's not such a bad place to buy some gifts...maybe a sake cup set..for someone who's into it. If you're looking around for some time to kill before a meal, walking around in this store and the store next door (I forget the name), will kill a good half hour or more if you really take some time to browse. read more

Chock full of curios and Japanese things. They have a good selection of origami paper, ceramics (bowls and plates and stuff), books, postcards, chopsticks, paper umbrellas, etc. Also, the second floor is a secret hangout place reserved for Japanese people only (according to the sales lady). As with all of the other Japanese stores in the area, there are many signs telling you what you can't do and what they won't do for you (no change for meters, no touching certain things, etc). Definitely good for browsing. Bottom line: If you are planning to come here or to Little Tokyo, don't pay $2/hr for parking. Take the metro. read more

Today was my third visit here in my life. I enjoy coming here for the variety of miscellaneous junk. Sooo much goodness. After eating some katsudon, I strolled this way. First thing in the door, they are selling vintage Gumby and Pokey items. Sold. Then my pile grew bigger. I even bought a book on how to cook Japanese dishes at home. I'll be back soon - this time with more money! read more

Cute little store packed with tons of great things! Especially liked the lanterns, stationary items, and the various home decor items they had on stock. Everything was so beautiful, neat, and unique here! There were plenty of interesting books here as well, most being a bunch of origami tutorials as well as poems written by Japanese-American authors. The staff, which seemed to make up of two elderly Japanese-American women, were very friendly and sweet as well. I highly recommend visitors to Little Tokyo to check out this awesome gem of the area. You won't be disappointed! read more

Oh boy! It's my year, it's my year! It is the year of the dog and it's my year. I came in looking for a kokeshi doll, an inexpensive one, as well as a carp wind sock, some origami paper, a coin purse and maybe a little new year's ornament with the symbol for the year of the dog on it. I was able to find all of those items. I was so thrilled. I hardly come to little Tokyo anymore. And when I do, I tend not to do too much trinket shopping. This time is different though. With my now having a little one, I want to share and show so many different things with her. She liked looking at all the trinkets, especially the dangly key chains. She liked the post cards, the beautiful dolls in their cases and all the interesting tea pots. There is a little bit of everything in here. It's a hidden gem of a shop. I wish I'd think to visit more. I haven't been to the upstairs portion in forever but I'll have to do that next time. The prices for the small items that I bought are more than reasonable. I think this would be a great place to find a lil gift for someone even. It's a good spot to come and purchase inexpensive origami paper and the nicer reusable chop sticks as well. read more

This shop has great sale items!! I got a few gifts for Christmas when I was here. The ladies behind the counter were nice and didn't follow you around like most of the shops in the area. There's a ton to look at in the shop so definitely go row by row. Some of the Japanese sake or tea containers I'm going to use to put succulents in. They have a few good items for kids but it's not a kid friendly shop since there's a ton of glass items. There is an upstairs!! If you're looking to dive into some 1990's Japanese cassette tapes those are upstairs. Pretty big store so check it out! read more

I've been an customer for almost 10 years and this shop in Little Tokyo is a must for antique enthusiast from old school 60's-80's Japanese movies to books,e.t.c.....As a Karate student, I purchase several MA books which is hard to find anywhere in the Internet except in Bunkado. This place is amazing!! read more

been going to this place forever and always nice to visit. i found a cute insulated bag i want to use for my lunch. there's tons of cute pottery and nick nacks. the staff is super friendly. will be back. read more

The place was wonderful, great concept- smells like a Japanese antique store. We came in with a Starbucks drink and was looking around for a good 20 minutes. We went upstairs and came down and the workers told my bf " sir no drinks and food in the store " which is fine and so he ask where is the trash can . She took the drink looking very annoyed and tapped the drink on the counter and made him feel really bad. It's really not a big deal but was enough to have made us for not welcome so we left. But regardless of the encounter the owners made it known that they pride in customer service and their business and apologized. Thank you and little things like that truly matters. I am in the business and patient care so I understand. Back to the shop, I love it. It's a wonderful place to visit and I wish I had one back where I live- if there is it's really overpriced. This place is fair I can tell that this place is really loved by the owners- everything was placed neatly and I love to see a little bit of the culture and history and this is by just looking. Prices are fairly decent which is nice bc it is affordable enough for customers to take a little back home and share on social media or purchase as gifts for loved ones. I highly recommend this place if you are ever in the area near little Tokyo in LA. The owners really care for the customers and it shows! Next time I'm down in LA I'll Definitely will stop by and buy that Bento box that I have been eyeing when I was last there. read more

If you're nearby and Bunkado is open, ALWAYS stop in. You'll find something neat to take home for yourself or someone else. Housewares, books, incense, origami paper... and they've been in business for longer than I've been alive. read more

Bunkado is a seriously awesome gift shop in Little Tokyo - and not a cheesy, touristy gift shop, but like a real, legit Japanese gift shop. And what is amazing is it runs the gamut of very traditional, fancy items, to their upstairs 'bargain sale' stuff. In between, you have cute knick knacks, everything you need for obon (tenugui, kachi kachi, uchiwa), books, postcards, etc. It's a great place for first timers and regular visitors to Little Tokyo to buy gifts for friends, family, and yourself :) Also, the owner - Irene - is AWESOME. She moved back to LA to take over her parent's store after they retired, and now does so much for the community. read more

I have always loved these little shops like this one, and this is no exception. Bunkado is one of those little throw backs to the past, a little store with just about something for everyone. They have seen better times, and used to have a section up stairs, but I think it was closed down. Love that they still blast the AC when it's hot, as it is very refreshing to walk in on a hot summer's day. The stuff they have is cool, and they still have quite selection of Japanese ceramics and traditional crafts. I also love all the little key chains and charms up front, you know impulse shopping at it's best. read more

i love this place. in my shopping, I made a friend who works there and she is so sweet and helpful all the time. often times, when you shop at places run by older asian women, the service is condescendingly polite... and it is SO annoying. but here, they are genuinely nice people and the store has such an eclectic mix of things one could need, I often find myself there when I know I'm looking for something difficult to find elsewhere. more than anything, I go there for a wide and lovely selection of washi paper at decent prices... they have the best selection of anywhere in jtown for sure... and maybe south bay too. oh, i also love that they sell soup spoons with the little nook on it so you can rest it against the side of your bowl without fear of losing it in the soup! hoo-rah baby. read more

Looked all over little Tokyo for a nice but not overpriced macha tea set. Finally ended up here... And wished I'd started here. I kind of feel in love with this shop and the service and meticulous gift wrapping made me feel like I was back in Japan. Affordable gifts for all price ranges but without all the junky crap at most of the other shops. Go here first. You won't regret it. read more

Fun little shop if you want to look for some Japanese "stuff". It's definitely worth going in to browse. Be warned that you will probably leave with something hahah. read more

pros...this is the place to get some very traditional japanese crafts, gifts and books (in japanese and english). it is a very fun place, that has two stories of stuff. i really love this store, they have some many fun and unusual stuff. i love that they have books on all things japanese, in english too. i also love that they have really cool ceramics. cons...well there is not much in the way of free parking here. as for the store, be careful fat people or people with big backpacks, cause the aisles here are narrow, and packed with stuff, and they will charge you if you break something. if you do, make sure you ask to pay the wholesale price, don't pay retail. you shouldn't have to pay their profit margin too. read more

So much fun shopping at Bunkado for all gifty things Japanese. Lucky cats, bento boxes, fans, pretty stationery, fun servingware and sake sets -- oolalaaaah!! read more

Love this place !!!! Been coming to little Tokyo from San Diego as a child with my Mom and Dad and sisters. Now grown with my own family and still make the trip here often looking for Japanese décor. This Store has everything I'm looking for and so much more read more

My friend took me in here today. This is a cool store. I like all there bowls, sake sets etc. I thought they were pretty cheap.

Very interesting Japanese gift shop in Little Tokyo. It's worth a look if you're coming to LT for dinner. Also, they have an upstairs with a collection of old enka vinyl and CDs. They even had the shamisen strings I needed. read more

I was on vacation in Little Tokyo from Arizona and I have to say, this store is a gem amongst all the gift shops in Little Tokyo. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Such a variety of gifts from calendars, to mugs, to music. You name it, they have it. Such a beautiful and colorful array of items that were reasonably priced, I had to watch myself how much I was shopping I actually had to ship some items to my home. Anyways, from the outside it does not look like much, but I recommend you to check out this store while visiting Little Tokyo. read more

great family store full of great gifts and friendly staff