I have purchased smiskis from them several times from live auctions of confirmed blind boxes. Great option if you are wanting specific items to add to your collection. 100% authentic read more

I used to be an avid watcher of JapanLA TikTok auction livestreams, even purchasing a few Sonny Angels myself in the past. Though recently, the owner has been more present in these streams and is very passive aggressive and overall very rude to chatters. Their new format of selling unopened Sonny Angels for almost double or even triple the retail price is ridiculous. Most chatters are very openly against the new format, but the owner claims they are doing this because it's what is preferred by customers. She says the increased price is for the "interaction" you get when JapanLA employees show you what you overpaid for (as if they're celebrities). It makes zero sense and is obviously a poor business decision when they could be selling confirmed Sonny Angels for more profit, instead of having people bid for an unopened box where they don't know what they're getting. Additionally, any time you ask about this new format, their entire chat attacks you and the owner threatens to block you from their account. I couldn't believe the way she was acting towards the people buying from her. This review is solely based on how the owner of JapanLA presents herself. Their other employees are super sweet and always very fun to chat with. It's just recently when the owner started being part of their livestreams that being there became very unpleasant. If you want a Sonny Angel or Smiski, buy a box in-store elsewhere or online. Do NOT overpay for one through JapanLA where you're very likely to get one you don't want. read more

Not so much of a selection service was fast Value was almost the same as the other retailers read more

1. Located in the mid Wilshire district 2. Weekend visits affords you free street parking 3. Not your usual Sanrio store If you're looking for Hello Kitty and all of her friends If you're looking for La Bubu (not La Fufu) and all of the faces If you're looking for cute gifts for those who are into Hello Kitty and friends. , Sanrio and gang or LaFufu THEN GO HERE! Japan LA is the place for you to visit. Bring your credit card! read more

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I FINALLY made it out to JapanLA and I was in heaven. I am a lifelong Sanrio fan and I've visited many kawaii shops. This is probably the best shop I've shopped at and I hate that I live so far away! While that may be a good thing (I would be beyond broke), I could spend hours looking at all of the cuteness. I will say that they have an amazing Black Friday sale so put an alert in your calendars to shop online or visit. Staff was super friendly and cute (which I would expect nonetheless) and it was so cute to see the Sonny Angels trading tables out front. While I'm not a fan of Sonny Angeles, there are other varieties of hippers if that's what you're looking for. While most of the store is Sanrio related, there are other popular characters that are worth browsing. Prices are what you would expect for a pop culture store so plan accordingly. They also don't have a parking lot, but you can easily find street parking (the meters take card and coins). All in all, loved visiting and I cant wait to visit again!!! read more

This is one of the better and more complete stores in Southern California offering some favorite Japanese "Kawaii" and stationery products. The brand selection here is impressive, and often times carry an inventory that may be hard to find at other places including clothing items. Take advantage of some of their live shows, and product launches as they come and go quick. Certainly a must visit store for any fan or enthusiast. read more

There is no better place for cuteness products of high quality and value. Apparently it's called "kawaii" (cow-WHY-ee) and is adorable character plushies and fashion with cute animals on them. Every woman and girl that I know loves these items, so for me it's a no brainer to roll in and get a Hello Kitty plush toy that melts away any bad feelings and puts my gals into the happiest mood. The staff is knowledgeable about all the characters and the store is upbeat and filled to the brim with new items as well as the classics. I got Labubu's here, the giant Hello Kitty, a rare Hangyodon toy, a Rilakumma backpack for my lady, a keychain for my mom and the brand new brand Baby 3 (huge eyes!) for my little baby. Perfect for a date, or a weekend with the family, this store pumps your heart up three sizes. Thanks JapanLA! I even got a pic with social media influencer Raven Grimm. JapanLA is the best. read more

JapanLA - Influencer Raven Grimm and Me, Mayhem. - Women's Clothing Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This place has all the cutest mystery boxes if that's what you're looking for. Plenty of stuffed animals esp Kuromi. Parking was challenging on a busy street so we parked next door at TJ's (we also shopped there). The store is bright, clean and with friendly staff. read more

JapanLA - Women's Clothing Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My holy grail kawaii shop! Honestly Japan LA has become my favorite stop with the best selection of Sanrio goodies and the place is just ADORABLE! It's super spacious inside compared to other places I've been and the staff is so kind and helpful. I stopped in cause I was on a mission for some Kuromi and Gudetama goodies and I ended up leaving with just that plus some free stuff! The prices are about average, just what you would expect so there was nothing overpriced which was great. I just love this place and will be coming back! read more

JapanLA - They have the cutest branding! - Women's Clothing Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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"If you're a Sanrio fan, JapanLA is an absolute must-visit! We came here for my daughter's birthday in search of some limited-edition Gudetama swag, and we were thrilled to find exactly what she wanted. The store is small but packed with everything a true Sanrio lover could dream of--tons of adorable items and exclusive merch you won't find anywhere else. The prices are mostly reasonable, though some items are a bit on the pricier side. That said, the selection and unique finds make it worth it. We had such a fun time browsing the cute displays and soaking up all the kawaii vibes. Highly recommend for anyone looking to add some Sanrio magic to their day!" read more

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Had a great experience here with the staff after I had been searching LA for authentic Sonny Angels in stock while home. My purse actually got stolen with my babies attached, Cauliflower and Sheep in their little Pochacco pouch so I'll be back in December for sure. Price is on par for a retailer so definitely come here. read more

Very friendly quick service. Staff was friendly Answered all of my questions. Toki doki merch. read more

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I came here on behalf of my girlfriend. She loves Japan L.A. We are also into Japanese Anime. But she is more into Anime than I am. But we stopped here yesterday hanging around the city,and purchased her some close and toys. Ladies are nice that work here. Store is fun looking and interesting full of Japanese genre and goodies. We have a similar store like this in Irvine. But Japan L.A has more to offer. We will be regulars now whenever in town. read more

Adorable store with adorable employees who are super helpful and know their products! I'm from the east coast and had been a fan of this shop for a long time and I was happy to finally pay a visit while visiting LA! The whole shop is well stocked with so many cute things that it can take you a while to decidw what to get haha. I brought a homie with me who didn't know what Rilakkuma was (I know, right?) and he walked out with 3 Rilakkuma plushes after! The whole front of the shop is pink and hard to miss! read more

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"JapanLA: My Wallet Cried, But My Inner Child Ascended." I walked into JapanLA and immediately said, "Okay, so this is what joy smells like." This place is dangerously adorable. It's like stepping into a pastel dreamscape where Hello Kitty is queen, Rilakkuma is your therapist, and Pusheen is in charge of HR (and snacks). Every inch of the store screams KAWAII -- in the best, most aggressively cute way possible. They've got over 2,000 items, but somehow I convinced myself I needed all of them. Exclusive clothing? Yes. Plushies that feel like clouds and whisper sweet nothings to your soul? Also yes. Blind boxes that both delight and destroy your self-control? You bet. Everything is curated with love, sparkles, and a deep understanding of what it means to be a person who never really outgrew Sanrio (and proudly so). Also, shoutout to the staff -- super friendly and helpful even when I was having a full-on meltdown trying to choose between three nearly identical but emotionally distinct Cinnamoroll keychains. Online store? Dangerous. In-store shopping? Euphoric. I went in to "just look around" and walked out with a shopping bag, a new identity, and at least six plush friends I now refer to as roommates. Final verdict: JapanLA is not a store. It's a lifestyle. A cute, pastel, sticker-covered lifestyle. Proceed with caution. (And a budget. You'll need both.) read more

Amazing products, nicely packaged for fast shipping. I love this store! I bought several cute boxes for baby wipes from them and cute plushies reasonably priced. read more

Super cute store, really good prices, and super friendly employees! They also offer trades :) Good sonny angel selection too read more

JapanLA - Women's Clothing Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Very cute store with a large selection of curated merch. I had more choice and more fun here than at several stores with similar merch.

My sister and I went to JapanLA since we were so close to the area. We had gotten brunch from a place close-by. Usually, I have a wonderful experience at JapanLA. The staff are helpful and you can hear them doing their Live shows on Tiktok in a curtain near the register. It's also where they usually go grab packaged version of the display items in the back. What I didn't like about yesterday's experience is the older lady working there. She was rather rude, didn't really acknowledge us, and then sold us the display bear that was most likely handled by multiple people. Since it was my sister's birthday, she got a Visa gift card and wanted to use it. The older lady seemed bothered by this, maybe she thought we didn't have money? Anyways, we pay and ask her for our receipt once the transaction is done as she's like, "Okay?" And we stood there awkwardly just waiting for our receipt. Weirded out and confused because she was staring back at us, we just let it go and left. Overall, how can you work at a Kawaii shop and not have the customer-service/ attitude to support it, ma'am? Anyways, I'll stick to shopping online through their tiktok lives since they're more nicer and livelier. read more

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Purchased an $80 spirit jersey a few weeks back, brand new still with tags and they refused to let me exchange it for a smaller size. My wife with health issues lost weight and the one we have is too big and they won't help. Crazy how the thousands of dollars we've spent in the past doesn't matter more than a "policy." Never shopping here again. read more

So kawaii and awesome! I'm a big fan of anything cute, whether it's toys, plushies, shirts, etc. I came across this store on Yelp while I was searching for fun things to do in LA. I was immediately drawn to the merch and goodies inside. The only downfall is that this store is open during the weekends, and parking can be difficult to find. However, they have a cool website where you can conveniently shop and place orders from the comfort of your own home. So, come check out JapanLA! read more

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0/10 -- WOULD NOT SHOP HERE. This store racially profiles Black customers. During my recent visit, I was followed so obviously and persistently that I felt completely uncomfortable and unwelcome. There's absolutely no excuse for this kind of treatment. I didn't buy anything--I walked out within 4 minutes of entering. They will never get my hard-earned money or another second of my time. If you go and they don't greet you, put that stuff back and walk out. Once they stop making sales, maybe they'll learn how to treat people with basic humanity. read more

I found out about this place through TikTok and OH MY GOG, it is amazing (although the last time I went was a year ago) and they have extremely cute merch from franchises like Sumikko Gurashi and Rilakkuma, and it took me a while to get there, but it was SOSOSOSO worth it. read more

Great customer service and such a fun place to shop! I come all the way from Las Vegas and each time it is a different experience

In my first order, JapanLA forgot to ship one of my items but they were able to fulfill my order and ship the remaining item to me. Great customer service! Everything was packaged well and neatly. Shipping was easy to navigate and they have great deals on their social media platforms. read more

JapanLA - Cinnamoroll Reusable wipes and Cinnamoroll Photo Stacking Drawer - Women's Clothing Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I love coming to JapanLA! If you love shopping for Sanrio stuff, this is the place. They also have Sailor Moon and some Studio Ghibli items. Sometimes, I shop on their website, but I also enjoy going into the store. We never go for anything specific. We just enjoy finding cute things to buy. This store reminds me of what Sanrio stores were like when I was a kid. Lots of Sanrio stationary! The store is always clean, the staff is always friendly. Be prepared to spend some cash because there's so much cute stuff. Pricing is what you would expect, but they do have some bargain bins. read more

You'd think a store that sells such happy things would have good energy *sigh* I went in on a Saturday, there were about 3-4 employees there, all of them had a sour look on their face (except for the greeter at the door..she was nice enough). Unfortunately, the employees made my experience unenjoyable. I felt awkward being there.. almost like I was Intruding their space. So much so, that I didn't want to ask for help finding something I had seen online. They were just that unapproachable. I won't be supporting JapanLA moving forward. There are many other retailers that sell the same things that are actually helpful and welcoming. Also, JapanLA inflates prices!! Everything is much more expensive there than other retailers. Ridiculous. read more

Drove over an hour to visit this store because my daughter loves Sanrio. Very big store with so many options, cute decor and easy to find. The store was so crowded it was hard to even walk. Prices vary but the most part overpriced. $40 for an about 6" plush. Yikes. Most employees seemed helpful and happy but our cashier was the worse. She was so Rude and just didn't smile, she told us no cash unless you have the exact change. We were not aware of this after standing in line for 15min and there were no signs. Definitely would not return. read more

I've been going here for 10 years now and it never disappoints. Whenever I come here I stock up because they have great selection. If you want to buy go on their pop shop live app. It's convenient if you live in LA or even Oc because you can pick up for free. They are open every Saturday of July. I hope they do more pop up shops and open the their store more for in shopping. Parking is difficult because it's street parking but that's the norm here in LA so no surprise read more

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So cuteeeeeeeeeee I loved it some stuff a cheap there in a good way There was mini backpacks and pins and pens shirts and school stuff too read more

I really liked everything displayed. I liked how they had SALE boxes which I lovedd!! Wish I got to buy more. read more

JapanLA - Charmmy Kitty and a note pad with stickers - Women's Clothing Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Hello Kitty in Los Angeles... Just looking at Hello Kitty brings happiness to my heart! I don't know why... If there's a Sanrio store nearby, I just want to look... in case there's something I've never seen before. We did a search on Yelp, found metered street parking nearby, and walked in... JapanLA on Melrose is a cute shop with not only Hello Kitty, but also Tokidoki, Pusheen, Pokemon, Rilakkuma, etc. Everything is so cute! I was overwhelmed and went around in circles to make sure I didn't miss anything. The shopkeeper was so sweet and helpful! She made suggestions and pointed out the new arrivals. I was quite sure that I wanted a Hello Kitty item, so I zeroed in on that section of the store... I don't think I have ever seen an LED mini-lantern! It will be perfect for the Blacklight Run on Saturday! Haha! It's so kawaii and useful! read more

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A great place to visit if you are fans of Sanrio and other similar characters. The staff is great and the atmosphere is awesome as well. read more

JapanLA - Store front - Women's Clothing Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Super kind and helpful sales staff. The store was such a fun experience for kids and adults as well! :)

Terrible customer service! I have spent a lot of money at Japan LA! I go way back with this store. I used to shop in person at the Melrose store and cried when I saw it destroyed in June of 2020. They have since moved to La Brea and sorry, you can't blame the pandy anymore for horrible customer service. If you order for shipping it takes WEEKS for the order to even go out. On the other hand, if you opt for pickup you will receive an email saying your order is ready for pickup only for it not to be. This has happened more than once. The employee just said, "you should call first," even though I received the ready for pickup email at least five days ago. Mind you, they are putting items in a bag and nothing more. They are not making these items from scratch. Oddly, you can't enter the store still even though it's almost 2023. It's very unpleasant to be left waiting outside in a somewhat sketchy (these days) neighborhood while I'm watching around four or five employees seemingly just chat and giggle with each other and maybe film something for Instagram. I have no more loyalty to this store. There are so many stores that have the exact same merchandise where you will get treated wonderfully! Sawtelle and K town have great options, better selection and prices. Goodbye Japan LA read more

It was so devastating to see Japan LA get looted earlier this year when the riots happened in LA. Being a Hello Kitty fan; it had always been on my list of small businesses to visit and support. Though this location is still closed; Japan LA has survived and they currently have their online shopping website as well as shows on Popshop Live. I've ordered twice from them already and the shopping experience has been very pleasant. Jamie and her crew are great and they offer some of the cutest items. From Hello Kitty to Animal Crossing to San-X to Pusheen; you can find it all here! I even got the cutest boba bag one time. I was quite impressed when I bought from their Pusheen pop-up online because they even included the Pusheen gift bag. I also liked how I was able to get the freebie pin, sticker and headband that time. The one comment I do have though is I wish they would put more of their items on the website (I have a gift card to use but it's online only and cannot be used on the Popshop Live app and sometimes the items sell out fast on Popshop Live before it can even get on the Japan LA site. As much as I love the Popshop Live experience; I want to be able to use my Japan LA gift card too.) One day when they open back up I hope to visit their actual store but for now the online shopping experience has been overall pretty good. read more

This is a review of JapanLA's online store. Great online selection of kawaii products. They ship fast, too! I placed an order online for this adorable Cinnamoroll plush, and it was in my arms three days later. The only downside is they sell out of products quickly, so you should always have a cart filled and ready to go, in order to maximize the cost you'll pay for shipping. read more

JapanLA - Ordered this plushie online, and it shipped the next day! Fast shipping and quality products. - Women's Clothing Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I like this store but heres the issue: its la so everything is soo expensive!! half of the stuff isnt even priced. there was a couple workers watching customers every move. uncomfortable! i know la has theft everywhere but come on! i wanted a key chain but didnt wanba pay $50 for it. good luck read more

Cute store that sells different brands and characters. All the items are neatly displayed. There are toys, apparel, plushies, trinkets, and accessories. The items are pricey. :: Experience:: The characters I saw and knew were Hello Kitty, Rilakkuma, Pusheen, Pokemon, Totoro, and Tokidoki but there were more. They even sell Star Wars theme shoes. My daughter wanted a Tokidoki shirt but they didn't have her size. We we're told, they sold out. She ended up getting a Totoro Jacket that costed $108.40 (tax included). It was on sale. The regular price was $130.00. :: Customer Service:: Lulu and Jorge was very helpful, polite, and welcoming. They both helped my daughter with getting the correct size of the Totoro Jacket. ::M's Notes:: -Street Parking -Lot Parking read more

It's super cute and an amazing store that has a lot of hello kitty and friends accessories. When we entered we were first greeted and they made sure to ask us how we were! The prices were about what you'd expect them to be so you aren't overcharged but definitely not undercharged read more

JapanLA - The store and what they sell. - Women's Clothing Near Me - Los Angeles, California