Sawtelle Boulevard
Sawtelle Boulevard is a north/south street in Los Angeles, California of important cultural significance. Sawtelle Blvd's northern end is at Ohio Avenue adjacent to the Veteran Administration, and its southern end is at Overland Avenue, a few blocks past Sepulveda Boulevard. Sawtelle Blvd is the major thoroughfare for the West Los Angeles neighborhood of Sawtelle.
The portion of Sawtelle Blvd from Santa Monica Boulevard to Olympic Boulevard is a trendy spot for the newer Japanese American community in Los Angeles,[1]. Often called simply "Sawtelle," this neighborhood is occasionally called "Little Osaka" - not to be confused with downtown Los Angeles' older Little Tokyo, or the larger Japantown, San Francisco, California (which has also been called Little Osaka)[2]. Sawtelle is relatively near UCLA, Santa Monica, and Culver City. Twenty years ago, Japanese immigrants operated botanical nurseries here. Today, businesses found on this street include Japanese fast food (curry and ramen), two Japanese supermarkets, upscale sushi bars, Holistic and Medical office (Dr. Al@Golden cabinet), hair salons, neighborhood Japanese grocery stores, a Boba tea shop, anime shops, Japanese artisan stores, temples, and a few historic nurseries. One interesting site is the consulate of Saudi Arabia, located next to a ramen restaurant and an esoteric Japanese magazine store.
Homes south of this portion of Sawtelle Blvd are inhabited by a large Japanese American population. Many of the homes exhibit gardens and landscapes true to Japanese tradition.
After passing Olympic Boulevard, Sawtelle Boulevard continues as a four-lane boulevard running parallel to the San Diego Freeway and Sepulveda Boulevard. After entering Culver City, Sawtelle Blvd swerves east, crosses Sepulveda Boulevard and ends at Overland Avenue in Culver City.
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