"Brazil has the largest community of Japanese descendants outside of Japan, and Liberdade is the center of that community in São Paulo. Although parts of it look a bit run-down, the neighborhood is decorated to resemble an Asian city, with lanterns, typical Japanese archways, and street art depicting Japanese characters, and it’s a great place to spend a couple of hours. Weekends are the best time to visit — there is a market by the metro station on Saturdays and Sundays where you can find everything from traditional Japanese food to little souvenirs. There are many Japanese restaurants, and the quality is often exceptional, even in establishments that don’t look like much more than holes in the wall, such as Espetaria Tia Tia, an excellent sushi spot. During the daytime, the area is perfectly safe although it is advisable to keep an eye on your belongings, but at night it can become sketchy, so stay away from this area after dark." - MATADOR_NETWORK
