Oriental Paris: Complete Guide to Asian Culture & Gardens in Paris

Paris is celebrated throughout the world as the capital of Western culture — yet within its arrondissements lies a remarkably rich and varied Asian world that most tourists never discover. From the vibrant streets of the largest Asian quarter in Europe to the serene Japanese gardens of the Bois de Boulogne, from the golden Buddhist pagoda reflected in the lakes of Vincennes to the extraordinary concentration of authentic Asian restaurants in the 13th arrondissement, Oriental Paris offers a completely different — and utterly fascinating — dimension to the French capital. This complete guide takes you through the very best of Asian culture, architecture, cuisine, and green spaces in Paris.

The Asian Quarter of Paris — The 13th Arrondissement

Chinatown Paris — The Largest Asian Quarter in Europe

In the southeastern corner of Paris, centred on the Avenue de Choisy and the Avenue d'Ivry in the 13th arrondissement, lies the largest Asian quarter in Europe — a vibrant, authentic neighbourhood that is home to over 60,000 people of Asian origin, predominantly from China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.

The history of Paris's Asian community dates back to the early 20th century, when the first Vietnamese and Chinese immigrants arrived in France — many as workers during World War I. The community grew significantly in the 1970s with the arrival of refugees from Southeast Asia following the Vietnam War and the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia, and the neighbourhood took on the character it retains today — a bustling, densely populated urban village where Asian languages predominate and the shops, restaurants, and supermarkets cater almost entirely to the local community.

The heart of Chinatown Paris is the Olympiades district — a remarkable 1970s urban development of tower blocks built on platforms above street level, connected by elevated walkways and pedestrian squares. Though architecturally controversial, the Olympiades has become one of the most authentically Asian neighbourhoods in Europe, its towers decorated with Chinese lanterns and its lower levels packed with restaurants, supermarkets, hair salons, and shops.

What to See and Do in the Asian Quarter

The 13th arrondissement's Asian quarter rewards unhurried exploration. Some highlights:

What to See and Do in the Asian Quarter

The 13th arrondissement's Asian quarter rewards unhurried exploration. Some highlights:

Tang Frères — the most famous Asian supermarket in Paris, a vast emporium of ingredients, spices, fresh produce, and specialty foods from across Asia, drawing shoppers from across the Île-de-France region every weekend

Paris Store — another legendary Asian supermarket, equally vast and equally authentic

Avenue de Choisy — lined with Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, and Cambodian restaurants of every price range, from simple pho noodle shops to elegant Cantonese restaurants

Rue Baudricourt — the street of bubble tea shops, dim sum restaurants, and Taiwanese snack bars that has become the most fashionable food street in the neighbourhood

The Olympiades market — a weekend street market selling Asian produce, street food, and merchandise beneath the elevated platforms of the Olympiades development

The Temple of the Association of Chinese in France

Hidden on the Rue de la Vague in the 13th arrondissement, the Temple of the Association of Chinese in France is one of the most beautiful and least visited religious buildings in Paris — a traditional Chinese Buddhist temple with a carved wooden facade, golden Buddha statues, and the smell of incense drifting through its doorway. The temple is open to all visitors and offers a remarkable moment of meditative calm in the heart of the bustling Asian quarter.

Japanese Gardens in Paris

The Japanese Garden of the Albert Kahn Museum

In the western suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt, just outside the Bois de Boulogne, lies one of the most extraordinary gardens in the Paris region — the Japanese Garden of the Albert Kahn Museum. Created at the beginning of the 20th century by the banker and philanthropist Albert Kahn, this remarkable 4-hectare garden combines a traditional Japanese garden, a French formal garden, an English landscape garden, a Vosges forest, and a Provence garden in a single extraordinary space.

The Japanese section of the garden — comprising a traditional stroll garden with stone lanterns, a tea house, a bamboo forest, a koi pond, and a Zen rock garden — is one of the most authentic Japanese gardens in Europe, created with the help of Japanese gardeners brought specially from Japan by Albert Kahn in the early 1900s. The Albert Kahn Museum itself houses an extraordinary collection of early colour photographs from around the world — the Archives of the Planet — taken by photographers sent out by Kahn to document human civilisation at the beginning of the 20th century.

Getting there: Metro Line 10 — Boulogne-Pont de Saint-Cloud station

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Tickets: €6 adults, free under 26

The Japanese Garden of the Parc André Citroën

Within the Parc André Citroën in the 15th arrondissement — one of Paris's most innovative modern parks, built on the site of the former Citroën car factory — lies a beautiful series of themed gardens including a serene Japanese garden. Designed with white gravel, carefully pruned shrubs, stone lanterns, and a small water feature, this garden offers a moment of Japanese-inspired calm within one of the most contemporary parks in Paris.

Getting there: Metro Line 10 — Javel station or RER C — Javel station

The Japanese Garden of the UNESCO Headquarters

In the 7th arrondissement, within the grounds of the UNESCO headquarters, lies one of Paris's most unexpected hidden gems — a traditional Japanese garden created in 1958 by the Japanese sculptor Isamu Noguchi as a gift from Japan to UNESCO. This remarkable garden, with its carefully placed stones, moss-covered pathways, and minimalist water features, represents one of the finest examples of contemporary Japanese garden design in Europe.

Getting there: Metro Lines 10 and 13 — Ségur station

Note: Access requires a reservation through UNESCO

Buddhist Temples and Pagodas

The Buddhist Pagoda of the Bois de Vincennes

On the shore of the Lac Daumesnil in the Bois de Vincennes stands one of the most unexpected and beautiful sights in Paris — a traditional Buddhist pagoda and temple complex, its golden roofs reflected in the still waters of the lake, surrounded by ancient oak trees. Built for the International Colonial Exhibition of 1931 as a representation of the Buddhist architecture of French Indochina, the pagoda has been the home of the Institut International Bouddhique since 1977 and remains an active place of Buddhist worship.

The temple complex consists of the main pagoda — a three-storey wooden structure decorated with carved dragons, lotus flowers, and traditional Buddhist iconography — and a smaller meditation hall. The gardens surrounding the temple are beautifully maintained, with bamboo groves, stone lanterns, and a small rock garden creating an atmosphere of profound peace.

Getting there: Metro Line 8 — Porte Dorée station (5 minute walk)

Entry: Free — open to respectful visitors

The Grande Pagode of the Bois de Vincennes

Adjacent to the Buddhist temple on the Lac Daumesnil stands the Grande Pagode — a larger ceremonial building originally constructed for the 1931 Colonial Exhibition to represent the architecture of Cambodia and Vietnam. Today it houses the Centre Bouddhiste de Paris, which offers meditation classes, Buddhist teachings, and cultural events open to the general public.

The Mosque of Paris — Islamic Oriental Culture

While not strictly Asian in the geographic sense, the Grande Mosquée de Paris in the 5th arrondissement represents one of the most important expressions of Oriental culture in Paris. Built between 1922 and 1926 in the Moorish style, with a magnificent minaret, a tiled courtyard, and a famous hammam and tearoom, the Paris Mosque is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city and one of its most welcoming — the tearoom serves authentic Moroccan mint tea and pastries in a garden setting of extraordinary beauty.

Getting there: Metro Line 7 — Place Monge or Censier-Daubenton station

Entry: €3 for guided visit of the mosque

Asian Restaurants in Paris

The Best Areas for Asian Food

Paris offers an extraordinary variety of authentic Asian cuisine, with several distinct neighbourhoods specialising in different culinary traditions:

13th arrondissement (Chinatown): Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Thai — the most authentic and affordable Asian food in Paris, particularly along the Avenue de Choisy and Rue Baudricourt

Belleville (10th/20th arrondissement): A second Asian quarter with a more bohemian character, particularly strong for Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine, with excellent bubble tea shops and dim sum restaurants

Opéra (9th arrondissement): The Japanese quarter of Paris, centred on the Rue Sainte-Anne — a remarkable concentration of authentic Japanese restaurants, ramen shops, sushi bars, and Japanese grocery stores serving the large Japanese expatriate community in Paris

Arts et Métiers (3rd arrondissement): An emerging area for high-end Asian restaurants, particularly Korean and Japanese

Must-Try Asian Dishes in Paris

Pho — Vietnamese beef noodle soup, best found in the 13th arrondissement

Dim sum — Cantonese dumplings and small plates, particularly good on weekend mornings in Chinatown

Ramen — Japanese noodle soup, best in the Rue Sainte-Anne Japanese quarter

Banh mi — Vietnamese baguette sandwiches, a delicious legacy of French colonial influence in Vietnam

Bubble tea — Taiwanese tea drinks, now found throughout Paris

Practical Information: Exploring Oriental Paris

Planning Your Oriental Paris Day

A suggested itinerary for a full day of Oriental Paris:

Morning: Japanese Garden of the Albert Kahn Museum (Boulogne-Billancourt)

Late morning: UNESCO Japanese Garden (7th arrondissement)

Lunch: Dim sum in the 13th arrondissement Chinatown

Afternoon: Buddhist Pagoda and Lac Daumesnil (Bois de Vincennes)

Late afternoon: Stroll through the 13th arrondissement Asian quarter

Evening: Dinner on the Avenue de Choisy or Rue Baudricourt

Tips for Exploring Oriental Paris

Visit Chinatown on a weekend — the neighbourhood is at its most lively on Saturday and Sunday mornings, when the markets and restaurants are at their busiest

Try Tang Frères supermarket — even if you are not cooking, a visit to this extraordinary supermarket is a cultural experience in itself

Book the Albert Kahn Museum in advance — the Japanese garden is one of the most popular attractions in the Paris suburbs

Visit the Buddhist pagoda at dawn — the golden pagoda reflected in the still waters of the Lac Daumesnil at sunrise is one of the most magical sights in Paris

Explore the Rue Sainte-Anne for the most authentic Japanese food experience in Paris

Frequently Asked Questions about Oriental Paris

Where is the Asian quarter in Paris?

The main Asian quarter in Paris is in the 13th arrondissement, centred on the Avenue de Choisy, Avenue d'Ivry, and the Olympiades development. A second, more bohemian Asian quarter is located in Belleville, straddling the 10th and 20th arrondissements.

Is there a Japanese garden in Paris?

Yes — Paris has several Japanese gardens, the finest of which is the Japanese Garden of the Albert Kahn Museum in Boulogne-Billancourt, one of the most authentic Japanese gardens in Europe.

Where is the Buddhist temple in Paris?

The most beautiful Buddhist temple in Paris is the pagoda on the shores of the Lac Daumesnil in the Bois de Vincennes, built for the 1931 Colonial Exhibition and still an active place of Buddhist worship.

What is the best area for Asian food in Paris?

The 13th arrondissement Chinatown offers the most authentic and affordable Asian food in Paris, while the Rue Sainte-Anne in the 9th arrondissement is the best area for Japanese cuisine.