The Karate Kid Part III continues the story of Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi. The movie is the final installment that stars both Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita. It also introduces Thomas Ian Griffith as Terry Silver, a character that would return in Cobra Kai. Much like The Karate Kid Part I, the movie was filmed in Los Angeles.
Mr. Miyagi’s Little Trees Shop
In this movie, Daniel and Mr. Miyagi run a bonsai tree shop called Mr. Miyagi’s Little Trees. The shop isn’t overly successful and looks rather run down.
The location of the shop was located at 130-126 N Avenue 50 in Los Angeles, right next to a train line. The shop was just built for the movie and was torn down after. The lot remains vacant to this day, with nothing else being build there.
The Pottery Shop
In the movie, Daniel befriends Jessica, played by Robyn Lively. Jessica works across the street in a pottery shop. The shop is located directly across from the above lot, just as it’s portrayed in the movie. The building’s address is 135 N. Avenue 50 and it still looks largely how it did in the film.
Daniel’s Apartment
Daniel’s apartment building appears again in this movie, just as it did in the original Karate Kid movie. Please keep in mind the building is private property, and should only be viewed from the sidewalk. I was given special permission to photograph inside the complex.
Mr. Miyagi’s House
By 1989 when The Karate Kid Part III was being filmed, the original house used as Mr. Miyagi’s home had been torn down. The house ended up being recreated at the Warner Bros. Ranch in Burbank. The house was again torn down after filming was concluded. The house was recreated again, but in Atlanta for the Netflix series Cobra Kai.
