Ojai (pronounced “oh-hi”) is a city in Ventura County in the State of California. Located in the Ojai Valley, it is northwest of Los Angeles and east of Santa Barbara. The valley is about 10 miles long by 3 miles wide, surrounded by rolling hills and sleepy mountains.
Ojai is a small, quiet town just beyond the reach of Los Angeles. The city is home to many small businesses specializing in local and ecologically friendly art, design, and music. Chain stores (other than a few gas stations) are prohibited by Ojai city law to encourage local small business development and keep the town unique.
The climate of Ojai is Mediterranean, characterized by hot, dry summers, sometimes exceeding 100 °F (38 °C), and mild winters, with lows at night sometimes below freezing. As is typical for much of coastal southern California, most precipitation falls in the form of rain between the months of October and April, with intervening dry summers.
The “downtown” portion of Ojai is called the Arcade, and is located on E Ojai Ave between N Signal St and N Montgomery St. There are a number of diverse shops, art galleries, restaurants, downtown hotels and services all within easy walking distance. See the Ojai Village Walking Guide for more details.