Spring means Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) in Japan. In the UK, Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) might not be as popular as in Japan, but there are a couple of Cherry Blossom related Japanese events held in April, and you’ll find further details below in our Outside of London Events Section. If you’re living in London, however, it might be nice to take a day out or even a weekend trip to attend those fantastic events.
Meanwhile, in London, for those who are interested in food and drinks, you might like to try “Japanese Afternoon Tea” at Karma Sanctum Soho London. Or if you’d like to meet up and speak Japanese in an informal and friendly atmosphere while having a buffet and drinks, there’s the “Japanese Conversation Group” event by Japan Society.
If your interests are Japanese art and culture, there will be plenty of lessons and workshops to choose from in April, such as Taiko (drums), Shibori (tie-dying), Ikebana (flower arrangement), Kintsugi (golden repair of broken items) and Shodo (calligraphy) along with Chado (tea ceremony). You’ll find something to try out for sure in our Japanese Events April 2023 calendar.
April 1st & 30th: Less is more – Art of Ikebaba (Trial class)
- Date : Saturday, April 1st & Sunday, April 30th 2023
- Time : 14:30 – 16:30
- Workshop fee: £65 per person
- Location: Craft Central 397-411 Westferry Road London E14 3AE
Explore the beauty of nature. Enjoy your world expanding from a stem. You will see yourself in a tiny container. In this class, you will make 1 arrangement, learn how to make sophisticated Ikebana arrangements, and some etiquette when you “do” Ikebana is taught. Flowers, 1 vase, 1 kenzan, scissors, text, 1 bag, and refreshment are provided and you can take all home except the scissors.
For more information and booking, please visit the following pages.
Ikebana Trial Lesson page on April 1st | Ikebana Trial Lesson page on April 30th
April 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th: TAIKO Trial Lesson with Japanese Instructor by 和耕道 (Wa-chord)
- Date : Sunday, April 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th 2023
- Time : 16:30 – 18:00
- Lesson fee: £16 per person
- Location: Storm Rehearsal Studios 303 Holloway Road London N7 8HS
Enjoy authentic Japanese Taiko -an instrument spanning over 2000 years- ! Learn to play an exotic, high quality instrument from a Japanese expert taiko instructor! Great cardio and chance to meet new people and be part of a team. You might be able to watch the team’s practice. All levels are welcome!
For more information and booking, please check the Taiko Trial Lesson page for various dates.
April 4th: Japanese Conversation Group
- Date: Tuesday, April 4th 2023
- Time: 19:00 – 23:00
- Cost: No Booking Required – Just turn up and pay at the door a small fee to cover the costs of the buffet
- Location: Shakespeare’s Head, 29 Great Marlborough Street, Soho, London W1F 7HZ
The Japanese Conversation Group provides a friendly and informal atmosphere for Japanese speakers of all nationalities to come together and speak Japanese – intermediate level recommended. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month. They begin at 7.00pm and finish around 11.00pm.
For more information, please visit the Japanese Conversation Group page .
April 6th & 22nd: Kintsugi Workshop
Date & Time, Fee and Location
- Thursday, April 6th 2023: 19:30 – 21:00 | £28 | Mini Picassos, 8 Station Terrace, Kensal Rise, London NW10 5RT
- Saturday, April 22nd 2023: 17:00 – 18:30 | £28 | KGU5s 130 Mortimer Road, Kensal Green, London NW10 5SN
The idea of this workshop is to repair a loved item, joining together the fractures using the Japanese Kintsugi method – applying the resin glue to the broken sections and making it whole once more. The Kintsugi method celebrates the beauty of the scars in an object and recognises that the history should be shown and not hidden. All the kit needed for this workshop is provided.
For booking and more info, please check these pages:
For April 6th: Kintsugi Workshop | For 22nd 17:00 – 18:30: Kintsugi Workshop
April 15th: Beginners Shibori
- Date: Saturday, April 15th 2023
- Time & Fee: 10:30 – 13:30 £60.29 | 10:30 – 17:30 £109.05
- Location: FABRICATIONS 7 Broadway Market Hackney London E8 4PH
Shibori is the Japanese art of stitched and bound resist. You will be taught a number of traditional Japanese patterns, which can be modified to suit your own design, and how to dye with indigo using a pre-prepared vat as well as how to unpick your finished work to reveal your designs! The class is aimed at beginners but any and all levels are welcome!
For booking and more info, please visit the Beginners Shibori page.
April 22nd: SHODO Japanese Calligraphy Course
- Date: Saturday, April 22nd 2023
- Time: 13:30 – 16:30
- Fee: £61.02 per person
- Location: London Shodo, The Art Worker’s Guild, 6 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AT (first floor)
All materials are included and the utensils are prepared. You’ll have 90min x2 (3 hours) of hands-on instruction, including 1 to 1 help. You will learn essential brush movements and calligraphy techniques and how to use all four treasures of the studies, brush, paper, ink and ink stone. There will be various templates (seasonal inspired) prepared for different levels so each individual can learn and develop in the most effective way.
For booking and more info, please check the Shodo Japanese Calligraphy Course page.
Ongoing Japanese Events in April: Chado | Japanese Afternoon Tea
1) Chado Tea Demonstrations by Tankokai UK
- Date: Saturday, March 18th 2023 to Saturday, June 17th 2023
- Time: For Saturday April 15th 16:00 & 17:00 (Booking opens April 3rd)
- Admission: Free but booking essential (*Spaces for each demonstration are limited)
- Location: The Hall, Japan House London, 101-111 Kensington High St, London, W8 5SA
Chadō (the Japanese Way of Tea) Demonstrations are held monthly by chadō practitioners from Tankokai UK, an association connected to Urasenke, one of the largest tea schools in Japan. Each event offers guests an opportunity to experience first-hand the values and significance of the Way of Tea in everyday life. During each event there is also the possibility to ask questions to the practitioners and enjoy a bowl of matcha along with chagashi sweets.
For more information and booking, please visit the Japan House London Chado Demonstrations page.
2) Japanese Afternoon Tea
- Date & Time: From Wednesday to Saturday 12:00 – 18:00
- Cost: £48.02
- Location: Karma Sanctum Soho London, 20 Warwick Street London W1B 5NF
Japanese-inspired Afternoon Tea is a unique take on the classic British tradition with savoury dishes such as crispy shrimp, chicken katsu slider, hirata bun with wasabi crunchy tofu, steamed & pan-fried vegetable gyoza, salmon tartare, and sweet treats including selection of mochi, chocolate & caramelised miso tart, apple & apple crumble, and warm scones with served with yuzu curd. End your experience with a decedent flight of mini cocktails and matching macaroons, including a high-octane Jack Daniel’s Espresso Martini, a zesty Classic Margarita, and a sweet Chambord Shot.
For more information and booking, please check the Japanese Afternoon Tea page.
Outside of London Events: Nihongo Yoga (Edinburgh) | Cherry Blossom Concert (Birmingham) | Cherry Blossom Festival (Totnes)
1) April 2nd: Nihongo Yoga (with Japanese and English) & Social Meeting
- Date: Sunday, April 2nd 2023
- Time: 11:00 – 12:30 (about 45mins yoga practice & 45 mins tea time)
- Event fee: £10 although if you bring snacks to share with everyone it is half price.
- Location: Yoga Studio Art and Spirituality, 6-8 Alexander Drive, Gorgie, Edinburgh, EH11 2RH
This is a unique class for people who study Japanese or like Japanese culture and allows them to have the chance to meet new like-minded people. Instructor Kotomi will conduct the class in both English and Japanese. She enjoys spending time with class participants after sessions and for everyone to socialise and get to know each other. At Nihongo Yoga, you can get plenty of opportunity to talk after.
You can find more event information here: Nihongo Yoga with Japanese and English & Social Meeting.
2) April 2nd: Cherry Blossom Concert
- Date: Sunday, April 2nd 2023
- Time: 15:00 – 16:00
- Admission: Free to drop in and out, but booking is required.
- Location: Oozels Square, Brindleyplace, Birmingham, B1 2JB
BCMG’s Cherry Blossom Concert is back! In collaboration with Ikon Gallery, they are bringing a moment of calm to your Sunday lunchtime. This will be an hour-long, free, and sensory event for all ages. Grab a coffee from one of Brindley Place’s local cafes and feel free to drop in and out as you please.
For more information, please visit the Cherry Blossom Concert page.
3) April 15th: Cherry Blossom Festival – Hanami
- Date: Saturday, April 15th 2023
- Time: 12:00 – 17:00
- Admission: Free (Entrance to Garden is £7 for adults and less for locals, children and concessions)
- Location: Dartington Hall Gardens,Summer House, Dartington Hall, Totnes TQ9 6EE
Join in an enjoyment of the Cherry Blossoms at Dartington Hall. They will be at the Summer House greeting and dressing people in kimono of all kinds. You can choose your favourite colours and have your picture taken under the trees. Shamisen and entertainment provided – games and Japanese singalong!
For more information, please visit the Cherry Blossom Festival page.
Your reviews of Japanese Events April 2023
We hope you found our Japanese Events for April round up helpful, and you’re able to check out some of these fantastic events!
We’ll be updating this Japanese Events April 2023 page as we get more info, so please do come back to check it from time to time, and please feel free to comment below on your experience if you were able to attend! This will give our readers a better idea of what to expect and may encourage them to join future events by the same organizers.
Also, if you’d like to submit information for your Japanese event coming up in April or May, please get in touch with us through our contact form.
