December brings with it the start of the festive season and a variety of holiday-related Japanese events taking place over the coming weeks – the details of which can be found in our Japanese Events December calendar.
This December, two of the best place to take in all the festivities is The Factory and Japan House London. At The Factory’s Yokimono Japanese Christmas Market, you can find live music & performances as well as Japanese food, art, craft and more. Then, at Japan House London’s Christmas Late Night Shopping event, shoppers will be able to get a 15% discount on all purchases – an amazing incentive for those looking for some last-minute holiday inspiration.
Looking to break from tradition this holiday season? Why not try something new, like making your own Shimekazari Japanese New Year Wreath at Pantechnicon. Or explore the Japanese Way of Tea with a Chado demonstration at Japan House London. You could even indulge in a taste of Japan with an Afternoon Tea at KARMA SANCTUM SOHO.
For the Sake lovers, The BSA’s holding the UK’s biggest Grand Tasting sake event and West London Wine School has their Premium Sparkling Sake Tasting workshop in December, both of which will be fantastic to attend.
We’re sure you’ll find some interesting Japanese Events to attend in our Japanese Events December calendar below and have a wonderful holiday season everyone!
December 2nd & 3rd: Yokimono Japanese Xmas Market
- Date: Saturday, December 2nd & Sunday, December 3rd 2023
- Time: 11:00 – 18:00
- Free Entry & Family Friendly
- Location: The Factory, 21-31 Shacklewell Lane, Dalston, Hackney, London, E8 2DA
Explore traditional and contemporary Japanese arts & crafts, culture and food, and find unique and authentic gifts for Christmas! YOKIMONO (よきもの ‘good things’ in Japanese) Market is a Japanese-themed market and cultural event in East London. Traders will be offering; delicious Japanese food, sweets and tea, vintage kimono, ceramics and other handcrafts, illustrations, stationary, clothing, jewellery and much more. As well as a wide variety of market stalls, there will be live music performances & demonstrations of Furoshiki eco-wrapping, Kimono dressing and Tea ceremony.
You can find more event information on the Eventbrite page.
December 4th: Dassai Masterclass & British Sake Association Grand Tasting of Sakes
- Date: Monday, December 4th 2023
- Time: Dassai Masterclass from 18:00 to 19:00 | Grand Tasting of Sakes from 19:30 to 22:00
- Ticket Prices: Dassai Masterclass £30 | Grand Tasting of Sakes £45 for BSA members, £65 for Guests
- Location: Museum of the Home, 136 Kingsland Road, London E2 8AE
Grand Tasting of Sakes is the largest sake tasting event in the UK. Prepare for an exceptional evening featuring over a hundred premium sakes, shochus, gins, and other Japanese artisan beverages, complemented by tasty nibbles and stellar exhibitors. Secure your tickets now and mark your calendars for an unforgettable evening celebrating the art of Japanese craft beverages.
For more information and booking, please check the Dassai Masterclass & BSA Grand Tasting of Sakes page.
December 5th: Japanese Conversation Group
- Date: Tuesday, December 5th 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.
December 6th and 10th: Create a Japanese New Year Wreath
- Date & Time: Wednesday, December 6th at 18:30 – 19:30 | Sunday, December 10th at 11:00 – 12:00 & 14:00 – 15:00
- Workshop Fee: £65.00
- Location: The Studio (1F), at Pantechnicon, 19 Motcomb St, London, SW1X 8LB
Join a workshop at Pantechnicon with Japanese floral designer Mariko Kinoshita of Matsurika Flowers to create your own shimekazari New Year wreath. The workshops will last 60 minutes and all materials will be provided for you to create your own wreath to take home. Mariko will guide you through making the wreath and decorating it with Japanese symbols of prosperity, good luck charms and adornments.
For more information and booking, please check out the Create a Japanese New Year Wreath Experience page.
December 8th: Shodo The Art of Japanese Calligraphy
- Date: Friday, December 8th 2023
- Time: 13:30 – 16:30 with a tea break
- Fee: £58
- Location: School of SHODO, The Art Worker’s Guild, 6 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AT (first floor)
All materials included and the utensils are prepared. You’ll have 90min x2 (3 hours) of hands-on instruction, including 1 to 1 help and learn essential brush movements, calligraphy techniques and how to use all four treasures of the studies, brush, paper, ink and ink stone. You will also receive tips, advice and detailed insights from a practicing calligrapher: plenty of inspiration and techniques to experience the mindfulness process.
For booking and more info, please check the Shodo The Art of Japanese Calligraphy page.
December 14th: Shop Experience Christmas Late Night Shopping Event
- Date: Thursday, December14th 2023
- Time: 18:00 – 21:00
- Admission: Free (Just Drop In)
- Location: The Shop, Japan House London, 101-111 Kensington High Street, London, W8 5SA
Get ready for Christmas with gift wrapping demonstrations using furoshiki, enjoy seasonal refreshments from the Stand, and tastings to introduce a variety of Japanese food and drink available in the Shop. Guests can browse their curated product collection after hours, including a variety of Christmas gift boxes, and will receive a 15% discount on all purchases made in store.
For more information, please visit the Shop Experience Christmas Late Night Shopping Event page.
December 15th: Sparkling Sake Tasting Masterclass
- Date: Friday, December 15th 2023
- Time: 19:00 – 21:00
- Entrance cost: £65 per person
- Location: West London Wine School, located inside The Wine Cellars (access via the Big Yellow Storage Company entrance) 71 Townmead Road, Fulham, London SW6 2SG
Want to wow your holiday guests this year? Add a bottle of sparkling sake to your festive drinks lineup! You will be able to taste seven premium sparkling sake from a variety of styles, accompanied by festive fine cheeses and Japanese-influenced nibbles. There will be a tutored tasting on the world of sparking sake including history and production methods, with a full Powerpoint presentation and tasting sheets.
For more information and booking, please check out the Sparkling Sake Masterclass page.
Ongoing Japanese Events in December: Japanese Inspired Afternoon Tea | Chado Demonstrations
Japanese Inspired Afternoon Tea
- Date & Time: from Wednesday to Saturday 12:00 – 18:00
- Cost: £44
- Location: KARMA SANCTUM SOHO, 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 & sweet treats including selection of mochi, chocolate & caramelised miso tart, apple & apple crumble and warm scones served with yuzu curd. End your experience with a decedent flight of mini cocktails & matching macaroons including a high-octane Jack Daniel’s Espresso Martini, a zesty Margarita and a sweet Chambord Shot.
For more information and booking, please check the Japanese Inspired Afternoon Tea page.
Chado Demonstrations by Tankokai UK
- Date: Saturday, October 21st 2023 to Saturday, January 27th 2024
- Time: For Saturday 16 December 2023: 16:00 & 17:00 (Booking opens on December 1st) | For Saturday 27 January 2024: 16:00 & 17:00 (Booking opens on January 13th)
- 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, is a Japanese tradition with more than 400 years of history with many practitioners not only in Japan, but all over the world. Considered a way to socialise, this act of preparing and serving matcha tea to guests is a practice that involves a deep attention to single movements and gestures, an appreciation of the craft objects and their role in the process and an awareness of the surrounding environment.
For more information and booking, please visit the Chado Demonstrations by Tankokai UK page.
Outside of London Events: Nihongo Yoga & Social Meeting (Edinburgh) | KABUKI KIMONO: Costumes of Bando Tamasaburo V (Oxford)
1) December 3rd: Nihongo Yoga with Japanese and English & Social Meeting
- Date: Sunday, December 3rd 2023
- Time: 11:30 – 13:00 (about 45mins yoga practice & 45 mins tea time)
- 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) Kabuki Kimono: Costumes of Bando Tamasaburo V (Display)
- Date: Tuesday November 21st 2023 to Sunday December 8th 2024
- Time: 10:00 – 17:00
- Admission: Free
- Location: Textiles Gallery 5, lower ground floor, The Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2PH
Six spectacular kimonos belonging to the kabuki actor Bandō Tamasaburō V will be on display in the Textiles Gallery for a year. Tamasaburō is the most popular and celebrated onnagata (male actor who performs female roles) currently on stage. The costumes selected reflect the wide variety of roles in this actor’s long and celebrated theatre career, from court ladies and courtesans to geisha and demons. You’ll see beautifully crafted costumes that showcase a range of elaborate textile techniques, including weaving, dyeing, embroidery and hand-painting.
For more information, please visit the KABUKI KIMONO: Costumes of Bando Tamasaburo V page.
Your reviews of Japanese Events December 2023
We hope you found our Japanese Events for December 2023 round up helpful, and you’re able to check out some of these fantastic events!
We’ll be updating this event page as we get more info, so please do come back to check it from time to time.
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 December or January, please get in touch with us through our contact form.
