The large variety of holiday-themed Japanese events taking place this December makes it for an exciting month ahead, and you can find the date and details of each one in our Japanese Events in December calendar below.
A couple of the highlighted events in December to take in all the festivities include The Factory’s ‘Yokimono Japanese Christmas Market’, to enjoy live music & performances as well as Japanese food, art, craft and more. Then, the ‘Shotengai Pan-Asian Christmas Market’ to experience the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese street market with holiday spirit offering a wide range of pan-Asian homeware and food.
For those who are into Sake, The BSA’s holding the UK’s biggest sake event, ‘Grand Tasting of Sakes’ featuring over 100 premium sakes and shochu to try, and West London Wine School has their ‘Premium Sparkling Sake Masterclass’ as well as ‘Sake & Cheese Pairing Evening’ to explore the world of Sake. We’d highly recommend attending these events which all offer a unique experience.
If you’re looking for some last-minute holiday shopping inspiration, head to Japan House London’s ‘Festive Shopping Event’ where shoppers can get a 15% discount on all purchases including Christmas Gift Boxes.
Apart from those mentioned above, there’s the ‘Hayao Miyazaki’s Dreams Concert’ to immerse yourself in the world of magical music from Studio Ghibli films or you might like to indulge in the ‘Japanese Inspired Afternoon Tea’ at Karma Sanctum Soho. You can also try your hand at Wagashi and Sushi making as well as Woodcut printmaking in December.
December 2nd: Sake & Cheese Pairing Evening
- Date: Monday, December 2nd 2024
- Time: 19:00 – 21:00
- Cost: £45
- 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
In this class, you’ll enjoy six premium sakes paired with six different artisanal cheeses while learning the basics of sake and cheese production along with general sake pairing principles. Lots of useful information will be offered to help you choose the perfect sake and cheese match and find out which sake styles you like most.
For more information and booking, please check the Sake and Cheese Pairing Evening page.
December 3rd: Japanese Conversation Group
- Date: Tuesday, December 3rd 2024
- Time: 19:00 – 23:00
- Cost: No Advanced Booking is Required. Just pay a small fee at the door to cover the costs of the buffet.
- Location: The Red Lion, 14 Kingly St, Carnaby, London W1B 5PR
The Japanese Conversation Group provides a friendly and informal atmosphere for Japanese speakers of all nationalities to come together and participate in speaking Japanese. A great way to practice and improve your Japanese conversation skills. For non-native Japanese speakers, an intermediate level is recommended to join.
For more information, please visit the Japanese Conversation Group page.
December 6th, 7th and 8th: Yokimono Japanese Xmas Market
- Date & Time: Friday December 6th 12:00 – 19:00 | Saturday December 7th & Sunday December 8th 11:00 – 18:00
- Free Entry & Family Friendly
- Location: The Factory, 21-31 Shacklewell Lane, Dalston, London, E8 2DA
At YOKIMONO (よきもの ‘good things’ in Japanese) Market, you can explore a wide range of Japanese culture and food as well as traditional and modern Japanese arts and crafts. You’ll be able to find many great Japanese gifts for Christmas from shops offering wonderful ceramics, handcrafts, stationery, jewellery and much more. Also, there will be delicious food and drinks served at market stalls as well as live music performances to enjoy & demonstrations offered such as Furoshiki eco-wrapping, Kimono dressing, Tea ceremony and Kokedama Bonsai making.
You can find more event information on the Yokimono Japanese Market – Xmas ’24 in DALSTON page.
December 11th: Premium Sparkling Sake Masterclass
- Date: Wednesday, December 11th 2024
- Time: 19:00 – 21:00
- Cost: £65
- 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
If you want to wow your holiday guests this year, why not add a bottle of sparkling sake to your festive drinks lineup? In this class, you’ll learn all about sparkling sake including history and production methods, and taste seven premium sparkling sakes from a variety of styles, accompanied by festive fine cheeses and Japanese-influenced nibbles.
For more information and booking, please check out the Premium Sparkling Sake Masterclass page.
December 12th: Festive Shopping Event
- Date: Thursday, December 12th 2024
- Time: 16:00 – 20:00
- Admission: Free (Just Drop In)
- Location: The Shop, Japan House London, 101-111 Kensington High Street, London, W8 5SA
Japan House London is offering an exclusive evening of festive shopping and seasonal activities. During this event, you’ll have an opportunity to taste a variety of Japanese drinks including whisky, sake and umeshu (plum liqueur) as well as some cakes and tea. Also, you’ll receive a 15% discount on any purchase made including Christmas gift boxes.
For more information, please visit the Festive Shopping Event page.
December 15th: Wagashi Making Class
- Date: Sunday, December 15th 2024
- Time: 18:00 – 19:00
- Cost: £55
- Location: Katsute100 Brick Lane, 147 Brick Lane, Fulham, London E1 6SB
Learn how to make your own Japanese traditional sweets, Wagashi. In this class, you’ll be guided through to make three delicious Wagashi and enjoy them with a cup of matcha or green tea. If you love Japanese sweets, this class is for you to attend, so you can make Wagashi at home to enjoy.
For more information and booking, please check the Wagashi Making Class page.
December 17th: The British Sake Association Grand Tasting of Sakes & “Nanbu Bijin” Masterclass
- Date: Tuesday, December 17th 2024
- Time: Grand Tasting of Sakes from 19:30 to 22:00 | ‘Nanbu Bijin’ Masterclass from 18:00 to 19:00 (optional)
- Ticket: Grand Tasting of Sakes – £48 (Member) £68 (Non-Member) | ‘Nanbu Bijin’ Masterclass + Grand Tasting of Sakes £86 (Member) £106 (Non-Member)
- Location: The Crypt at Crypt on the Green, Clerkenwell Close, London EC1R 0EA
The British Sake Association is holding their annual ‘Grand Tasting of Sakes’, a large walkaround tasting event, offering over 100 premium sakes and shochu. All tastings are included in the ticket price. During the event, Japanese food is available, but need to be pre-ordered here. At the venue, you can get some Christmas shopping done as well from shops selling fantastic Japanese ceramics, tea, books, furoshiki and bottles of premium sake. You can also get a chance to meet the president of Nanbu Bijin Brewery, who is flying in from Japan especially to host this year’s Masterclass.
For more information and booking, please visit the The Grand Tasting of Sakes page.
December 27th: Hayao Miyazaki’s Dreams by Mystery Ensemble
- Date: Friday, December 27th 2024
- Time: 19:30 – 20:30
- Ticket: From £20.21
- Location: Kensington United Reformed Church, Allen Street, London W8 6B
Immerse yourself in the world of magical music from Studio Ghibli films directed by internationally-renowned Hayao Miyazaki. The concert, ‘Hayao Miyazaki’s Dreams by Mystery Ensemble’, includes enchanting melodies from My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Laputa: Castle in the Sky and other Studio Ghibli movies.
For more information and booking, please check the Hayao Miyazaki’s Dreams by Mystery Ensemble page.
Ongoing Events in London: Shotengai Pan-Asian Christmas Market | Japanese Inspired Afternoon Tea
1) Shotengai Pan-Asian Christmas Market
- Date: Thursday, December 12th to Sunday, December 15th 2024
- Time: Thursday and Friday 12:00 – 19:00 | Saturday and Sunday 11:00 – 18:00
- Location: Lower Stable Street, King’s Cross, London N1C 4LW
Shōtengai is held monthly at Coal Drops Yard. This December, it’ll be a special market, ‘Shotengai Pan-Asian Christmas Market’, where you can experience and enjoy the atmosphere of Shotengai with holiday spirit when Lower Stable Street is transformed into a lively traditional Japanese street market. There will be an array of lovely stalls offering pan-Asian homeware and food.
For more information, please visit the Shotengai Pan-Asian Christmas Market page.
2) Japanese Inspired Afternoon Tea
- Date & Time: from Tuesday to Saturday 12:00 – 18:00
- Cost: £44
- Location: KARMA SANCTUM SOHO, 20 Warwick Street, London W1B 5NF
At the Karma Sanctum Soho, you can enjoy a Japanese-inspired Afternoon Tea, which includes Japanese savoury dishes such as Tuna tataki, Vegetable gyoza, Chicken kara-age skewer, Soft-shell crab sliders. For sweet treats, there’s a selection of mochi, Whiskey chocolate mousse, yoghurt & vanilla cream, and warm scones. Sample Menu: here
For more information and booking, please visit the Japanese Inspired Afternoon Tea page.
Outside of London Japanese Events: Sushi Making Workshop in High Wycombe | Japanese Christmas Woodcut (Mokuhanga) in Manchester
1) Sushi Making Workshop
- Date: Saturday, December 14th 2024
- Time: 13:00 – 14:30
- Price: £40 (includes all ingredients, a drink + 17 pieces of sushi for you to takeaway and enjoy).
- Location: The Front Room, High Wycombe, 9 Castle St, High Wycombe HP13 6RZ
Learn how to make 4 different kinds of authentic sushi (Smoked Salmon Temarizushi, Sweetcorn Gunkanzushi, Cucumber and Yukari Hosomaki, Tuna Surirachamayo Futomaki) in a relaxed atmosphere. This is a fun, easy to follow, hands-on Sushi Making Class, which lasts for 90 minutes.
For more information and booking, please check the Sushi Making Workshop in High Wycombe page.
2) Japanese Christmas Woodcut Printmaking (Mokuhanga) @GRUB 15.12
- Date: Sunday, December 15th, 2024
- Time: 14:00 – 16:30
- Cost: £30
- Location: GRUB, 50 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, M4 4HF
This Mokuhanga, Japanese Woodcut Printmaking workshop is beginner friendly and all the materials are provided. You’ll be guided through the process and you can take your own artwork home. Food and drinks are available to purchase during or before the workshop.
For booking and more information, please check out the Japanese Christmas Woodcut Printmaking page.
We hope you found our Japanese Events in December 2024 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 be sure to come back and check the latest events listed.
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.
