The annual Japanese food and culture related festivals and events taking place across the UK makes for an exciting Japanese Events calendar in October. You can find the date and details of each in our Japanese Events in October calendar below.
In London, a couple of festivals to highlight in October include ‘Japan Matsuri’, the biggest annual festival of Japanese food and culture, which you can enjoy with friends and family during the day, and ‘Ura Matsuri’, a fantastic festival of live performances by Japanese artists based in the UK, which takes place in the evening. For those outside of London, you can celebrate Japanese culture at ‘Japan Day’ in Manchester and for anime enthusiasts, Kotatsu is holding ‘Japanese Animation Festival’ in Cardiff and Aberystwyth.
Meanwhile, if you’re interested in Sake and other Japanese alcoholic drinks, there’s the ‘Drink Japan’ exhibition where you can taste a variety of the finest sakes, shochu spirits, chu-hi cocktails, beer, whiskies and wines from Japan’s top breweries as well as getting the chance to know more about the products from the artisan producers and importers.
For those who are more into Japanese food, you can indulge in the superb Japanese inspired ‘Afternoon Tea’ served in the lounge of Nobu Hotel London, or you might like to try your hand at Sushi Making in High Wycombe.
October 1st: Japanese Conversation Group
- Date: Tuesday, October 1st 2024
- Time: 19:00 – 23:00
- Cost: Just turn up and pay at the door a small fee to cover the costs of the buffet. NO BOOKING REQUIRED.
- 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 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.
October 3rd: Happy Origami Workshop
- Date: Thursday, October 3rd 2024
- Time: 19:00 – 20:30
- Fee: £15
- Location: THE SNOOTY FOX (Opposite Canonbury Overground Station), 75 Grosvenor Avenue, London, N5 2NN
This is a wonderful Origami experience where you will learn about Japanese traditions. Just by folding paper, you will be happy and calm and before long it will bring a smile to your face. Japanese Origami artist Toshiko, a member of British Origami Society, will be teaching you how to fold beautiful flowers like tulips and lilies, kimono book marks, lovely gift & jewellery boxes and kawaii dress bunting.
For more information and booking, please check the Happy Origami Workshop page.
October 4th and 5th: Drink Japan
- Date: Friday, October 4th & Saturday, October 5th 2024
- Time: October 4th & October 5th 17:00 – 21:00 | October 5th 12:00 – 16:00
- Ticket: £45
- Location: St Mary’s Church, Marylebone, York Street London W1H 1PQ
Explore the Japan’s rich drink culture by tasting a variety of finest sakes, shochu spirits, chu-hi cocktails, beer, whiskies and wines from Japan’s top breweries. Get to know more about the products by talking to the artisan producers and importers. Enjoy delicious Japanese foods as well as fantastic live performances by Japanese artists.
For more information and booking, please check out the Drink Japan page.
October 6th: Japan Matsuri
- Date: Sunday, October 6th 2024
- Time: 10:00 – 20:00
- Admission: Free | No Booking Required
- Location: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DS
Celebrate a day of Japanese food and culture at the Japan Matsuri, the UK’s much-loved and biggest annual festival of Japanese culture and food. This free annual festival brings people together to enjoy Japanese food, music, dance, and activities for all the family.
For more information, please visit the Japan Matsuri 2024 page.
October 9th: Japanese Night! Rock and Pop Battle UK vs Japan
- Date: Wednesday, October 9th 2024
- Time: Door Open 19:15 Start 19:30pm
- Ticket: £8.80
- Location: Dublin Castle, 94 Parkway, Camden Town, London NW1 7AN
Four Japanese Rock & Pop titans are coming to shake the walls of Dublin Castle, Camden in a fierce headbanging and heart-pounding showdown for one night only on October 9th! Nana Music UK presents: One night, one stage and no holding back!
For more information and booking, please check the Japanese Night! Rock and Pop Battle UK vs Japan page.
October 19th: Ura Matsuri
- Date: Saturday, October 19th 2024
- Time: Doors open at 18:30 | Show starts at 19:00
- Ticket: £15 / £12 plus £1.50 booking fee
- Location: Hoxton Hall, 130 Hoxton St, London N1 6SH
Ura Matsuri is an annual festival of live music and performances as well as art installations by Japanese and other East Asian artists based in the UK. Line-up: Frank Chickens / Beibei Wang / Vera Chok / NO CARS / Tenzin Sisters / Kamura Obscure / Mai & Fear of Fluffing / Aya Nakamura aka Mademoiselle Lychee / Hibiki Ichikawa & Shamisen London / Chindon Yeah
For more information and booking, please check out the Ura Matsuri and ticket page.
October 19th: Sogetsu School of Ikebana – IKEBANA Exhibition Autumn Glory
- Date: Saturday, October 19th 2024
- Time: 11:00 – 16:30
- Admission: Free
- Location: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, 3 Pilgrim’s Place, London NW3 1NG
There will be beautiful displays of Ikebana as well as flower arranging demonstrations. You can get to try and create your own Ikebana, the Japanese style flower arrangement, for £5 cash only. Pottery is also available for purchase.
For more information, please visit the Sogetsu School of Ikebana – IKEBANA Exhibition Autumn Glory page.
October 25th: School of SHODO – ‘The Art of Japanese Calligraphy’
- Date: Friday, October 25th 2024
- Time: 13:30 – 16:30 with a tea break
- Fee: £58 (All materials included)
- Location: School of SHODO, The Art Worker’s Guild, 6 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AT (first floor)
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.
Ongoing Events in London: Looks Delicious! Exploring Japan’s food replica culture at Japan House London | Afternoon Tea at Nobu Hotel London Portman Square
1) Looks Delicious! Exploring Japan’s food replica culture
- Date: Wednesday, October 2nd 2024 to Sunday, February 16th 2025
- Time: Monday – Saturday 10:00 – 20:00 | Sundays & Bank Holidays 12:00 – 18:00
- Admission: Free, Booking Recommended
- Location: The Gallery, Japan House London, 101-111 Kensington High Street, London, W8 5SA
Take a mouth-watering journey through the uniquely Japanese phenomenon of shokuhin sanpuru – the unexpectedly realistic food replicas displayed in front of restaurants across Japan. A rare opportunity outside Japan to see skillfully-created models up close. You can get a chance to create your own bento box of replica food as well.
For more information, please visit the Looks Delicious! Exploring Japan’s food replica culture page.
2) Afternoon Tea at Nobu Hotel London Portman Square
- Date: Monday to Sunday
- Time: 12:45 – 17:30
- Price: Classic Afternoon Tea £70 | £63 for vegan option
- Location: The Lounge, Nobu Hotel London, 22 Portman Square, London EC2Y 8DS
Experience a range of Japanese inspired dishes alongside classic British afternoon favourites at Nobu Lounge in the heart of Marylebone. Enjoy a selection of Cup Sushi, crispy Chicken Kara-age, Wakamomo Peach Mousse – to name but a few.
For more information and booking, please check the Afternoon Tea in Nobu Hotel London page.
Outside of London Japanese Events: Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival (Cardiff & Aberystwyth) | Japan Day 2024 (Manchester) | Sushi Making Workshop (High Wycombe)
1) Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival
An annual festival celebrating Japanese animation and Japanese culture. There will be a Kotatsu Festival Stand as well as Manga Kissa (free comic corner) where you can read some of your favourite manga or general Japan-related books or magazines.
Cardiff
- Saturday, October 5th and Sunday, October 6th 2024 | Various Time | Daytime (until 5 pm) :￡9/￡7 concessions / Evening (5 pm onwards):￡9/￡7 concessions *All tickets are subject to a ￡1 of transaction fee,| Chapter, Market Road, Canton Cardiff CF5 1QE
For more information, please check out the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival in Cardiff page and you can get tickets from Chapter Box Office .
Aberystwyth
- Friday, October 25th to Sunday, October 27th 2024 | Various Time | Adults £8.50 Concessions £7.50 / Under 12s £6.50 (including a booking fee) | Aberystwyth Arts Center, Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DE
For more information, please check out the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival in Aberystwyth page and you can get tickets from Aberystwyth Arts Centre Box Office .
2) Japan Day 2024
- Date: Saturday, October 19th 2024
- Time: 11:00 – 17:00
- Admission: Free
- Location: Sugden Sports Centre, 114 Grosvenor St, Manchester M1 7HL
Celebrate Japanese Culture with Japan Society North West in Manchester. Have fun and discover Japanese Culture through activities such as Taiko Drumming, Kimono Dressing, Martial Arts, Enka Singing, and many more. Japanese Food and Drinks are available from stalls.
For more information, please visit the Japan Day 2024 page.
3) Sushi Making Workshop
- Date: Saturday, October 19th 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
This 90-minute hands-on Sushi Making Class will teach you how to make 4 different kinds of authentic sushi (Smoked Salmon Temarizushi, Sweetcorn Gunkanzushi, Cucumber and Yukari Hosomaki, Tuna Surirachamayo Futomaki) in a relaxed and fun environment.
For more information and booking, please check the Sushi Making Workshop in High Wycombe page.
We hope you found our Japanese Events in October 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 October or November, please get in touch with us through our contact form.
