With the end of the year quickly approaching, it is now time to look ahead, and see what Japan in 2024 has to offer - And the answer is quite a lot! In this article, we’ll cover a few of the many exciting openings that are coming your way in 2024, and even beyond. From new luxury resorts to rugged hiking trails, from the northern tip to the southernmost islands, Japan is ready for a new year and new adventure!

Early in November in London, the Toyama Week event was held. Showcasing the beautiful craft and food of the prefecture, we got a taste of Japan, and a preview of all things Toyama. One popular aspect of the week was having the wagashi chef Yasuhiro Hikiami visit to conduct workshops on wagashi at Japan House, and his own wagashi pop-up at Pantechnicon, where he took live orders from customers. Chef Hikiami was kind enough to sit down with us and answer a couple of questions about both wagashi and his experience in London!

For the first time in the UK, discover the Ainu culture of today through personal stories from this indigenous community from the southern Hokkaido region of Biratori at Japan House London.

Starting from the 31st of October and lasting until the 5th of November, there will be a variety of Toyama Prefecture related activities going on in London! From a Toyama sake dinner to a wagashi (traditional Japanese confectionery) pop-up at Pantechnicon, this week will serve as a great introduction to the charms that Toyama has to offer. Just 2 hours by bullet train from Tokyo, the week will make you want to book your tickets as soon as possible!

Continuing in our series of travel Japanese, we introduce some more handy words and phrases to make your trip to Japan even easier - and even more memorable and enjoyable.