Pantechnicon, a freshly opened destination in London’s Belgravia, is a magical space which combines two cultures geographically apart but with a similar mindset - Japan and the Nordics. Their creativity and craftsmanship are celebrated here through food, drink, retail, and design. Pantechnicon has evolved through the years but never forgot its roots as an art and crafts centre in 1830 which gives the space a special ambiance. Leading up to Christmas they have taken on a task of bringing Japanese celebrations to London and introducing them to our houses. Let’s take a look at what exciting things are happening there this month!
It’s Christmas time
Check out The Edit on the ground floor and The Studio on the first floor for over 150 Japanese and Nordic brands each picked for its qualities and history. We have great news for those who are unable to visit in person this year - you can find all of its treasures in their online shop!
Ideal for thought-out Christmas gifts, choose something meaningful from an array of handcrafted products which include an impressive selection of Japanese beauty products from facial massage crystals to aromatic perfumes.
Give your homemade meals a touch of Japan with beautiful tableware by Arita 1616 , Futagami trivets, chopstick rests and bottle openers, or even try preparing something for your Christmas meal from an exclusive signed copy of Japan: the Cookbook by Nancy Singleton-Hachisu!
Spend winter nights by the flickering candlelight and appreciate Japan’s ancient art of candle making with Sumac wax and washi paper wix from Japan’s oldest candle makers, Takazawa. Warm yourself up with Norse Projects knitwear with pop colour graphics from Tokyo-based artist Mayumi Yamase and RoToTo winter socks from Nara. There are so many options for spicing up winter nights!
Attract good luck and prosperity for 2021
New Year celebrations are closer to Japanese hearts than Christmas because that’s when they spend time with their families and prepare to let go of the past year and move on with a clean slate. To celebrate the spirit of Japanese New Years, Pantechnicon is collaborating with a Japanese florist – Matsurika, to decorate the venue with shimekazari wreaths. In Japan you can find them above entrance doors to bring good fortune for the coming year. The wreaths are decorated with auspicious symbols to welcome New Year’s gods (kami) along with prosperity and good luck, while warding off evil spirits and negativity. You will be able to purchase a selection of these good luck symbols alongside a large-scale ikebana-inspired installation in The Studio!
The taste of Japan
What really puts Pantechnicon on the map is its devotion to authentic experiences and high quality products. Try a fresh chesnut and mandarin Mont Blanc, and a yuzu and honey hot toddy. French at a first glance, Mont Blanc is incredibly popular in Japan where you can even find cafes that serve nothing but this delicacy! Enjoy it with freshly brewed coffee or a matcha latte at Café Kitsuné (you can find the menu here). Pantechnicon is also planning to open two additional Japan-themed hospitality venues!
Stay updated
To be among the first to find out when Pantechnicon’s Japanese restaurant, Sachi, and Japanese specialty drinks shop, Sakaya, will be open, sign up to the Pantechnicon newsletter and follow them on Instagram. We hear exciting plans are being worked on for later in December will also update you on our own social media channels when we hear more!
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