Japan House London, London, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Japan House London is a cultural centre at 67 Kensington High Street in London, set up to introduce visitors to Japanese art, design, food and craft. It is part of a Japanese government initiative with sister venues in São Paulo and Los Angeles, and it is one of the easiest places in west London to meet contemporary Japan without leaving the high street.

The story behind it

Japan House London opened in 2018 as the European branch of a global project to present Japan beyond the usual clichés. The idea was to build a place that shows the country through everyday objects, traditional skills and modern ideas, rather than through a single museum collection.

It sits in a large early twentieth-century building on Kensington High Street, and the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma is associated with its interior, which uses pale timber to create a calm contrast with the busy shopping street outside. Inside you will find a gallery, a shop, a library and a place to eat, so a visit can be as short or as long as you like.

What to look for

• Notice the warm, light-coloured wood used inside, which gives the entrance a quiet, almost shrine-like feel after the bustle of the street.
• Look at the objects in the shop, which are chosen for craftsmanship and design, from ceramics and textiles to stationery and food.
• Check the gallery space for the current exhibition, as the shows change and often focus on a single craft, designer or theme.
• Look up at the building itself, a solid and handsome piece of Kensington High Street architecture that holds a very different world behind its frontage.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 30 to 60 minutes to browse the shop and gallery, longer if you plan to eat or sit in the library.
• Go on a weekday morning if you want the quietest experience, since Kensington High Street fills up at weekends.
• Check current opening hours and what is on before you go, as exhibitions and events change regularly.
• Kensington Gardens, Kensington Palace and the Royal Albert Hall are within reach on foot, so it combines well with a wider walk.

See it on a quest

Kensington rewards slow exploring, and the quest Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Kensington, London is a good way to do it. You reach Japan House London on foot as one stop in a longer route through the area, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle using what is in front of you. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

If you prefer a spy-style theme, Kensington, London Detective Mystery: Infiltrate a Secret Society. also passes this stretch of the high street. You walk from stop to stop, hear about each place as you get there, and solve a puzzle on the spot. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.