Japan is a country bathed in tradition; renowned for its incredible food, art, and culture. And luckily for us Londoners, this summer we won’t need a long-haul flight to transport us there – a trusty Oyster Card will suffice, as the UK’s largest Japanese festival is returning to London later this year.
That’s right, folks: HYPER JAPAN is back again and bigger than ever, bringing a taste of Tokyo all the way to the capital. For one weekend only (July 18 – July 20), this mighty festival will be jam-packing Olympia London with over 350 exhibitors, showcasing the very best that Japan has to offer. Now that’s a lot to get through in just three days so maki sure you Ja-plan ahead.
Prepare to stuff your face with authentic Japanese cuisine to your heart’s content; from sushi and scallops to yuzu and yakisoba. You can then proceed to wash away your food coma with some sensational sparkling sake at the HYPER SAKE STREET, where visitors can explore over 35 different types of sake.
The entertainment schedule is also bursting at the seams with some of the most popular Japanese artists taking to The Stage Area. On the Saturday, fans will be able to flock in and catch Hitsujibungaku, an alternative rock band from Japan, as well as marasy on the Fruday, who promises to captivate the audience with their stunning talent on the piano. A full list of performers is set to be announced soon, but HYPER JAPAN, now here for their 21st edition, always puts on a show.
Over the course of the three days, a plethora of exciting workshops will be taking place, showcasing an array of Japanese trends, from Sumi painting to sweet making. Admire some awesome anime and marvellous manga, attend one of the wonderful workshops on offer, or even strut your stuff at the Japanese fashion show and cosplay contest.
Last year, we witnessed the arrival of the ‘Go To Japan’ area, where a variety of invaluable travel resources were available (and will probably have you wanting to book a one-way flight to Japan, immediately). This year, the full workshop lineup will be announced in March, but expect to see wagashi-making and furoshiki wrapping among plenty of beautiful things to do and learn about at HYPER JAPAN.
Get ready for your senses to be transported all the way to East Asia whilst you only have to travel as far as Kensington – who needs a big old plane when you’ve got the London Overground, hey?
Find out more, plan your visit, and book your tickets to the festival here.
Olympia Events, Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX.