How To Celebrate The Tokyo 2020 Olympics From London

Watch the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Closing Ceremony live at Eccleston Yards

Eccleston Yards have been broadcasting the games since they started in July, so it’s no surprise that it’s offering visitors the opportunity to watch the closing ceremony from the comfort of one of its many deckchairs. Sit down, grab a drink from the Moët & Chandon pop-up bar, and get ready for a monumental finale to what has been one of the most memorable games in Olympics history.

Eccleston Yards, 21 Eccleston Place, SW1W 9AZ. belgravialdn.com

Image: Simon Burrell

Immerse yourself in Japanese Culture at Kensington High Street’s Japan House

Dubbed the cultural home of Japan in London, Japan House is a hub of activity for those wanting to learn about the Land of the Rising Sun. The project space is host to an exhibition gallery, events space, restaurant, and retail floor – meaning there are plenty of things to get stuck in to! You can celebrate Tokyo 2020 with Japan House’s upcoming exhibition, Tokyo 1964: Designing Tomorrow, which explores how a group of young Japanese designers and architects constructed the first games held in Asia. 5 August – 7 November 2021.

For more information, visit japanhouselondon.uk 

Image: 1964 Tokyo Olympics Official Poster, Swimming. Courtesy of Prince Chichibu Memorial Sports Museum

Tuck in to some Japanese cuisine at Marugame Udon

One of Japan’s favourite udon restaurants has made it across the world to the UK capital. Marugame Udon has been a popular spot for lunch-goers since it opened last month, with queues trailing out the door and on to Middlesex Street. It certainly lives up to the hype, if the food is anything to go by. Menu highlights include the Kama Age, Beef Nikutama, crispy tempura, and (of course) the sake. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your chopsticks and get going!

For more information, visit marugame.co.uk

Image: (c) Jamie Orlando Smith

Visit one of London’s many Yayoi Kusama Exhibitions and Pop-Ups

This Japanese artist is no stranger to London – and if you hadn’t heard the name Yayoi Kusama before, we’d probably call your bluff! Visit Tate Modern to explore her Infinity Mirror Rooms exhibition, or head over to the Level 6 Restaurant to try out the Kusama-inspired menu. Alternatively, visit Selfridges, where Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame x Yayoi Kusama is currently taking place. The multi-sensory viewing and retail experience celebrates Kusama’s iconic work with the department store as well as her recent re-design of the Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2012 bottle.

For more information, visit tate.org.uk and selfridges.com

Relax in Holland Park’s Kyoto Garden

Opened in 1991, Holland Park’s Kyoto Garden is a beautiful spot for visitors to explore and relax in. The garden itself was a gift from the city of Kyoto to commemorate the long-standing friendship between Japan and the UK. Expect to find a traditional Japanese garden with tiered waterfalls, ponds full of koi carp, stone lanterns, Japanese maple trees, and the odd peacock for good measure.

For more information, visit rbkc.gov.uk

Image: (c) GettyImages

Join the Ivy Asia, St Paul’s for one of their ‘Tokyo Nights’

The Ivy Asia, St Paul’s has teamed up with House of Suntory to host ‘Tokyo Nights’. Every Thursday and Friday evening during the games, guests will be able to watch performances from their tables and take their pick from Ivy Asia, St Paul’s delicious menu. A selection of limited edition cocktails will also be available to try, all infused with the spirit of Japan. This weekend will be your last chance to catch ‘Tokyo Nights’ in all its glory, so make sure to book your seat before it’s gone!

For more information, visit theivyasia.com

Images: (c) Ben Carpenter

Explore The V&A’s Japan Collection

The V&A has a huge collection of Japanese art and design pieces, spanning the likes of ceramics, armour, prints, and textiles (plus so much more). Highlights include a print of Hokusai’s ‘The Great Wave’, some cracking armour from the Edo period, and a selection of Lolita fashion items. Having been in the collecting game since 1852, it’s safe to say that you won’t run out of things to find in the V&A’s extensive Japan exhibit.

For more information, visit vam.ac.uk

Image: Japanese Suit of Armour, 1859. Courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Get lost in Kew Gardens’ Bamboo Garden

Kew Gardens is home to multiple crops of wildlife from all over the world. Their Bamboo Garden alone is host to over 130 bamboo species from Japan, China, the Himalayas, and the Americas. Look a little closer and you’ll also find the Minka House nestled in the depths of the Bamboo Garden, a farmhouse that once belonged to the Yonezu family – who lived in it after their main home was bombed in 1945. Nandina domestica ‘firepower’, a sacred bamboo believed to dispel bad dreams, are planted around the entrance.

For more information, visit kew.org

Image: The Minka House in the Bamboo Garden, Kew Gardens © RBG Kew