Ever wish you could be back in Japan – just for a day? There are plenty of places right here in London where you’ll feel like you’ve crossed the world without spending a penny on airfare. No culture shock, no language barriers and no visa required – check out authentic Japan on home turf!

Asakusa Restaurant, Mornington Cresent, is the antidote for those more enticed by delights such as Sake Gashira (salmon head), than wimpy pseudo-Asian noodles and California rolls.

The mama-san of this restaurant is larger than life, and the menu is too. There’s so much of it that it’s written all over the wall on boards.

The sake is served in masu, traditional wooden cups, with salt.  We polished off this massive bottle of 'Beautiful Boy' sake!

At Asakusa you can even feel comfortable ordering in Japanese (minus the usual blank look!) - as the waiters are Japanese.

Do you long to hear wind blowing though the bamboo, just like in times of yore? Erm, no, I never heard that much in Japan, either.

But nonetheless… if you visit Kew Gardens, be sure to search out the lovely Minka house and the surrounding Bamboo garden.

It’s a little off the beaten track, but if you make the effort you will be rewarded by a uniquely serene setting.

The traditional 1900’s Minka farmhouse was painstakingly dissembled in Japan and reassembled in Kew in 2001. Contemplate its lengthy journey whilst listening to the rustling of the 500 varieties of bamboo.

“Do you like choux?” Japanese friends and students would ask me, out of the blue. “Shoes?” I’d repeat, confused. “Yes, especially shiny red ones!” Then they’d give me a cream-filled puff. It took me a while to make the connection…

Beard Papa capitalises on the Japanese love of choux pastry, stuffing tasty little buns with vanilla cream or green-tea flavoured cream. The Oxford Street shop has done well with Londoners eager for a fresh taste of Japan, via France. The staff of Beard Papa, mostly Japanese, are proud of their pastry puffs in a charming way that is so rare to find in the UK.