One of the first anecdotes I ever remember hearing about Japanese culture and hospitality was from my mother. She’d been at a conference in Japan with my father and they were at a dinner in the evening. She absolutely HATES the taste of lager, and would never choose to drink it, but she was served Read more

Just because JapaneseLondon.com specialises in connecting Japanese language learners to native-speaking Japanese tutors, it doesn’t mean that we think learning 1-1 with a tutor is automatically the best choice for everyone. Getting a private Japanese tutor is actually NOT for all learners, and truth be told I would prefer to help you figure out if Read more

5 awesome Japan-inspired businesses in Dalston that you seriously need to check out. Café OTO – Perched on upcycled wooden chairs and sipping flat whites, everyone in Café OTO is discussing Japan. So-and-so’s brother has just got back. French students exchange expert tips for dating Japanese women. Perhaps they’re trying too hard? But the charm Read more

The cost of Japanese lessons is an important consideration for many learners. In order to answer the question of how much a private 1-1, native speaking Japanese tutor costs, we need to look at real expenditure in terms of both YOUR TIME and YOUR MONEY. *For those who are looking for the short answer: many Read more

Ahh… natsukashiiii… those summer days in Japan when I used to eat my weight in Matcha Haagen Dazs from the 7-11 convenience store around the corner! A drippy, whippy ice cream on a summer’s day brings out the gleeful, sticky-chinned child in everyone.  But choosing matcha (very strong, powdered green tea) flavour does feel that Read more

Are you learning Japanese?  Here’s a brief guide to the conversation clubs in the London.   Do you want to chat in English and Japanese?  A conversation evening can be brilliant to informally practice your conversation skills and make interesting, international friends. This is London – so you’ll meet all sorts of different types of people Read more

Wondering which is a better fit for you – a private Japanese tutor or group Japanese lessons? I know that you don’t have time to mess about so I’d like to briefly summarise the pros and cons. Everyone’s situation is different, so you’ll need to carefully consider cost, how many students are in the class Read more

‘My favourite day of the school holidays‘ wrote my 5 year old boy, ‘was using the Japanese Washlet toilet at the Japan House. It squirts water at your bumhole and then dries it with hot air.’ Indeed, Japan House, High Street Kensington, is fun to pop in before a romp in Hyde Park (not too Read more

I totally get it. For the beginner, learning the Japanese language can seem totally overwhelming. There are 2 phonetic syllabaries (alphabets) of 46 base characters? Thousands of kanji (Chinese characters)? Urgh. ‘I’m just going on a 10 day trip to Japan. It’s not even worth trying.’ Slow down there a moment. You don’t need to Read more

Sometimes potential Japanese students ask: ‘Why can’t I pay lesson-by-lesson?’. After all, a block booking of 10 lessons of 90 minutes (see the prices page here) can seem like a large initial outlay of money (not to mention the commitment of time). I totally understand why people ask to pay lesson-by-lesson, and that’s why I’d Read more

Concerned about being able to understand and converse with the locals when they head to the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan this September, students have been asking me ‘How long will it take me to learn Japanese?’ and ‘Is it worth learning Japanese for a short trip?’. I know what you are expecting me Read more

Tea ceremony? Flower arranging? Taiko drumming? London might just be the best place outside of Japan to learn a traditional art or craft! Interest in time-honoured Japanese arts continues to escalate; there’s just something so refreshing about the need to be present that is embodied within traditional arts. Instant mindfulness! These groups and foundations will Read more

Emerging from the Yamato ‘Passion’ Japanese Taiko drum performance, my cheeks actually hurt from smiling. So touching was the troupe’s camaraderie, the exuberant energy, and polished professional delivery that I was grinning ear-to-ear for much of the show. It was moving in more ways than one – the intense vibrations from the massive drums could Read more

Admiring the springtime blooms is a bit of a national obsession common to both Britain and Japan. They are being rapturously received in the UK in 2019 as we speak, and the first wave of cherry blossoms has started in Japan. Here in the UK we are known for seasonally swooning over daffodils, snowdrops and Read more