Explore the cultures of Japan during the festive period with a series of free family workshops at Japan House London. During each workshop, participants can enjoy learning about Japan and unleashing their creativity with activities including making an origami orizuru (folded crane), crafting a paper shinkansen (bullet train) and decorating a nengajō (New Year greetings card) to send to friends and loved ones.

Create Your Own New Year Card (nengajō)

14:00-15:00, Wednesday 27 – Saturday 31 December 2023

The Library, Lower Ground Floor

In Japan it is customary to send New Year greetings cards (nengajō) to relatives, friends and colleagues. Decorated with special greetings and seasonal illustrations, nengajō are usually delivered on New Year’s Day. Colour in and cut out our selection of pictures associated with the New Year season to decorate your own original nengajō.

Make Your Own Paper ‘Series N700S’ Shinkansen

Various dates and times in January 2024 to be announced shortly.

Learn about rail innovation in Japan by creating your own paper ‘Series N700S’ Shinkansen using an activity sheet created by Japan House London in collaboration with Central Japan Railway Company.

The Shinkansen, ‘bullet train’, is an important symbol of Japanese technology and innovation and runs along various lines connecting the country – from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south.

The award-winning ‘Series N700S’ (‘S’ is for Supreme) Shinkansen, runs along the Tōkaidō and Sanyō  Shinkansen lines, connecting Tokyo with Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and Hakata, and was introduced in July 2020. Running at 300 kph (186 mph), it has many cutting-edge features in Japanese train technology – including a more streamlined and lightweight design, superior noise reduction, and robust safety measures – making for a greener, smoother and safer journey for passengers.

Origami

Various dates and times in January 2024 to be announced shortly.

Try your hand at origami, Japanese paper folding. Guests can make their own  orizuru (folded crane) to wish for peace and hope for the future or make a paper helmet (kabuto) based on those worn by Japanese warriors including samurai.