Why you should visit the latest arrival on Kensington High Street.

A source of intrigue on Kensington High Street ever since news of its arrival broke, the launch of Japan House London this month has brought a buzz to this busy corner of west London. Set in a striking 1930s Art Deco building, this light, bright and largely monochrome space houses the London outpost of a Japanese government initiative (there are also branches in Los Angeles and São Paulo) that aims to open people’s eyes to Japanese culture.

Through a range of different spaces that showcase Japanese creativity, its founders promise an experience that blurs the boundaries between culture and commerce. The first-floor restaurant by decorated chef Mr Akira Shimizu and a well-stocked sake bar are sure to put it on London’s culinary map, too. Here are five things we learned from a behind-the-scenes visit.

Kensington’s cultural clout is growing

After the Design Museum relocated to Kensington High Street in 2016, the area, which is better known for its chain stores, is becoming a cultural destination, which is something Japan House is hoping to capitalise on. “The Japanese definition of culture is far broader than in the west and society takes delight from the everyday, from tea, from bathing and from consumerism,” says Mr Michael Houlihan, director general at Japan House London. “We’re attempting to create an immersive experience of Japan. Take, for example, the upcoming metalwork exhibition from Niigata. This is a great chance for retail to reflect the exhibition and the food to reflect the region, too.”

Expect the unexpected

“You won’t find geishas, Mount Fuji or Hello Kitty here,” says Mr Simon Wright, who heads up curation. “Or if you do, it’ll be done in a way that will teach people something new about Japan.” The rotating ground-floor exhibitions will dictate the themes elsewhere in the building. The opening showcase comes courtesy of sought-after architect Mr Sou Fujimoto, who designed the Serpentine Pavilion in 2013. “We’ll have five exhibitions a year, which will provide a taste of the gallery space downstairs, whether that’s washi paper products, metalwork or bonsai,” says Mr Wright.

Craftsmanship is everything

Aesthetics play a huge part in Japan House London. Mr Masamichi Katayama of iconic Japanese design firm WonderWall has overseen the sleek interiors, which focus around a central cylindrical staircase and comprise elements of traditional Japanese design. This attention to detail is reflected in the products on offer, too, which all tell a story and act as jumping-off points to discover more about the country. “These are everyday objects that embody the idea of monozukuri, or craftsmanship,” says Mr Wright. Even seemingly mundane objects have been painstakingly crafted into something beautiful. “It takes a month to make one pair of the nail clippers on sale,” says Mr Houlihan. “You can take any object in here and it tells a story of Japan’s people, places and history.”

The food comes Mr Wes Anderson-approved

Japan House’s first-floor restaurant is helmed by Mr Shimizu, whose ramen recently featured at film director Mr Wes Anderson’s Isle Of Dogs exhibition. Here the chef brings charcoal-grilled skewers and sushi together for an experience that has been designed with as much love as the rest of the space. “The aim for this restaurant is that people say, ‘There is only one Akira,’” says Mr Shimizu. “I want it to be truly unique and that is as much about tableware and presentation as it is about the dishes. Our lightly grilled tuna and serrano ham sushi is exciting and original. It’s about taking traditional Japanese cuisine and elevating it to the next level for our London diners.”

Settle in for a personalised sake experience

Separated from the Akira restaurant by an artisanal screen that showcases the craft of basketry, Japan House London’s sake bar offers a vast array of styles from across the country. “Sake, which is dry and refreshing, but at the same time has a full flavour, goes really well with the food at Akira,” say Mr Shimizu. “We serve sake varieties that haven’t been seen before in London, so it’s another surprising encounter for those who visit. When you order, you can choose from 20 different sake cups and drink from your favourite vessel.”

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