At Japan House London, the safety of our guests and staff remains our priority. Measures such as enhanced cleaning remain in place to ensure everyone has an enjoyable and safe visit. Further details are published on this page.
The safety measures in place at Japan House London have been implemented following a comprehensive COVID-19 risk assessment (PDF), and continue to be reviewed in line with the UK Government guidelines. Theses measures are in place for the protection of our guests and staff. Japan House London has been recognised by the National Tourist Organisations of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with their COVID-19 Industry Standard certificate, 'We're Good to Go'
Hand sanitizerHand sanitizer is available for guests on entry and exit from Japan House as well as at the payment area.
Face coveringsThe wearing of face coverings is at the discretion of our guests and staff.
CleaningA frequent and thorough cleaning schedule is in place, with particular emphasis on surfaces which may be regularly touched.
Government guidelinesAll UK Government guidelines for creating a safe and welcoming environment for guests are being followed by Japan House London.
For the safety of our guests and staff, we recommend everyone to carefully read the following guidelines before visiting Japan House London.
Our current opening hours are as follows:
Monday to Saturday: 10:00–20:00
Sunday: 12:00–18:00
It is free of charge to visit Japan House London, including our exhibitions.
All of Japan House London is open, including the Gallery on the Lower Ground Floor, the Library, AKIRA restaurant and the Ground Floor with its displays, The Shop and The Stand. Our Visitor Experience Assistants are ready to welcome you for an encounter with Japanese culture and innovation through curated displays, design, retail and refreshments.
There is no time limit for guests to the Ground Floor (The Shop and The Stand) however we ask you to be mindful of guests waiting outside due to restricted capacity. Consultations at the Travel Zone are limited to 30 minutes.
There are no restrictions relating to group size enforced at Japan House London.
Yes, The Stand café is open and serving drinks and refreshments. The seating area on the Ground Floor is open and guests are welcome to stay and enjoy their refreshments onsite.
The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) is available seven days a week during opening hours for brochures and maps of Japan in the Travel Zone. JNTO staff will run consultations at the Travel Zone desk area Monday–Friday for a maximum of 30 minutes per consultation, on a first come, first served basis. Please note that JNTO do not sell or provide any holiday booking services, including the Japan Rail Pass, nor offer detailed planning for your trip – they will advise and answer any questions you may have.
Travel Zone Consultation hours:
Monday to Friday: 11:00–12:30 & 14:30–18:00 (last consultation at 17:30)
Travel Zone Free Access:
Saturday: 10:00–20:00
Sunday: 12:00–18:00
The wearing of face coverings is at the discretion of our guests and staff.
Face coverings by the Japanese designer Takahashi Hiroko as well as other Japanese makers are available to purchase in The Shop, along with fabric from which you can make your own face covering using Takahashi's unique pattern.
The Transport for London website shows the city's cycle highways and can help you plan your journey to Japan House London safely. Numerous cycle stands are available along Kensington High Street for parking your bike.
Alternatively there are four Santander Cycle Hire docking stations along Kensington High Street, and nine more within a ten-minute walk radius from Japan House London. Check the Santander website for more details.
By Car
Drivers can park within a five-minute walk from Japan House London at the Kensington High Street Car Park – Saba Parking on Hornton Street, W8 7NX. Other local parking options can be found on JustPark.
By Bus
The following bus routes stop near Japan House London: C1, 9, N9, 10, 27, 28, N28, N31, 49, 52, 70, 74, N74, 94, N97, 148, N207, 328, 452.
By Tube
District and Circle lines to High Street Kensington (1 minute walk), Circle, District and Piccadilly lines to Gloucester Road (18 minute walk), and Central, Circle and District lines to Notting Hill Gate (13 minute walk). There is also the option to take the overground network to Kensington Olympia (24 minute walk).
An enhanced cleaning programme is in place, with particular emphasis on areas which are likely to be touched. All guests are asked to clean their hands on entry and exit with the hand sanitizer provided. Payments in The Shop must be made using contactless payment methods. Guests are also asked to refrain from touching items that they do not intend to purchase.
Our guests are recommended to practice caution and keep a safe distance from other guests and members of staff. Any guest who has experienced COVID-19 symptoms in the last 14 days is asked to refrain from visiting. In the interest of hygiene, we ask guests to avoid touching items they do not intend to purchase.
Toilets at Japan House London are open to guests.
The cloakroom is open for general visitors and attendees of events. Visitors to the exhibition are advised that all bags (except small shoulder bags) need to be stored in the cloakroom prior to entering.