My First Japanese Festival In London

Japanese folklore masks on display

In late September on a Sunday, I closed the door behind me quietly as I was walking towards the bus stop. It was just after 5 am and all train stations were still closed, so I had no choice but to take the bus to Central London, even though it's quite a journey.

I was heading to Trafalgar Square for London's biggest Japanese festival, but stopped by Waterloo first before making my way to the festival. I've been meaning to attend the festival long before moving to London, but I couldn't make the time for it.

I was going to the festival for the first time and was so excited about it that I couldn't sleep. There's also a reason why I couldn't miss the festival this year. I was supposed to be in Japan around this time of the year, but had to postpone my trip due to my recent move to London.

Childhood Dreams & Adulting

My interest in Japan started with anime in the late 90s. My mum was very strict and didn't want me to have friends, so I went straight home from school. If it weren't for anime and video games, I couldn't even imagine how sad my childhood would have been. Since discovering that anime comes from Japan, I made a promise to myself to visit the country.

I have been dreaming of visiting Japan since I was a teenager, and at 41, I still haven't made that dream come true. I never felt the need to move to Japan; it's one thing to love a country and another to want to live there, so I focused on my education and building a life for myself first. "Japan isn't going anywhere, I'll go when it's the right time," I told myself year after year.

Every month, I set aside money for my trip to Japan, which has been going on for years. I'm not planning to spend a couple of weeks; I want to stay for at least two months to learn the language and travel all over the country, and money is needed to make it happen.

The Obsession With Japan Is Too Toxic Now

When I heard that the Olympics were taking place in Tokyo in 2020, I saw it as a sign to visit since I'm a big fan of the film Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo. I thought it was finally time to visit Japan, but the lockdown happened, and I had to cancel my trip.

Last year, I started making plans to go during autumn of this year, but had to cancel again after moving to London. Honestly, I don't think now is the right time to travel to Japan because everyone seems obsessed with the country, and anti-foreigner sentiment is on the rise.

It may be a childhood dream of mine to visit Japan, but I wouldn't want to go somewhere I'm not wanted; it's optional to visit. I think it's better to cancel or postpone a trip than to go and complain later. I was looking forward to eating ramen and takoyaki for the first time in Japan, but I'll have to give it a try at the festival.

Dango stand, onigiri and fresh mochi

Matsuri Japan In London

It took nearly two hours to travel from home to Waterloo and an additional hour to walk from Waterloo to Trafalgar Square. I stopped a lot on the way to take some photos. Despite the long walk and numerous stops, I arrived in Trafalgar Square just after 8 am, and things were still being set up for the festival.

I hadn't had anything to eat when leaving the house, so I went to Chinatown in Leicester Square to grab something to eat, but the shops and restaurants were still closed. I walked around until I found a coffee shop, grabbed a latte and croissant, then headed to Buckingham Palace to kill time until the festival.

When I returned to the festival, the place was packed, and I had to queue to grab food. I almost wished I had waited nearby, even though I didn't want to be the first one at the festival. It was interesting to see people from different backgrounds enjoy Japanese food and music.

Portable Shrine, Fresh Mochi & Takoyaki

I stood by the stairs watching a striking performance by taiko players while eating onigiri when I spotted a takoyaki stand. I've been eating Japanese food for years, but takoyaki is the only thing I wanted to eat in Japan for the first time. Since I'm no longer going, I might as well eat it now.

I walked down some stairs and got in a queue for takoyaki when I heard some noise. A group of men was shouting as they carried a portable shrine. I've seen this scene in dramas, movies, and even YouTube vlogs, but it was my first time seeing it in real life.

It lasted just a few minutes, but it was my favourite thing at the festival. I finally walked away from the queue with hot takoyaki and struggled a bit trying to eat since I had a camera in hand. I made a vlog about my time at the festival; you can find the video below.

The Beauty Of Exploring Another Culture

I managed to take a first bite of a takoyaki, and my first impression was "this is an unfamiliar and interesting texture." I also thought it was a bit too greasy, but it's definitely something I would eat again. After eating takoyaki, I grabbed some fresh strawberry mochi and dango.

Mochi is one of my favourite Japanese desserts, and I can't get enough of it, even though the one I had wasn't as good as it usually is. Maybe they were under pressure due to the queue; it wasn't as good, but still good. I also tried dango for the first time.

I've seen it in anime and dramas and always wondered what it tastes like, and I certainly didn't expect it to be chewy. I couldn't stay until the evening, but I had a great time; it was beautiful and interesting to experience another culture. And that's why I'm not giving up on my childhood dream. It may not be this year or the next, but one day I will attend a festival in Japan, have fun, and eat delicious food.