After returning home from a trip to Japan, there is much that a traveler may yearn for. Within days, an almost sentimental longing sets in, be it for the punctuality of Japan Rail, the earnest politeness of the populace, or the never-ending list of culinary delights. Whilst it can’t make the London Underground run on time, for the last 50 years, the Japan Centre in the UK capital’s West End has endeavored to bring a healthy helping of Japan to the United Kingdom. Operating primarily as a grocery store, food hall, and café, this two-floor establishment epitomizes London’s profound diversity, offering not only treats both sweet and savory, but also a brief escape back to the land of cherry blossoms.
With 2026 marking London’s Japan Centre’s 50th anniversary, this is the ideal time for those both returning from and planning their trips to Japan to make a connection with this long-standing cultural hub.
Japan Centre: A Home Away from Home
Located in a prime location for tourists and city workers, the Japan Centre is situated next to London’s iconic Leicester Square, only a short stroll from Chinatown and Covent Garden. Originally serving as a bookstore upon opening its doors in 1976, it has grown along with the city in which it calls home, now operating as a grocery store, food hall, café, and event space. Occupying two floors, the ground (first) floor acts like a spacious café, where customers may purchase a variety of cold and hot drinks and delicacies, including chicken katsu sandwiches and matcha lattes. This space is also utilized for cultural events. Descending to the basement floor delivers customers into a depachika (basement food hall), where they may pick up anything from sake to senbei. This floor also features a compact meal counter that serves up several Japanese staples, including donburi (rice bowl), katsu curry, and kaisen don.
Having recently reopened following renovations, the center offers far more than just the produce lining its shelves. Serving as a hub for transnational flows of culture between the UK and Japan, it also frequently hosts seasonal events. Having just entered 2026, it most recently held a variety of New Year-themed experiences, including a kagamibiraki (sake barrel breaking) and a taiko drumming session.
Aside from other planned events, the Japanese hub further connects with the community through its staff and the businesses with whom it deals. Many of the staff can be heard conversing in Japanese, inhabiting an atmosphere that brings these two far-apart nations just a bit closer together.
A Grand Array of Groceries
Whether it is savoring fresh sushi at a generations-old restaurant, chowing down on some golden brown karaage in an izakaya, or simply grabbing some midnight famichiki in FamiMa, the taste of Japan is likely to linger on the tongue long after touching down at Heathrow Airport. In order to satiate such a desire and to pick up some old favorites, the Japan Centre’s grocery choices are plentiful, well-priced, and sentimental.
For those wishing to cook from scratch, customers can pick up a litany of staple ingredients, including curry paste, panko, nori, dashi, and so much more. From fruit and veg to sauces and seasonings, there is everything available to craft a flavor of Japan and ignite the taste buds with a kick of nostalgia. To truly impress a dinner guest, there is even a showcase of premium ingredients, such as A5 Wagyu beef and Koshihikari rice.
Cooking ingredients are just the beginning. This depachika further sports a selection of sweets, with such konbini favorites as Pocky and Calbee potato chips. Leading with this konbini motif, there is an assortment of instant (literally) classics, including Shin ramen and Nissin cup noodles.
Though with so much food on offer, there is a need for something to wash it all down. Whether you are particular to a beverage that takes away all of the nerves from singing karaoke, or something softer, the Japan Centre has it covered. From sake to soda and all that lies between, customers can purchase the perfect drink for any occasion, be that a Pocari Sweat for a humid summer’s day, or an ice-cold Asahi to relive those booze-soaked izakaya memories.
Dine-In Options: Café and Restaurant
The Japan Centre also offers dine-in options for those who have some time to relax, chat, and listen to some city pop. On the first floor is the aforementioned café area, the result of recent renovations. With generous seating and a pleasant soundtrack, the café is a fabulous spot to meet a friend and sip on some matcha. This space also sells a selection of fresh pastries and other baked goods.
Back down in the depachika is a seating area for more traditional hot meals. With staples such as sukiyaki and tonkatsu, customers can purchase a steaming bowl of sweet memories. It is here that those a bit more pressed for time can pick up a Japan Centre ‘meal deal,’ which includes a main meal, drink, and dessert from the refrigerated section. A heads up to those familiar with this concept from our grey little isle, it is far more valuable than the one from Tesco.
A Cultural Connection: Bringing Japan Closer to the UK
Bringing the Japan Centre story back to its cultural roots, it is clear that despite offering a sublime selection of domestic delights, the Centre is more than a supermarket. Those charged with connecting the establishment with suppliers have an unclouded vision of the cultural significance it can have on London’s worldwide community. With several products being sourced from independent artisans and emerging businesses, the Japan Centre can act as a proving ground for those who wish to introduce a new flavor to the British market. For example, the depachika is currently sporting a line of Shake It! Sauce, an assortment of Japanese BBQ sauces created by a pair of Japanese mothers. There is also Haru Matcha, a UK-based independent business that is championing the emerald green delicacy and is proving absurdly popular. These are just a few examples of the pipeline that the Centre operates to allow burgeoning British and Japanese businesses to flourish.
Japan Centre Flagship Store (Leicester Square)
BAKERY- 35b Panton St, London SW1Y 4EA, United Kingdom
- ★★★★☆
What’s New in 2026?
2026, then, is set to be a landmark year for the Japan Centre as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. It will soon be ushering in spring by collaborating with the ever-present Miffy, which commences in March. Also of note, the Centre was recently visited by the Japanese Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Hiroshi Suzuki, as he was invited to a Tokyo Onigiri pop-up event with JR East.
So, if you have recently returned from or are keenly planning a trip to Japan, there is no better cultural hub in London than the Japan Centre. Walking through the doors may feel like being transplanted back into the heart of a Tokyo suupaa (supermarket), while saving on the airfare.
For those who live closer to West London, the Japan Centre operates a sister location, Ichiba, in Shepherd’s Bush. Groceries can also be purchased via the Japan Centre website.
- Japan Centre Ichiba
MEAL TAKEAWAY - Ichiba 0220 Relay Square Westfield, London W12 7HB, United Kingdom
- ★★★★☆
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