5 Things Japanese Learners Should Do in London

Studying Japanese but never get to use it? Textbooks and apps only take you so far.

If you live in London, there are more opportunities to engage with Japanese than you might think. Using the language in real situations accelerates your learning like nothing else.

1. Order in Japanese at a Restaurant

If there are Japanese staff, try ordering in Japanese.

Start with simple phrases:

“Sumimasen” (Excuse me)
“Kore kudasai” (This one, please)
“Okaikei onegaishimasu” (The bill, please)

Once you’re comfortable:

“Osusume wa nan desu ka?” (What do you recommend?)
“Karakunai no wa dore desu ka?” (Which one isn’t spicy?)

It might feel awkward at first, but most staff will appreciate the effort. Japanese people are generally welcoming towards foreigners learning the language. Making mistakes is fine.

2. Speak Japanese at Japan Centre

Japan Centre in Piccadilly has plenty of Japanese staff.

Try asking about products in Japanese:

“Kore, dou yatte tsukaimasu ka?” (How do I use this?)
“Osusume arimasu ka?” (Any recommendations?)
“Kore wa nan desu ka?” (What is this?)

Asking about products creates natural conversation. You get speaking practice while shopping — two birds, one stone.

3. Watch Japanese Films

The Japan Foundation runs film screenings across the UK every year.

Watching films in Japanese helps you:

Train your listening skills
Pick up natural speech rhythms
Learn expressions you won’t find in textbooks
Understand Japanese culture

There are subtitles, so don’t worry if you can’t catch everything. Getting used to hearing the language is what matters.

4. Attend Japanese Events

London hosts regular Japanese cultural events.

Japan Matsuri (September, Trafalgar Square) London’s biggest Japanese festival. Food stalls, performances, workshops. Plenty of chances to use Japanese.

Hyper Japan (Twice yearly, Olympia London) Japanese pop culture event. Anime, games, cosplay. Japanese guests often attend.

Volunteering at these events lets you work alongside Japanese people.

5. Join a Learning Community

The Japan Society runs communities for Japanese learners. Some events are free to attend.

It’s a good way to get started casually. However, the facilitators aren’t necessarily professional Japanese teachers. Think of it as a practice space rather than structured learning.

If You’re Serious About Improving

The five things above are great for getting more exposure to Japanese. But self-study and free communities have limits.

No one corrects your mistakes
No feedback on pronunciation
No instruction matched to your level
Questions don’t get answered on the spot

If you’re serious about improving, learning from a qualified professional teacher is the fastest route.

At Nihon GO! World, all our teachers hold recognised Japanese teaching qualifications and provide one-to-one lessons tailored to your goals. Our lessons focus primarily on textbook-based grammar instruction, but conversation-focused lessons are also available for those who prefer that approach.

👉 nihongo-world.com

Written by Ayaka Uchida — CEO of A-Digital Works, founder of Nihon GO! World.

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