🔖 4 min read

YOKIMONO JAPANESE MARKET IS A JAPAN-THEMED FESTIVAL IN EAST LONDON. 

Join us at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to discover and celebrate both traditional and contemporary Japanese culture, from food and fashion to art and craftsmanship.

YOKIMONO (よきもの, meaning “good things” in Japanese) Market is a Japanese cultural event and pop-up market that began in Dalston, Hackney in 2019. Following our first event  last year, we’re excited to return to Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for our second edition, now expanded to two days!

Browse a vibrant selection of stalls offering delicious Japanese food and sweets, artisan goods made in Japan, as well as handcrafted items by Japanese artists and makers based in London. In addition to the market, enjoy live music performances of Folk Songs &Shamisen three string musical instruments), DJs,  creative workshops (Wagashi sweets, Ikebana, and Furoshiki wrapping) , and Japanese short film screenings (including anime; Cowboy Bebop (2001).

YOKIMONO JAPANESE MARKET

Address
RIVERSIDE EAST (beside the ArcelorMittal Orbit in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park)ロンドン, Greater London
Admission
Free entry
Starts
April 2, 2026
Ends
April 3, 2026
30+ 🇯🇵 Japanese Artists, Shops & Eats – All in one place!
  • Food Highlights: Takoyaki, wagyu bento boxes, onigiri, gyu-tan rice bowls, matcha desserts, mochi, Japanese bakery treats, and even sake tasting on Sunday
  • Workshops to Book: Try your hand at furoshiki fabric wrapping, ikebana flower arranging, or crafting traditional wagashi sweets to take home
  • Live Culture: Expect DJ sets, taiko drumming, Okinawan dance, bon-odori sessions, and curated Japanese film screenings throughout the weekend
  • What to Browse: Vintage kimono, handmade jewellery, ceramics, ukiyo-e prints, Japanese books, records, and artisan lifestyle goods
  • Vibe: Family-friendly, dog-friendly, and designed as an immersive slice of Japan in East London—come for the food, stay for the atmosphere
GET TICKETS

Held in the heart of Olympic Park, the YOKIMONO Japanese Market is a perfect day out for families and friends to enjoy Japanese food and culture together. Yokimono Japanese Market in Stratford is a free entry and family friendly park event. 

Crowd gathered indoors watching participants in colorful yukata performing a traditional Japanese festival dance at a cultural market event.

YOKIMONO JAPANESE MARKET

Event Details

Date: Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd May

Time: 11am-6pm 

Address: RIVERSIDE EAST, QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK, 5 Thornton Street, Stratford London, E20 2AD (map)

Find out the latest information on the event Instagram or Facebook.

Book Free Tickets:

Free Entry Registration: https://yokimono26stratford.eventbrite.co.uk

For the latest event information, full line-up, Workshop Pre-booking, click on the eventbrite link.

Poster for Yokimono Japanese Market in Stratford, London, held at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (Riverside East E20 2AD) on 2–3 May 2026 from 11am to 6pm, featuring free entry and traditional Japanese artwork background.

EVENT LINE-UP

DAY 1/ SATURDAY 2nd MAY

  • 11am-12 noon: Japanese Music DJ SET by DJ Shintaro (throughout the day, between other activities)
  • 12 noon-12.30pm: Okinawa Minyo, Eisa Dance & Sanshin Music Live Performance by OKINAWA SANSHIN-KAI
  • 2pm-3pm: MUSICAL MONTAGE OF CLASSIC JAPANESE FILMS by JAPANESE FILM CLUB
  • 3.30-4pm: Okinawa Minyo, Eisa Dance & Sanshin Music Live Performance by OKINAWA SANSHIN-KAI
  • 4-6pm : Japanese Music DJ SET by DJ Shintaro (throughout the day, between other activities)

DAY 2/ SUNDAY 3rd MAY

  • 11am-12.30 noon: Japanese Music DJ SET by DJ Shintaro (throughout the day)
  • 12.30-1pm: BON-ODORI Japanese Folk Dance Session with YASUNA HIGUMA
  • 2-3pm: MUSICAL MONTAGE OF CLASSIC JAPANESE FILMS by JAPANESE FILM CLUB
  • 3-3.30pm: TAIKO Drumming and Japanese Flute Live Performance by ZASHIKI WARASHI

Location: AT THE YARD, RIVERSIDE EAST (outdoor space)
*Please note that the schedule may change before the event. We’ll update the information above if there are any changes.

WORKSHOPS – Tickets Available Now

Taiko drummers performing in colorful traditional costumes during a lively Japanese street festival parade with a crowd watching.

Learn unique Japanese skills, take them home with you, and experience a glimpse of the spirit of Japan.

11:30 AM-12:15PM — FUROSHIKI Fabric Wrapping Workshop by Tamakurya Boutique

13:30–14:30 PM — IKEBANA – SOGETSU-RYU Japanese Flower Arrangement Taster Workshop by Hiromi Takahashi

3:30–4:30 PM — WAGASHI Traditional Japanese Sweets Workshop by Sakura Junction

** PRE-BOOKING RECOMMENDED
Limited availability – book early to avoid disappointment!

How to book workshop tickets

You can purchase workshop tickets from this eventbrite website. Please make sure to select your Free Entry Ticket first, then add your Workshop Tickets.

You can also find more descriptions of each workshop in the ticket booking page.

Market Stalls

Vendor handing a freshly prepared order of takoyaki to a customer at a Japanese street food stall during an outdoor festival.

Savoury & Hot Food:

HIDEN (Takoyaki Octopus balls / DAY 2, SUN only), Samurai Curry Rice (Japanese Curry), Drumsco (Sushi and Inari), Otabé
 (Wagyu, trout & veg wholesome bento boxes, DAY 1 SAT only), Yamada Onigiri (Onigiri Rice Balls), SHOKUDŌ (Gyu-tan Donburi; Beef tongue Rice bowl & Tamago Sando), Oktpass (Takotaki Octopass balls / DAY 1), POCHI ( Rice Bowl with Chicken Mince Soboro, Kara-age Chicken, Kakuni, Aubergine, Tofu)

Close-up of takoyaki being cooked on a hot grill, with octopus balls turned using skewers at a Japanese street food stall.

Sweets and Bread:

KICHIYA (Japanese cakes, ice cream and drinks), Gu Choki Pan (Japanese bakery, DAY2, SUN only), Fruit Mochi Nanaka (Fruit Mochi, Dango, Warabi mochi), Tokyo Bakery (Japanese Pattiserie & Wagashi Sweets), JAPONICA (gluten free chiffon cakes & drinks), Metcha Matcha (Strawberry Sandwhich & Iced matcha latte, DAY2, SUN only)

Collage of Japanese desserts including delicate wagashi sweets, a fruit sando sandwich with strawberries and grapes, and a cone of matcha and black sesame ice cream.

Japanese Sake:

Sake available on DAY2, Sunday

Sparkling Sake Brewery (Day 1, Koji Non-alcoholic Drink), Sake-lees Food products (Day 2, SAKE rice wine)

Tea & Japanese Grocery:

Tencha (Japanese Tea & Teaware), Akitchen (Shio-koji Karaage & Japanese Fermented Food products /Day 2, SUN only)

Vintage Kimono & Clothing:

Furuki Yo-Kimono Vintage (vintage kimono, foldwear, folk objects), Amamama (handmade childrens wear & accesories)

Ceramics:

Kaoru Pottery (Day 2, SUN only), Nyanko Pots

Collage of Japanese handcrafted goods including decorative gift boxes, artisan ceramics at a market stall, and a close-up of traditional wagashi sweets shaped like a cherry blossom.

Jewellery:

Onomatopée (Day 2, SUN only) Craft & Zen, Mojo (Day 2, SUN only)

Customers browsing and purchasing handmade Japanese accessories and crafts at a boutique-style market stall with decorative items on display.

Fashion accessories, Life Style Goods:

ki:ts, Wagumi, 3rd Diadem, Nimi Projects (Day 2, SUN only, Hanamizuki London (Day 2, SUN only)

Flat lay of traditional Japanese uchiwa hand fans with colorful patterns and designs, including a Daruma motif and seasonal illustrations on a wooden surface.

Illustrations & paintings, Ukiyoe prints:

Saki, Edo Art, Mizuki Doura (Day 1, SAT only)

Display of handmade Japanese ceramic Daruma dolls and figurines at a market stall, featuring traditional designs and various shapes and expressions.

Furoshiki Eco Wrapping Cloth:

Tamakurya Boutique

Japanese Books, Records, papercraft & stationery:

Sato Hisao (Day 2, Sun. only), Connyz Japan, Caravan

Outdoor Japanese cultural festival market stall where a vendor sells handmade crafts and textiles to a customer, with traditional artwork and gifts on display.

Find out the latest information and details of each traders and more images please check our event Instagram or Facebook. We will be updating the list as soon as new participants are added.

YOKIMONO JAPANESE MARKET is curated and organised by FURUKI YO-KIMONO, a vintage kimono shop THE FACTORY, in Hackney.

Looking forward to welcoming you in Stratford!

ARIGATO GOZAIMASU.

皆様のお越しをお待ちしております！

author-avatar

Written by Keziah Maru

A storyteller by nature, Keziah combines her affinity for narratives and her love for Japanese culture through her writing. She explores Japanese pop culture, anime, and games, among other things.

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