Yokimono Japanese Market is back at the Olympic Park
Food, sake, kimono and live taiko at Riverside East. Free entry, both days of the May Bank Holiday weekend. =
The Japan-themed pop-up that landed at Riverside East last year returns over the May Bank Holiday weekend. This time it runs across both days, with more than 30 Japanese stalls, live performances, workshops and film screenings beside the ArcelorMittal Orbit.
Free entry. Dogs on leads welcome.
It runs Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 May, 11 am to 6 pm, at Riverside East, 5 Thornton Street, E20 2AD. Five minutes on foot from East Village across the park. Book free entry on Eventbrite
What's on
Yokimono means "good things" in Japanese. The market started in Dalston in 2019 and ran its first Stratford edition last year. This is the second outing here, expanded from one day to two.
Expect artisan goods made in Japan alongside handmade work from Japanese artists based in London. Stalls cover food, sweets, sake, tea, vintage kimono, ceramics, jewellery, ukiyo-e prints, books, records and stationery.
The full trader list is on the Eventbrite page and updates as new vendors are confirmed. Notable names include Samurai Curry Rice, Yamada Onigiri, Tokyo Bakery, Kichiya, Sparkling Sake Brewery, Furuki Yo-Kimono Vintage, and Tamakurya Boutique. Some stalls only trade on one day, so check before you go if you're after something specific.
Live music and performances
Performances run at The Yard, the outdoor space at Riverside East.
Saturday 2 May
- 12:00 to 12:30 and 15:30 to 16:00: Okinawa Minyo, Eisa dance and Sanshin music by Okinawa Sanshin-Kai
- 14:00 to 15:00: Musical montage of classic Japanese films by Japanese Film Club
- DJ sets by DJ Shintaro across the day
Sunday 3 May
- 12:30 to 13:00: Bon-Odori Japanese folk dance session with Yasuna Higuma
- 14:00 to 15:00: Musical montage of classic Japanese films by Japanese Film Club
- 15:00 to 15:30: Taiko drumming and Japanese flute by Zashiki Warashi
- DJ sets by DJ Shintaro across the day
Workshops
Three workshops are bookable on Eventbrite alongside your free entry ticket. Limited spaces, pre-booking recommended.
- Furoshiki fabric wrapping with Tamakurya Boutique, 11:30 to 12:15
- Ikebana flower arrangement (Sogetsu-ryu taster) with Hiromi Takahashi, 13:30 to 14:30
- Wagashi traditional Japanese sweets with Sakura Junction, 15:30 to 16:30
To book, select the free entry ticket first, then add the workshop ticket.
Worth a look
The Olympic Park has a thin run of genuinely cultural weekend programming once you get past the food halls and chains at Westfield. Yokimono is one of the better counterweights, and it's on our doorstep. Last year's edition was a one-day affair. The fact that it's come back bigger says something.
If you're going, go hungry. The food list is the strongest part of the bill.
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Event details correct at time of publishing. The organisers are still adding traders. For the latest line-up follow @yokimono_japanese_market on Instagram.