When Art and Flavour Unite: Visit Japan House London’s First Photo Exhibition and Enjoy a Limited-Edition Exhibition-Inspired Cocktail
Awarded five stars by The Guardian, Japan House London’s first photo exhibition, Kyotographie: Kawada Kikuji x Iwane Ai brings two of Japan’s most celebrated photographers from two completely different eras.
Visitors can also enjoy a specially crafted exhibition-inspired cocktail, called Kipuka when dining at AKIRA restaurant on the first floor.
When Art and Flavour Unite
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Kyotographie: Kawada Kikuji x Iwane Ai brings together two Japanese photographers for the first time.
The two photographers are connected by the poetic atmosphere of their works and that they both exploring loss and belonging.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Kawada Kikuji (93) is known for his revolutionary photobook, called Chizu (The Map) which examines the scars of the post war period. The photobook is a collection of images taken at the remains of the Genbaku (A-Bomb) Dome after the atomic bomb hit Hiroshima.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The photos showcase dark, atmospheric images of what remained after the terrible attack: haunting silhouettes of humans on the wall whose bodies literally evaporated at the very moment of the explosion, Coca Cola bottles sinking into a pool of grey ash, and seemingly abstract images capturing blemishes on the walls and the ceiling.
Visitors can also have the rare chance to experience The Last Cosmology, a series of striking celestial phenomena, peculiar weather conditions and solar eclipse captured between 1980 and 2,000.
Watch an interview with Kawada Kikuji here.
Iwane Ai (51) represents a new generation of Japanese photographers. Her award-winning collection, Kipuka, is exploring the lives of Japanese immigrants in Hawaii.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Iwane Ai’s photographs are frozen in time moments, capturing spontaneous moments of traditional Bon dances, a Buddhist ritual, and commemorative images of Japanese funerals in Hawaii.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
A New River is a haunting series of cherry blossoms captured at night time during the COVID_19 pandemic. The photos are featuring eerily lit trees at night with characters from Japanese folk traditions.
Watch an interview with Iwane Ai here.
Both photographers have been featured in Kyotographie, an international photography festival held across Kyoto (hence the name) every year.
Kyotographie: Kawada Kikuji x Iwane Ai is the first ever photography exhibition held at Japan House London. The exhibition is organised in partnership with Kyotographie International Photography Festival and supported by Epson UK Ltd.
Visit the exhibition and get 20% off your bill and enjoy an exhibition-inspired cocktail at AKIRA
Photo: Urban Adventurer
To enhance you exhibition experience, AKIRA restaurant – which is located on the first floor of Japan House London – is giving 20% off your final bill from Tuesday to Friday when you show your exhibition booking confirmation email.
The offer is valid for one-time use only until 30th October 2026.
Elevate your exhibition and dining experience even more with a limited-edition exhibition-inspired cocktail, called Kipuka.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Inspired by Iwane Ai’s award-winning photographic series, Kipuka, which explored the cultural and emotional connections between Fukushima and Japanese immigrant communities in Hawaii, this cocktail is combining Japanese sake with tropical pineapple, reminiscent of Hawaii.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The cocktail celebrates the heritage, memories and cultural exchanges carried across the ocean.
Kipuka cocktail is available at AKIRA until 18th October 2026.
About AKIRA Restaurant
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Located on the first floor of Japan House London, AKIRA offers an exceptional Japanese fine dining experience based on its ‘trinity cooking’ principles: food, tableware, and presentation.
Whether you’re visiting for a lunch, afternoon tea or dinner, you’ll experience the famous Japanese omotenashi hospitality.
Omotenashi is a Japanese concept which has a deep-rooted culture. It comes from ‘sado’ (tea ceremony) and means wholehearted hospitality. Guests will be greeted by a bellowing ‘irasshamise’ (welcome) and a polite smile and nod as they enter the restaurant.
Throughout your dining experience, you’ll experience a warm welcoming atmosphere where your hosts constantly consider your every movement and gesture, anticipating your needs without you having to express them directly.
Learn more about omotenashi on the official website of The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).
Did you know that The Japan National Tourism Organization provides free travel information at Japan House London to help you plan your trip? Click here for more information.
AKIRA offers 2 and 3 courses menu, charcoal grill, sushi, beautifully presented bento boxes, Japanese desserts and an excessive drinks menu.
If you’re just coming for a drink with friends or colleagues, why not visit the bar that serves an array of Japanese sake, and original cocktails made using Japanese ingredients, such as rare sake, yuzu, and shiso.
Practical Info
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Address
Japan House London | 101-111 Kensington High St, London W8 5SA
(Nearest station is High Street Kensington | Circle & District lines)
AKIRA is on the first floor.
Japan House Opening Times
Mon – Sat: 10am – 8pm
Sun: 12pm – 6pm
Kyotographe: Kawada Kikuji x Iwane Ai Exhibition Opening Times
Until 18th October 2026
Opening hours are the same as Japan House London’s opening hours.
AKIRA Opening Times
Mon: CLOSED
Tue – Sat: Lunch: 12pm – 3pm | Afternoon Tea: 2:30pm – 5pm | Dinner: 6pm – 11pm
Sun: Lunch: 12pm – 6pm
Tickets to the Exhibition
The exhibition is FREE and walk-ins welcome, however, booking a time slot is highly recommended as it guarantees your entry during busy times. Plus, it gives you 20% off at AKIRA until 30th October 2026.
Book your time slot here.
Shop
Japan House London shop has an entire section dedicated specifically to this exhibition.
You’ll find tote bags, postcards, washi tapes and books, including Traces by Ishiuchi Miyako and Record by Moriyama Daidō, and more.
[Urban Adventurer is proud to be an official Japan House London Advocate]
Ready for your next adventure? Water Lantern Festival is returning in London for three evenings only. Personalise your own lantern and release it onto the water with hundreds of others after dark. Perfect for families, couples and even solo adventurers.
Book with Fever and use code ADVENTURERLDN10 to get 10% OFF!