About Us

About

The Japan Foundation was established in 1972 by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and became an Independent Administrative Institution in 2003. We promote international cultural exchange between Japan and the rest of the world, and provide financial support for a range of international cultural exchange programmes. Our activities are financed by annual subsidies from the Japanese government, capital gains accrued from the management of our original endowment fund, and contributions and donations from the private sector.

We work principally in the fields of Arts and Culture, in Japanese Language education and in Japanese Studies. The Foundation’s activities are coordinated through our headquarters in Tokyo as well as through our offices, language centres and cultural centres in over 20 countries outside of Japan.

The Japan Foundation London is the Foundation’s only office in the UK, and one of the first overseas offices to be established, opening in 1972.

The Japan Foundation London coordinates all of the Foundation’s programmes within the UK. We also offer grant support to small projects under our Local Project Support Programme, which is designed to help with the costs of UK-based projects that may not be eligible for funding under our annual programmes. In addition to these central activities, we organise lectures, workshops, seminars, courses, exhibitions and performances.

Location

Address

The Japan Foundation, London
101-111 Kensington High Street,
London, W8 5SA

We are located within the premises of Japan House, which is a 1 minute walk from High Street Kensington underground station or a 13 minute walk from Notting Hill Gate. Car parking is very limited in the immediate area. Please note the Japan Foundation London's offices are located in an area of Japan House that is not accessible to the public and that visits are by appointment only.

Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 9:30 - 13:00 and 14:00 - 17:30 (excluding public holidays and selected Japanese public holidays)

General Contact Information

When contacting us via the email addresses below, please ensure to replace [at] with the @ mark.

Staff at the Japan Foundation London

Arts and Culture

Japanese Language

Japanese Studies and International Dialogue