There's a welcome lull in frenetic London life over August... time to enjoy some of the finer things in life: food, music and the great outdoors.

If you, like I am, are counting down the days to the Japan Matsuri at Spitalfields this September 19th, you should indulge in a little Japanese cultural exploration over the summer!

1. EAT FOR FREE AT TOKYO CITY

I know! I couldn't believe it either! Simply book your table in advance at Tokyo City Japanese Restaurant near Bank on any Tuesday in August, anytime from 11.30am to 10pm at night. A tasty offer too good to miss, you simply pay a £2.50 service charge and the cost of drinks you order.

City workers can feast for free on everything from handmade sushi and sashimi to bento boxes filled with Japanese classics, plus other traditional Japanese dishes, and help Tokyo City celebrate their 10th birthday and the launch of their new August menu.

Tokyo City is at 46 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7AY

Call 020 7726 0308 and quote the Tokyo City offer when you book.

2. DISCOVER CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE MUSIC

You'll be pleased to hear Tsuru Sushi plays host to new Japanese music the last Wednesday of every month! Their 100% Genki events showcase Japanese musical and performance talent.

The events have been running for one year on the last Wednesday of each month, and attract a diverse crowd from the Japanese and local communities. Performers are also diverse, ranging from Wataru Kousaka, a sanshin player, to contemporary electronic composer Anchorsong and many others.

3. EXPLORE JAPANESE GARDENS

All is green and lush in August, and there's no better time to enjoy the lovely Japanese gardens scattered around London.

Kew Gardens, Richmond, is home to a striking 5-story pagoda set within its verdant gardens. If that's not enough for you, check out the Chokushi Mon - Gateway of the Imperial Messenger - a mini repica of the one in Kyoto. Other Japanese exhibits include the Minka House, an authentic Japanese farm dwelling bordered by a serene Bamboo Garden and, last but not least, there is a new glass Bonsai house to explore at Kew!

If you prefer your Japanese Gardens to be more on the, well, free side, try Holland Park's beautiful Kyoto Gardens. Watch colourful Giant Koi carp drifting lazily around the pond from the pretty arched bridge to catch the chilled-out summer feeling!

If you feel like getting out of the city, visit www.japan-interface.co.uk/gardens/ for a fantastic searchable guide of all the Japanese Gardens in the UK and Ireland.

4. CELEBRATE TANABATA STAR FESTIVAL WITH THE KIDS

Tanabata Star Festival falls on 'the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the Japanese lunisolar calendar' - which in 2009 happens to be August 26th!

Tanabata celebrates the legend of star lovers Hikoboshi (Alter) and Orihime (Vega) who meet over the Milky Way (Amanogawa) and fall in love. On one special day, once a year, these two stars burn more brightly as the star lovers are allowed to meet and pledge their love to each other once again.

TARA Studio will host storytelling activity events for children aged 4-8 and their families from 26th-29th August. Children will learn the Tanabata song and make a wish to hang on the bamboo tree.

TARA Studio is at 356 Garratt Lane, London, SW18 4ES

Visit the website at www.tara-arts.com or call 0208 333 4457 for more information.

5. LEARN JAPANESE STYLE HOME COOKING

Atsuko's Kitchen is offering Japanese home-style cooking classes for beginners at The Grocery. Try something new this summer - the short five-week programme is ideal for filling that August lull. Starts Wednesday 12th August. There are also Advanced classes on Tuesdays.

The Grocery is located at 54 -56 Kingsland Road, London, E2 8DP The website is at www.atsukoskitchen.com

Booking is essential - call 07921 397792 or email classes@atsukoskitchen.com

Koukan Gallery is now showing 'Art for the Garden' by Japanese art gardener Takeshi Nagasaki (1970-) of N-tree.

'This exhibition develops the concept of garden installation using various objects (waterspout, water basin, fountain stone, bonsai tree, photograph, woodcut print) and encapsulates ideas (such as the consciousness of seeds and tree roots) inspired by Nagasaki's work in the garden.

Moreover, we will explore MEMENTO for the garden with a program including presentation/ discussion and an open garden tour of recent projects.'

The exhibition runs from Tuesday, 16th September to Saturday, 3rd October 2009 at Koukan Gallery, 106A Alexandra Park Road, London N10 2AE

For more information,
Tel: 020 8444 7121
Email: rie@koukan.co.uk

Shhh! It’s a bit of a well-kept secret that Hammersmith Park boasts a small but perfectly-formed Japanese Garden, originally commissioned for the Japan-British Exhibition of 1910.

Painstakingly constructed, even the bridge crossing the pond was brought in especially from Japan, brick by brick!

It was rescued from neglect in summer 2008 by Friends of Hammersmith Park Japanese Garden and experts from Japan. To keep the garden in shape in 2009, there will be a ‘General Tidying Session’ on May 30th, from 11am-3pm. Get your wellies on and email jb.ex100@yahoo.co.uk to join in.

Following the restoration work on Saturday, there will also be a garden party on Sunday May 31st, from 12pm-4pm! Taiko, bon dancing, story-telling and Japanese food will make this a great day out for the whole family.

Download Garden Party Event Flyer

Orbital Manga is the nucleus for connecting with all things manga, anime and cosplay in London.

Even better – there’s a wide selection of the latest manga titles available in English. So, it’s just like being in Japan, except you can actually read everything! Yay! Located just around the corner from Leicester Square, at 4c Orion House, Upper St Martins Lane, this slice of Japan couldn’t be closer to home.

The British Museum’s Mitsubishi Corporation Japanese Galleries have recently been refurbished to tell the chronological tale of Japanese culture from ancient prehistory, to the present...

There are paintings and prints, exquisite Samurai treasures, everyday objects, even modern manga.

When you enter the gallery, you will note the lovely tea-house. The London-based Urasenke Foundation Chado group does demonstrations there on a regular basis – contact the museum for more information about times and dates.

Have you found a little part of Japan in London? I'd love to hear about it!

A must-hear talk for lovers of Japanese gardens...

Marc Treib, Professor of Architecture Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley and author of A Guide to the Gardens of Kyoto, examines key ideas behind historical garden design in Japan, and considers their potential relevance to art in the West.

A free Barbican event at The Curve.