Japan Week

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A parade of people dressed in bright, traditional Japanese dress
Date
4 - 8 Sep 2025
Venue
The Social & The Lab, Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester M3 4JQ
Tickets
Free tickets, booking required

10am – 5pm

Book Your Ticket

Suitable for all ages
Running time: 7 Hours

Please book your day ticket according to the schedule below.

Accessibility features available for this event: Wheelchair Access

Aviva Studios joins a city-wide festival of Japanese arts – with stalls, tastings, exhibitions and workshops

Celebrate Japan Week this September with a festival of Japanese arts coming to several venues across Manchester. Whether you’re a fan of Japanese calligraphy or want to try a new dish, Japan Week has something for you!

At Aviva Studios, browse interactive stalls in the Lab where you can learn about Japanese culture and arts. Watch a Kimono dressing demonstration, taste a special Onigiri and learn how to make the perfect cup of matcha!

In the Social, explore an exhibition of 50 Japanese works – featuring a diverse collection of paintings, calligraphy and crafts.

Each day features a range of different stalls and activities. Explore the full line-up below!

Japan Week is part of a city-wide initiative presented by Manchester City Council. You can find out more about the full programme here: Manchester Japan Week.

Tickets

Please choose your preferred day ticket according to the schedule below.

Your ticket means you have entry to events in the Lab on your selected day - events in the Lab have limited capacity and entry is on a first come, first served so be sure to come down early if there's a particular demonstration you're interested in.

You do not need a ticket to explore the exhibition in the Social.

What's On

Two people stood watching a film on a giant screen at Aviva Studios

Exhibition of 50 Art Works

4–8 Sep | The Social | From 10am

Explore a diverse collection of paintings, calligraphy and crafts from Japan – curated by ARTERA Co. Ltd.

A parade of people dressed in bright, traditional Japanese dress

Fukuoka Tourism and Yamecha Tea Tasting

4–8 Sep | The Lab

Find out about the charms of the city of Fukuoka where history meets modernity over a cup of Yamecha Tea – hosted by Fukuoka Prefecture Tourism Association.

Large group of people smiling and clapping in the Social.

Goto Islands Tourism and Tasting

4–8 Sep | The Lab

Find out more about Goto City – an island destination off the coast of Nagasaki with stunning cobalt-blue seas and the freshest local seafood.

Two people sat behind a table displaying their artwork and calligraphy

Kingetsu ishi-art Exhibition and Workshop

4–8 Sep | The Lab

Explore a calligraphy exhibition of Kanji characters, which have roots tracing back 4000 years to ancient script.

Two people helping someone dress in a kimono

Kimono Dressing Experience

4–7 Sep | The Lab

Visit the Meisei Dressmaking School stand for an exhibition of traditional Japanese Kimono dressing and a live demonstration of shibori (traditional tie-dye) techniques.

A group of people stood around a big fire outside

Exhibition – Traditional Games

4–7 Sep | The Lab

Embrace the Japanese culture of muda (wastefulness) with traditional games combining a little seriousness and a lot of fun – led by Mon-chan.

Photos of a sewing machine and materials

Tie-dye – exhibition and demonstration

4–7 Sep | The Lab

Enjoy dyeing together by reviving old T-shirts and breathing new life into them with Bengala – a traditional Japanese pigment.

Two people smiling and doing peace signs behind a table displayed with crafts and posters

Omusubi – Onigiri Rice Balls Tasting

4–5 Sep | The Lab

Enjoy special onigiri made with delicious Ichihomare rice from Fukui, combined with local ingredients such as Fukui ume (plums), konbu seaweed, heshiko (fermented mackerel), and wakame seaweed.

Three people stood behind a table displaying food smiling

Gosekku – Japanese Seasonal Food

4 Sep | The Lab

Japanese cooking school Sogo College SEO introduces the traditional foods related to gosekku – Japan’s five seasonal festivals.

A woman wearing traditional Japanese dress making a matcha

Matcha Experience

5–6 Sep | The Lab

Matcha Moments offer a Matcha Making Experience where you will learn how to prepare and make the perfect Matcha!

A person writing in Japanese calligraphy

Kabuki moji Kanteiryū – Calligraphy Workshop

6–7 Sep | The Lab

Explore the fascinating world behind Kabuki moji Kanteiryū – a unique calligraphic style created especially for Kabuki, Japan’s traditional performing art.

Two people sat behind a table displaying their artwork and calligraphy

The Group of Ryutai Letters

6–7 Sep | The Lab

Receive a tasting of Japanese tea and a personalized Ryūtai character artwork in gold ink on hemp cloth featuring a Mt. Fuji design. Limited to the first 100 guests per day.

Exhibition of 16 Artworks

4–8 Sep | The Lab

Enjoy an exhibition of Japanese paintings and calligraphy by artist group Zephyros.

The Owari Domain

4 Sep | The Lab

Find out more about the Owari Domain and the Kiso region, which is rich in history, culture and natural beauty.

Zen in the Art of Archery

4–8 Sep | The Lab

Find out more about the world of Kyudo – the Japanese martial art of archery – and enjoy delicious local food from Ishinomaki.

Ikebana – Japanese Flower Arrangement

4–7 Sep | The Lab

Explore a traditional Japanese flower arrangement inspired by the ancient discipline of Sanmei (fate calculation).

Recitation of Tales of Genji

6–7 Sep | The Lab

Saito Yoko Ballet Studio presents Hagi no Tsuyu of The tale of Genji – a masterpiece of Japanese literature and storytelling.

Yoro Railway

6–7 Sep | The Lab

Explore the charms of the Yoro Railway – a local line running through rich natural landscapes featuring art installations and cycling paths.

Japan Golf Tourism Association

6–7 Sep | The Lab

Explore golf tourism in Japan, where there are over 2,000 courses, which connects golf courses with local tourism and culinary culture.

Access information

Our full address is Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester M3 4JQ and the what3words is chop.feeds.chase.

You can approach Aviva Studios along Water Street (coming from Quay Street) or along Liverpool Road (coming from Deansgate or Castlefield). Both entrances to the building have double sets of glass doors.

Once inside Aviva Studios, there is step-free access to all areas of the venue. The flooring throughout the building is smooth concrete.

The entrance to the Warehouse is by lift or stairs from the Social. Two lifts and a staircase to the Warehouse are located in the Social opposite the bar.

The entrance to the Law Family Hall is by lift, escalator or stairs from one side of the Social beside the brick arches. There is only one escalator, and this will take you up to the Law Family Hall before the show, and will be reversed so that you can travel down at the end of the performance.

The Social has a range of seating, including those with arms and backs.

The bars in the Social and Hall Foyer have lowered accessible service points.

Our building is large. We have portable stools available to borrow if you would benefit from resting along the way during your visit.

We have wheelchair spaces and seats at standing events for all events.

There are accessible toilets on all public levels of our building.

Accessible toilets are located inside the main toilets space in the brick arches of the Social.

Here you’ll find a mixture of accessible cubicles with left- or right-hand transfer, towards the back of the space, as well as ambulant accessible cubicles with grab rails, as well as a Changing Places facility.

The toilets in the brick arches of the Social are split into male, female and gender neutral – all of which contain accessible cubicles. There are shared handwashing facilities in each arch – they have soap dispensers under the mirrors to your left and dryers to the right. There are separate handwashing facilities inside the accessible cubicles.

There are additional single-room accessible toilets located in both Hall Foyers, at stalls and circle level.

There are additional single-room accessible toilets located in the Warehouse Foyer.

You do not need a key to use the accessible toilets at Aviva Studios.

Assistance dogs are welcome in our building, and we can provide mats and water bowls on request, just ask a host when you arrive. We can also take care of your assistance dog if you do not want to take your dog into the performance space. Please also refer to our assistance dogs policy.

If you are bringing an assistance dog to a ticketed event, please let us know in advance by contacting access@factoryinternational.org or calling our access phone number: 0161 817 4531 (phone lines are open 10am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday).

There is step-free access to all areas of the venue. This event takes place in the Lab, which is on the ground floor.

Travel information

There are a number of rail and tram stations within the city centre which are just a short distance from Aviva Studios. The closest stations are:

By Bike

There are 40 bike parking spaces at Aviva Studios including space for two accessible bikes.

National Cycling Route 6 passes close to the venue and this TfGM webpage can help with route planning.

You can also hire bikes from on-street docking stations across the city centre. The closest docking stations to our venue are currently on Deansgate by Liverpool Road and (400m from the building) and by King Street (500m from the building). Take a look at Transport for Greater Manchester’s webpage for advice on cycle hire.

By Walking and Other Active Means

Aviva Studios can be approached along Water Street via Liverpool Road (coming from Deansgate or Castlefield).

If you're coming from Quay Street, the safest route to avoid construction works is via the cut-through opposite Gartside Street and past Booking.com.

All footways in the surrounding area are well lit and there are appropriate crossings across all main roads.

Pedestrians with visual impairment are recommended to approach the building via Water Street, from Liverpool Road. This route has traditional carriageway and footway design with fixed street furniture which should help with navigation to the entrance.

A footbridge at Left Bank in Spinningfields provides an accessible link across the River Irwell to Salford Central station, and a further footbridge also links Aviva Studios with the Salford area of Middlewood Locks.

Free bus

The free bus 1 service connects Piccadilly Station, Oxford Road and Deansgate rail stations, as well as other areas of the city centre to Aviva Studios.

The service stops on both Liverpool Road and Quay Street, close to the venue. Buses operate every 10 minutes during the day from Monday to Sunday and they are wheelchair accessible. For full details of the free bus 1 route and timetable, please visit the Bee Network website.

Bee Network services

Piccadilly Gardens is situated in the heart of Manchester and there are a number of bus services that will take you on to Aviva Studios. The 33 bus which starts at Shudehill, calls at Piccadilly Gardens and will take you straight to Liverpool Road. Services operate every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday and every hour on Sunday.

Alternatively, you can board either a 35, 36 or 38 bus to Bridge Street bus stop which is a seven-minute walk via Left Bank and Water Street to the venue.

Coming into Manchester Victoria rail station? Head on over to Shudehill Interchange (which is a seven-minute walk via Hanover Street) where you can catch the 33 bus to Liverpool Road.

Alternatively, you can board either an 8, 67 or 100 bus from Manchester Victoria to Bridge Street bus stop, which is a seven-minute walk via Left Bank and Water Street to the venue.

There is a car park approximately 0.2 miles (350m) from Aviva Studios at Water Street Car Park, New Elm Rd, Manchester, M3 4JH.

There is also a NCP car park (Manchester Spinningfields) approximately 0.25 miles (400m) away from Aviva Studios at Spinningfields, New Quay Street, Manchester, M3 3BE. It has 35 accessible bays.

There are a small number of Blue Badge spaces along Water St and Quay St. Otherwise head towards Liverpool Road, Great John St and Lower Byrom St – close to our neighbours, the Science and Industry Museum where there are a small number of additional Blue Badge spaces.

For a list of other parking bays available in the area, visit Manchester City Council website.

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