by Sadie Sullivan
From sushi and specialty sweets, to ceramics, tea, and rare design finds, this Japanese marketplace is drawing Torontonians to Queen Street West to explore Japanese culture through craft, food, rituals, and live demonstrations.
Now, in its final weekend, Next Stop Japan has added new vendors and a rotating lineup of live demonstrations to continue its rich program of cultural experiences.
Within the marketplace, guests will find a curated mix of food, craft, and design that brings together specialty confectionery, authentic Japanese green tea, anime, and artisanal goods, many of which are rarely found in Toronto.
Threaded throughout is Sakura: soft bursts of cherry blossoms that shape the atmosphere and anchor the experience in something more meaningful. In Japan, they mark the arrival of spring; in Toronto, they carry a deeper history, dating back to 1959 when Tokyo gifted the city thousands of cherry trees as a symbol of friendship.
Throughout the weekend guests will be treated to knife demonstrations, tea rituals, wagashi desserts shaped by hand, live piano, and much more. It’s an interplay between object and experience, tradition and discovery that gives this marketplace its captivating pull.
Behind it all is a collaboration between the Japanese External Trade Organization, and the Japan Foundation, organizations focused on sharing Japanese culture globally.
For those looking to step into something immersive and distinctly transportive, Next Stop Japan offers a final opportunity to do exactly that on Queen Street West this weekend
Where: Welcome Market, 938 Queen St W., Toronto, ON
Date and Time: Friday March 20: Noon -8:00pm
Saturday, March 21: 11:00am – 8:00pm
Sunday, March 22: 11:00am – 8:00pm.
