Updated on: Apr 18, 2022
Moshi-Moshi! That means “hello” in Japanese. Japan is well known for advanced technology and urban cities, but it is also a beautiful island county with gorgeous mountains and sandy beaches. This tiny, but mighty country is very densely populated with 47 prefectures. Japan has experienced countless changes and has a rich history of interesting stories and progress, dating back over 30,000 years. If you can’t visit Japan now, hopefully, this guide can bring pieces of Japan to you for you and your guests to experience! Japanese theme party decorations will be easy to find and make with these tips. Your guests will feel as if they are truly in Japan with these ideas for Oriental parties!
Japanese Theme Party: Decorations
1. Oriental Screens
Set the mood by placing screens around the party area that have oriental designs on them. Purchase oriental screens online or from any furniture store.
2. Paper Lanterns
In Japan, lanterns symbolize love, brightness, and protection from evil. Bring good luck by placing paper lanterns around the party area. Paper lanterns can be purchased online or at any craft store.
3. Paper Fans
Make paper fans from printed Japanese Origami paper. Other ideas include decorating regular paper with Japanese-themed paintings or rubber stamps and pleating the paper at the bottom. Origami paper can be purchased from any local craft store.
4. Japanese Style Motifs
Buy a rubber stamp that has Japanese characters online or from a craft store. Stamp the motif on paper napkins and invitations for a decorative touch. For those who are truly crafty, you could carve out your own stamp from linoleum and look at Japanese characters for inspiration.
5. Paper Cranes
The most popular Japanese origami is paper cranes. In the Japanese culture, cranes symbolize good fortune, so it is believed that if someone folds 1,000 paper cranes, known as a senbazuru, they can wish for one special wish. Senbazuru has long been part of Japanese tradition and using colorful origami paper, you could create some paper cranes to decorate the venue.
6. Japanese Flags
Best way to let your guests know this is a Japanese-themed party? Hang up the Japanese flag on the wall.
Japanese Theme Party: Party Favors
7. Japanese Candy
Japan has a large variety of fantastic snacks and candy. Some like Hi-Chews and Pocky can be easily found in America. There are also snack crate services that import candy and snacks from Japan.
Have your guests bring home party favors to remember your party. These favors can also double up as activities for guests to enjoy.
8. Fancy Chopsticks
Buy chopsticks with cherry blossoms or any oriental design. Or buy a bunch of chopsticks and decorate them. You can paint on them, draw on them and add stickers or other designs. Be creative!
9. Paper Bookmarks
Go online and learn how to make fun paper origami bookmarks. Make all different shapes and colors. You can also write the event details on the bookmarks and hand them out as favors.
10. Japanese Scenery
Hand out postcards that have Japanese artwork or scenery on them. Write the event details and a small note to each guest on the gifts so they have something to remember.
11. Ornaments
Find Japanese-themed ornaments to hand out as giveaways. Look for some pretty, unique floral designs and add a tag with the party information on it. Your guests will remember your party every time they hang these ornaments on their Christmas tree.
12. Bento Boxes
Bento boxes are the small Asian boxes that have small separate sections to put single-serve take out in. Your guests can place their party favors in the sections or even use them to pack their lunch the next day.
13. Sushi Kit
Japan is known far and wide for its sushi, and it has become the symbol of a bougie meal. While sushi is often seen as a restaurant food in the US, it is not difficult for normal people to make it at home. Give your guests a sushi kit to take home and try rolling some rice up themselves.
14. Paper Fans
Especially on a hot summer day, a fan would come in handy. Go to your local party store or go online and buy Japanese theme fans. They can even use it to fan themselves if things get too heated at your event.
15. Mini Zen Gardens
Create a miniature Zen garden for your guests to play with and relax. Fill a wooden pan with sand and add rocks, a rake, chimes, plants, etc. Your guests will be so impressed with such a fun, cute idea.
Japanese Theme Party: Food Ideas
16. Milk Tea Bubble Tea
Although it originates from Taiwan, bubble tea is incredibly popular in the country of Japan with its most popular flavor being milk tea. You can purchase bubble tea kits to make at home. Your guests will surely enjoy this refreshing beverage and the tapioca will provide a pretty aesthetic.
17. Sashimi
Sashimi or raw fish (often salmon) is a popular dish in Japan. It is incredibly healthy and best-served with soy sauce.
18. Korokke (Croquette)
These deep-fried potato and meat croquettes are delicious and best paired with a side of rice or salad.
19. Japanese Gyoza
Japanese gyoza, a type of dumpling, is usually filled with minced pork and is best enjoyed by dipping in soy sauce or gyoza sauce. Enjoy gyozas steamed or fried.
20. Shrimp Tempura
Shrimp deep fried in tempura is a great crispy appetizer best paired with chili sauce.
21. Sushi Rolls
Sushi is a classic dish from Japan and you cannot go wrong with serving it at your party. There is a huge variety of different types of sushi available with various ingredients and can come either raw or cooked. Providing a variety of classic, cooked, and vegetarian-style sushi rolls will best accommodate your guests.
22. Edamame
This soybean is one of Japan’s favorite snacks. It is incredibly healthy and addicting to eat. Roasted edamame will be a great appetizer to give to your guests.
23. Ramen
You can never go wrong with getting takeout from your local ramen noodle shop or going to your local Asian market and getting fresh ramen noodles to make your own bulk ramen to feed a party.
Japanese Theme Party: Entertainment Ideas
24. Cooking
Your guests are going to be thrilled to learn some yummy Japanese food recipes at your party. Cooking is a very practical activity that your guests can later apply to their regular life. You and all your friends and families working together to cook food is a fun and easy way for your guests to mingle and get to know each other. Also, the next time your guests crave gyozas they will remember their time at your party, and maybe they might even have the recipe mastered.
25. Origami
Go to your local craft store and purchase origami paper. Print out origami instructions for different shapes. Leave out a few examples that you already made to help your guests out. You can make a myriad of things from frogs to flowers.
26. Japanese-Themed Trivia
Go online and look up fun and interesting facts about Japan. Turn them into questions and split your guests into teams. Have them compete against each other and see who can get the most Asian-themed questions correct. Your guests will love the competitiveness of the game and will also learn some interesting things about Japan. You could also buy cute Japanese toys to use as prizes!
27. Japanese Tea Ceremony
Buy a Japanese tea set and brew tea (matcha is a solid option). For comfy parties, have all of your guests sit on pillows around a low table.
28. Fuki Warai
“Fuki Warai” means “lucky laugh” in English. Traditionally played in the New Year you can play it at your party no matter what time of year. The players are supposed to pin different aspects of the face (the nose, mouth, eyes, and eyebrows) onto a blank face while blindfolded. This game is very engaging and guaranteed to make everyone laugh.
Japanese Theme Party: Party Supplies
29. Sushi or Cherry Blossom Napkins
Bring out the Japanese theme of your party with cute sushi or cherry blossom napkins. These adorable napkins will provide a nice touch to your dinner table.
30. Bamboo Style Disposable Plates
Not only will the aesthetic of bamboo aesthetic palm leaf plates make your plate Instagram worthy but they are also biodegradable and great for the environment.
31. Cherry Blossom or Koi Tablecloths
Having unique and elegant tablecloths will help set the theme of your party. There are some very cool cherry blossom and koi-themed tablecloths that can serve as tapestry following the party.
32. Chopsticks
In Japan, people use chopsticks as their silverware when they are having a meal. You can incorporate this into your party by having your guests practice their chopsticks skills while eating. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, you can purchase disposable chopsticks.
Japanese Theme Party: Invitations
33. Japanese Party Write-In Invitation
If you cannot find the right invitation for your specific occasion there are fill-in-the-blank Japanese theme party invitations.
34. Cherry Blossom Invitations
There are a variety of eye-catching cherry blossom style invitations. Some are for hibachi dinners or birthday party celebrations.
35. Cartoon Invite
You can find a Kokeshi doll invitation to send to your guests. These adorable invitations display a woman in a kimono, traditional Japanese wear.
Conclusion
Hosting a Japanese Theme Party can be a lot of fun. Japan has a rich and interesting culture. Implement parts of their culture such as origami making into your party and eat some classic Japanese-style foods. Hopefully you found this article helpful and are excited to host a Japanese theme party for all your friends and family!
Written by Kaitlyn Malcolm, Jack Leduc, Joshua Yovella; Contributors: Deesha, Samantha Shek, Marianne Vanderbeke, Ngawang Tridytsang, and Daisy Gonzalez-Quezada