House of Japan Opens in Luxembourg City

On Wednesday 28 May 2025, the House of Japan shop held a pre-opening event on the Avenue Emile Reuter in Luxembourg city centre.

The event saw a number of invited guests, including chefs and cultural professionals, gathering to discover the space, products and values behind House of Japan, which offers sake tasting, tea and fine Japanese craftsmanship.

While sake is the primary focus of the shop, it also offers Japanese tea and Japanese ceramics, etc., for sale. In addition, it organises both private and corporate events at which the educate about sake and its rich history and place within Japanese culture.

The Founder and Managing Director of the House of Japan, Makiko Gräfin von Oberndorff, is an SSA Certified Sake Sommelier. She welcomed the circa 50 invited guests and explained that the space aim to promote Japanese products and culture in Luxembourg, a gateway to Europe. She said the shop is not only a location from which to sell products, but it is also to share culture and traditions via workshops, etc.

She said that she has been importing sake into Luxembourg for three years, wholesale not retail; therefore the shop will allow her to be closer to customers. Once she found the premises, she explained, things moved quickly and she was able to open within six months.

She confirmed that she will be in the shop herself Tuesdays to Saturdays, in the afternoons.

Mr Masamichi Ito, Counsellor at the Embassy of Japan in Luxembourg, explained that Ambassador Matsubara Tadahiro is currently in Japan, accompanying the Grand Duke who is visiting the Expo 2025 in Osaka. He said that the embassy is looking forward to the House of Japan hosting events promoting Japanese culture and tradition.

After the short speeches, there was a formal toast followed by tasting of Japanese drinks and finger food.

This new cultural concept store will be open to the public from Saturday 31 May at 17 Avenue Emile Reuter.

For details, see https://houseofjapan.lu/