The Emperor and Empress of Japan will be making a state visit to the UK this spring, Buckingham Palace has said.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have accepted an invitation from the Queen and will stay at Windsor Castle.
“Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan have accepted an invitation from Her Majesty The Queen to pay a state visit to the United Kingdom in Spring 2020,” Buckingham Palace said.
“Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress (Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako) will stay at Windsor Castle."
It will be the third state visit from Japan to be hosted by The Queen.
Emperor Emeritus Akihito, who abdicated last year and became the first emperor in recent history to do so, travelled to the UK as part of a state visit with Empress Emerita Michiko in May 1998.
Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun also made a state visit in October 1971.
Emperor Emeritus Akihito visited the Queen another two times during his reign, once in 2007 and a second time in 2012 to commemorate the Queen’s diamond jubilee.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have only made one state visit to Japan during her 68-year reign, visiting the Emperor Showa in 1975.
The Prince of Wales visited Japan in October last year as Emperor Naruhito, the first emperor with a college degree who also studied at Oxford, ascended to the throne.
