Take a mouth-watering journey through the uniquely Japanese phenomenon of shokuhin sanpuru – the unexpectedly realistic food replicas displayed in front of restaurants across Japan.

Offering a rare opportunity outside Japan to see these skilfully-created models up close, this vibrant exhibition explores the history, materials, processes and future potential of the craft.

Each of Japan’s 47 prefectures is represented with a food replica specially commissioned from the world-leading manufacturer Iwasaki Group. Dishes range from Okinawan goya chanpuru (bitter melon stir fry) to the indigenous Ainu ohaw (soup with salmon) from the northern island of Hokkaido.

Taking inspiration from the exhibition, why not create and share your own bento box of replica food, in our interactive zone in the Gallery?

Get even closer by joining one of our free events, including craft and cookery demonstrations, workshops and talks on Japanese food culture. See our What’s On page for details.

 

Booking tickets

Entry to our Gallery for this exhibition is free and booking is encouraged, but drop-ins are also welcome. Tickets are released on a weekly basis, two weeks in advance of the ticket date.

Before making your booking, you might like to note the following:

• The slot on your ticket indicates your chosen arrival time. Please arrive within this slot, as we may not be able to guarantee immediate entry for guests who arrive late.
• Japan House London closes at 20:00 Monday to Saturday and 18:00 on Sunday. Please take this into account when booking your arrival time.
• Our booking system is based on guests spending approximately 40 minutes in the Gallery. There may be occasions when guests are asked to wait outside the Gallery for a short while in order to maintain the appropriate number of visitors inside.
• Guests will also be able to access the Ground Floor, including the Shop, the Stand and our other cultural installations (tickets are not required here).
• If you have any problems booking your ticket, please contact us with your preferred date and time.

 

Rucksacks are not permitted in the Gallery. Items up to cabin bag size (55cm x 40cm x 20cm) can be left in our cloakroom.

Your privacy is important to us. We will use your information to process and manage your booking. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information on how Japan House London processes your personal information.

Main image: example food replicas on display (Credit – Masuda Yoshirо̄ / Japan House London)