Ganso Shokuhin Sample-ya Kappabashi (元祖食品サンプル屋 合羽橋店)
GANSO SAMPLE — Kappabashi, Tokyo
English support and tax-free are shown only where we've confirmed them. Many Kappabashi shops do offer tax-free — ask at the register (passport required).
The shop run by Iwasaki itself, the firm behind the replica food samplesStartlingly realistic models of dishes, handmade by craftspeople rather than moulded from cheap plastic. Kappabashi is the place to watch them made, or make your own.— Kappabashi notes that stand in restaurant windows across Japan. The range runs from a whole dish reproduced plate and all, down to small pieces turned into keyrings, magnets and phone stands.
You can also make a sample yourself here, in wax, the way it was done before plastics. Up to 20 people at a time, and you have to book. It is a shop you can leave having made something, not only having bought something.
What you can buy here
- Replica food samplesa whole dish reproduced, made the same way as the ones in restaurant windows
- Small goodskeyrings, magnets, phone stands and the like, sized to carry home
- Replica Food Clocka desk clock with a food sample built into it
- Make-your-own kitsfood sample kits to do at home
Getting there
About an 8-minute walk north along Kitchen Town Street from Tawaramachi Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, near the Kappabashi crossing.
From Exit A2 of Asakusa Station on the Tsukuba Express it is about 5 minutes, which is closer.
| Hours | 10:00–17:30From the shop |
|---|---|
| Closed | Year-end and New Year holidaysFrom the shop |
| Address | 3-7-6 Nishi-Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0035 |
| Phone | 0120-17-1839 |
| Official site | https://www.ganso-sample.com/ |
| Online shop | https://shop.ganso-sample.com/ |
Services
| English spoken | YesThe shop's official site has an English version. |
|---|
Good to know
- Anyone choosing one souvenir that says Japanreplica food samples are part of how Japanese restaurants work, and the small ones fit in hand luggage
- Anyone who would rather make somethingyou can make a sample in wax the old way (up to 20 people at a time, booking required)
- Anyone who photographs or films fooda subject that never wilts
Videos featuring this shop
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