The Cult of Sanpuru - Japan’s Fake Plastic Food Obsession

Fantastic plastic food! Known as ‘shokuhin sanpuru’ in Japan (食品サンプル means food sample), these fake foods and plastic models of pints can be seen all over Japan, in restaurant windows and outdoor displays.

‘Sanpuru’ in Japan is big business with millions of pieces of plastic foods and sublime samples that look good enough to eat (literally). So realistic and life-like, you can even make your own sampuru and plastic food models whilst in Japan.

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The Cult of Sanpuru - Japan’s Fake Plastic Food Obsession

Kappabashi Street in Asakusa is Tokyo’s culinary capital for making your own plastic food models and wonderful wax workshops – try saying that after sipping several sakes (the real thing, not plastic models).

From superb sampuru and fine food models we’ve spotted to gachapon miniature food, here is our guide to the cult of ‘sanpuru’ / fake plastic foods in Tokyo.

Ganso Shokuhin Sample-ya Kappabashi Showroom Tokyo - shokuhin sanpuru fake plastic food

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You might like – 34 cute Kawaii things to do in Tokyo (including plastic food workshops) >

Table of Contents

History of shokuhin sanpuru

A rite of passage for any traveller to Japan, no trip is complete without choosing a restaurant to dine in based on the window display of plastic foods.

It also made ordering food very easy in the days before ‘Google Translate’ and in the absence of picture menus.

The first Japan fake food was said to have originated in the 1920s but didn’t become mainstream and mass produced until the early 1930s, led by the plastic pioneer Takizo Iwasaki.

He developed a system to mass produce fake food that looked good enough to eat, launching with a very edible looking omelet.

Iwasaki’s hometown of Gujo Hachiman in the Gifu Prefecture is now said to be Japan’s fake food manufacturing capital, producing over $100 million of ‘hokuhin sanpuru’ models every year.

Legend goes that Takizo Iwasaki spilt some wax at his home on a place mat and thought it resembled a piece of food. He then spent months modelling wax and perfecting techniques before presenting his wife with a perfect plastic omelet (no word on whether she tried to eat it though).

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Tokyo’s fake food on Kappabashi Street

Asakusa’s Kappabashi Street is a culinary gem – often referred to as Tokyo’s Kitchen Tool Street or fake food capital, this is where you can buy a huge range of kitchenware, Japanese knives plus a cavalcade of cutlery.

shokuhin sanpuru - Japan’s Fake Plastic Food Obsession Kappabashi Street

If you want to buy fake food in Tokyo or even try and make your own wax models and take home handmade ‘shokuhin sanpuru’ as unique souvenirs, Kappabashi Street is THE place to go in Tokyo.

You can buy everything from plastic pork dishes to sanpuru sushi. It looks good enough to eat (but remember, please don’t)!

Ganso Shokuhin Sample-ya Kappabashi Showroom (map) is a great place on Kappabashi Street to drop by to check out a variety of plastic food souvenirs such as keyrings and magnets. They also run several 40 minute sessions a day for 2,500 Yen where you can also learn to make plastic tempura and lettuce.

keyrings at Ganso Shokuhin Sample-ya Kappabashi Showroom Tokyo - shokuhin sanpuru fake plastic food

fluffy pancakes - Ganso Shokuhin Sample-ya Kappabashi Showroom Tokyo - shokuhin sanpuru fake plastic food

soba noodles - Ganso Shokuhin Sample-ya Kappabashi Showroom Tokyo - shokuhin sanpuru fake plastic food

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Japan food sample tours & wax workshops

If you want to make food as opposed to eating it, there are several sanpuru / fake food workshops and tours you can take

Try these Kappabashi street tours and food making experiences with Get Your Guide >

Japanese plastic food making experience with Viator >

Japanese food sample making experience in Tokyo (not always available) on Klook >

Where to see fake food in Japan / shokuhin sanpuru models

It is actually very hard NOT to see fake food in Japan as most classic restaurants have fake food displays at the front including popular chain restaurants like Marugame Seimen who have oodles of plastic noodles in their window displays, or Hidakaya, one of Tokyo’s cheapest ramen chains.

And it isn’t just main meals or starters – you can even get plastic desserts like shokuhin sanpuru sundae models. It looks so n-’ice’even though it is fake and plastic.

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Plus our guide to the best kawaii things to do in Tokyo >

The best places to see fake food in Tokyo

Although fake food and plastic plates are all around Tokyo, there are a couple of ‘Hokuhin Sanpuru’ highlights we’d recommend.

Firstly, the original Ginza Lion is not only Japan’s oldest beer hall but we think its front windows are the biggest display of fake food / super sanpuru we’ve seen in Japan. From plastic pints to fake fried chicken and wax wagyu beef, this is like a palace of plastic food.

ginza lion The Cult of Sanpuru - Japan’s Fake Plastic Food Obsession

Built in the 1930s and now a listed building, Ginza Lion is well worth a visit to have huge beers and happy times with salarymen (and women) in a convivial atmosphere.

Ironically, we found the plastic food outside looked a lot better than the real food we were served. Go there for the beer!

Read our guide to Ginza Lion Beer Hall here or check our favourite Tokyo craft beer bars and breweries.

Another great spot to see fake food and colourful plastic food is along Takeshita Street in Harajuku.

Takeshita Street has dozens of colourful candy stores and sweet treats to enjoy, many with plastic food display cases outside – talk about colourful crepes and plastic pancakes.

Check out our Takeshita Street guide and our Harajuku neighbourhood guide.

Gachapon miniature food capsule toys

So popular is miniature food in Japan, there are lots of gachapon toy capsule vending machines that dispense tiny food toys and miniature menus.

For instance, there have been several series of Coco Ichibanya gachapon toys which includes various miniature curries in toy form, plus Kura Sushi has several series of tiny sashimi and sushi plates.

And it isn’t just restaurants getting into food gashapons – you can even get tiny Pocky chocolate capsule toys and mini Mister Donut in plastic form plus other dainty desserts.

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Fake food today / prices

It is said that 3D printers can be used to make Japan’s fake food these days but given cost and time, many manufacturers prefer to use the tried and tested manufacturing technique of using wax.