Japanese Food Sample Making at Sample Village Iwasaki in Gujo Hachiman, Gifu Japan

Ever wondered how the "Fake Food Samples" you see outside Japanese Restaurants are made? We got to experience how to do it.

One of the things I look forward to during our Japan trip is to experience how to do those fake food samples we always see outside Japanese restaurants. So, after we checked-out from Route Inn in Toyota City, we traveled for about 2 hours to Gujo Hachiman in Gifu Prefecture Japan.

These food replicas or samples represent how the dishes in a Japanese restaurant would look like before you order it. They are put on display in most Japanese restaurants to entice and inform customers what's on the restaurant's menu.

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Sample Village Iwasaki

Opened in 1932, Sample Village Iwasaki is considered as the first replica workshop in Japan. It claims to serve over half of Japanese food replica market. They make a wide variety of Japanese food samples, from ramen, to sushi, maki, burgers, ice cream and a lot more.

Part of our visit to Sample Village Iwasaki is to experience how to make a Japanese food samples. One of the replica artists demonstrated to us how to do a sample food of tempura and cabbage, both made of wax. Our group watched her carefully as she taught us how to do it.

We were all amazed at how they do those food samples. They really look as if they were real food! Amazing!

So, when our time to make our own food samples, we made sure that we remember the process. Hahaha! Good thing the replica artist guided us through the process.

Here are my finished products. Food replica of Tempura and Cabbage. Pwede na ba? Hehehe!

Food Sample Museum

The place is also like a mini museum filled with huge food samples. Of course, I didn't miss the chance to take a souvenir photo with the huge food samples. Who wants this giant Ramen?

Food Sample Souvenir Shop

They also have a store where you could buy some souvenirs of Japanese food samples - from ref magnets, to key chains and food replica displays. If your own creation is a disaster, you can buy food samples made by them and tell your friends that you made it. Joke lang! Hahaha! This is a nice place to buy some pasalubong for your friends and loved ones back home.

We truly enjoyed our visit to Sample Village Iwasaki in Gujo Hachiman. It's definitely one of the things to do in Japan you shouldn't miss.

Sample Village Iwasaki

Address: 250 Hachimancho-Jonancho, Gujo 501-4224, Gifu Prefecture Japan
Telephone Number: 0575-65-3378
Email: iwvillage@chic.ocn.ne.jp
Operating Hours: Open from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm (Classes is until 3:00 pm)
Experience Course Rate: 800yen~/1 person (reservation needed)
Directions: 5-minute walk from the Nagaragawa Railway Gujo Hachiman Station

Flights from Manila to Japan

Nagoya is the gateway to Gifu if you're coming from the Philippines. Cebu Pacific Air, the leading airline in the Philippines, flies between Manila and Nagoya (Chubu Centrair International Airport) every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Ongoing all-in seat sale fares start from P6,388, for travel from December 17, 2015 to March 31, 2016. Book your flights through the CebuPacificAir.com. For updates and seat sale announcements, check out www.facebook.com/cebupacificair.

NOTE: This Nagoya Familiarization Tour was held in October 6-10, 2015 and was organized by Cebu Pacific Air. Thank you for inviting me to be part of this trip!

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