And this is the food sample place.

And this time we're going to make some!

Japan does this awesome thing where many restaurants have fake food replicas in display cases

outside the restaurant so you can actually see what you can order before you go inside.

Isn't this amazing?

How is this not the real thing?!

These things are everywhere!

They’re all hand made by shokunin (aka craftsmen)

out of materials like plastic and vinyl.

They’re insanely realistic! How awesome are these, like seriously!

This isn’t the only food fake out Japan likes to do, though.

Every New Year on one of Japan’s most famous holiday programs,

shokunin will fill a room with standard daily goods that are half made out of food

and half, well, real items.

And then talento will have to guess which ones are made out of food…

by biting into them!

It's one of my favorite shows to watch during the New Year.

If you're ever here, I recommend looking into it.

Buuuut back to the food samples!

Here in Gujo Hachiman there’s a store/factory where you can buy some,

make them yourself, or watch them being created.

Woah!

OUR TURN!

Are you ready, chef Jun? :D

Which ingredients should I pick?

Shrimp.

Shrimp?

You know you can't eat it, right? lol

I love shrimp.

And shiso leaves?

This is exactly what I used for my cooking video.

The ingredients you just picked are all made of PVC

so you can bend it like this.

But the batter we'll use is made of wax,

so touch it gently while making since it comes apart easily.

This is the batter we'll use.

It's 60ºC (140ºF) but it won't burn your hands so don't worry.

We'll pour this batter into this warm water.

Here you go.

Pour it zig-zag.

You can stop now.

It really smells like a candle.

Well, it is wax.

Shape the batter.

Now flip it over.

Then wrap the shrimp gently.

I wish I could make real shrimp like this.

That quickly you mean?

Yeah, put my hands in freaking hot oil...

Good job.

Thank you. It's all thanks to you.

Now we'll make a lettuce leaf.

Pinch the corner like this.

This part is not hot at all.

Then pull it down in the water,

and shake it towards you.

Then you get a lettuce leaf.

Pull it up now.

It's kind of thin.

Get rid of the water.

Fake tempura and lettuce.

I'm starving...

Please pick five types of fruit.

As for pineapple, blue berry, and chocolate,

the side that's completely flat is the back.

So, place the blue berry like this.

You can decorate your dessert with whipped cream, too.

Are you gonna do strawberry?

I'm definitely using strawberries, and kiwi.

This is the glue, so make sure you pour enough of it in the cup.

That looks really cool.

I know, isn't it cute?

It looks like a globe (snow globe).

Food globe?

That looks so good.

Why don't you try it.

Maybe you'll be the first person in the world.

Pour it all over.

That's good.

You see it's becoming white.

Yeah!

Master strawberry food sample maker.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

I'm looking forward to see you again.

Wow! This is cool.

If you want to visit the places we went today,

or find other spots in Japan to visit,

check out Odigo Travel.

It's a free website that helps you plan your trip to Japan.

This year they're sending YouTubers to all 47 prefectures

to find the best spots for visitors.

We're going to less than half,

but you can find videos on every prefecture on their YouTube channel.

Check the description box for links!