This place was so cool. It was nice learning about Japanese culture, what foods they eat, and how they prepare certain foods. I recommend coming in here if you are in the area. It's a cute little exhibit if you are interested in Japan. They do have events throughout the year which is pretty cool. They validate parking by the way which is great! read more

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Japan House is a fun spot to visit when in Hollywood. It's cultural hub created by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and they have several different exhibits that rotate throughout the year. If you're into Japanese food, design, culture, art and photography, this is the perfect spot to check out. I enjoyed walking around and just soaking everything in. I loved exploring the exhibits, checkout out the shop and just walking around. I definitely recommend checking this spot out if you're in Hollywood and want to do something different. read more

The Japan House is located at the Ovation Hollywood. It was easy to find parking in their lot. Get validation from Japan House, and when you pay the ticket as you leave, make sure that the validation go through before you pay. You will NOT be refunded the overcharge once you leave the lot! Infuriating! I was at the Japan House for two different exhibitions - (1) Looks Delicious! Exploring Japan's Food Replica Culture and (2) Pictograms: Iconic Japanese Designs. I found the food replica exhibition much more fun and interactive. The people there were very nice. read more

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Special day showcasing the cities and what that are special to that region a lot of people on staff to tell you about those products they have it for sale but it is a little bit pricey and then the museum section is really nice the food through history and a lot of good displays and information about food it is not just about sushi the cuisine of Japan the same as visit and very eye opening and Inspiring lesson ! read more

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Free admission!!! And there's tea time, mindfulness lounge times, and their own library (upstairs) to read and enjoy! Validated limited parking. Apparently Japan House has been here for awhile at Ovation Plaza/Hollywood and Highland. Tks to @LosAngelesFoodieGirl for this discovery! Daily Green tea service 11am-5pm. Mindfulness Lounge Mondays and Tuesdays 1130am-5pm. I shared this place specifically to friends for a nice date day/night or free activity for human dependants/kids. read more

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Fun and informative experience for visitors interested in Japanese culture and food. The current exhibit is filled with cool displays about the history and origin of your favorite Japanese cuisine. Also cool to see their distinction of Taiwan/Republic of China from China. read more

Japan House - Japanese food from Taiwan/Republic of China, clearly distinct from China - Cultural Center Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Stopped by Japan House to see the "WASHOKU | Nature and Culture in Japanese Cuisine" and was in complete awe! It was amazing to see the different cuisines served during the different periods in Japan including the replicas which looked so real. You might find yourself spending a good while viewing the craftsmanship and attention to detail with the replicas in the exhibition. I enjoyed how interactive the staff was and felt that their insight is what elevated the experience. Before you leave Japan House, be sure you check out the stop. There was a wide selection of items and mini replica items that were available to purchase. The exhibition is free and I appreciated how the staff provided us with the validation ticket before we left, it almost slipped my mind! Lovely experience and look forward to coming again! read more

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Japan house has a food replica display that is worth checking out. Located in Hollywood & Highland on the 2nd floor, the display area starts with goods from Japan and the food replicas towards the back. Overall the display area is relatively small but comprehensive. You can see how the food replicas are made as well as how it's progressed over time. It's really fascinating and a good example of Japanese artistry. Everything looked good enough to eat! The adjacent gift shop sells food replicas (melon soda float, hamburger magnets, peanut keychains) but they were so expensive that I decided it wasn't worth it. I did end up getting a small handheld grater made in Japan. I just couldn't resist. If you're planning a trip to Japan, there's also a section to pick up maps and tourist guides. Super helpful! Parking is convenient as it is part of the shopping mall and if you buy something from Japan House will validate so parking ends up being $3 for 4 hrs. LOCATION: 4/5 FOOD: plastic replicas SERVICE: 4/5 VALUE: 3/5 AMBIANCE: 5/5 CLEANLINESS: 4/5 PARKING: 4/5 read more

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London. Sao Paolo. LA. Those are the only 3 cities that house Japan House. If you're in town and curious about Japanese culture, don't miss out. Part museum, part information center, Japan House brings in rotating exhibitions that showcase various facets of contemporary life in Japan. Currently on display till 1.25 is "Looks Delicious! Exploring Japan's Food Replica Culture." Don't come hungry. You'll be salivating so much Pavlov might twitch from beyond grave. Lifelike as they seem, every piece is made from resin, a modern detour from traditional wax. Emerging in the early 1900s, food replicas are still crafted by artisans with skilled hands and an eerie knack for mimicry. The exhibition was informative with friendly staff, but it was hard to find. The Japan House sign leads to the 5th floor library only. Exhibits are on the 2nd floor not directly below but by the parking garage escalators. There were no signs leading there. Admission is free, and they validate parking for the Ovation Hollywood garage ($3 for 4 hours). Steps away from the chaos of Hollywood Bl., an hour at Japan House is a mindful cultural experience that will leave you with a fresh perspective. read more

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Parking was very easy and inexpensive. I went on a Sunday Afternoon and parked on the first floor through the Highland entrance. There wasn't a whole lot of signage to Japanhouse but I was able to find it after a few flights of escalators. The staff were friendly and helpful and the gif shop is so nice! I came to see the Pictagrams exhibit that was really well done. I was in and out in about 30 min. I watched a lot of the videos and read most of the tags. read more

We visited Japan House LA for the "Looks Delicious! Exploring Japan's Food Replica Culture" event. The exhibition gallery was located on the second floor of the Ovation Hollywood. Price for entry is free. Parking was easy and validated for $3 by Japan House. The workers were very nice. The exhibit was very cool! There were many replicas of Japanese food - the kind that are placed in store windows as visual representations of menu items. Next to each display was a description of the food item, providing information about what the food was. I liked learning more about the Japanese food items I know and love as well as discovering new types of Japanese food. My favorite part of the exhibit was building my own bento box! There is a station where you can build your own Japanese lunch box using replicas of food items that would typically be found in a traditional Japanese school lunch box, such as onigiri and squid-cut sausages. Although you cannot take the lunch box home, the activity is completely free! This was such a cute and fun experience, and I really enjoyed it. The exhibit is here until January 25, 2026 for anyone interested. read more

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I love it when Japan house hosts exhibitions and I always make it a point to come. You can tell they put high effort on showcasing their collection but also make it fun and immersive for people of all ages. The most recent "Looks delicious!" was superb. Their DIY bento box and free photo print made it extra memorable. I was piqued by the informational processes but also just enjoyed being immersed and surrounded but all the colorful realistic food. I think my favorite exhibition hosted ever but them was a showcase of ramen history and culture and I remember rooms of ramen bowls and production of step by step ramen making. Looks delicious was so fun but only a fraction of that size that time. Thank you Japan House for this free event and for the $3 parking validation for 4 hours. I hope to see more!! read more

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I think we've all seen fake food in restaurant windows before but Japan absolutely takes it to another level. Japan House Los Angeles is currently running the Looks Delicious! exhibit (September 18, 2025-January 15, 2026), and we caught it in the new year just before it wraps up. The exhibit focuses on Japan's insanely realistic food replicas, the kind that look so good your brain forgets they're not edible. In Japan, these displays are often what pull people into restaurants, and seeing them up close makes it obvious why. Every detail is spot-on: the shine of sauce, the texture of noodles, even the way food looks mid-motion. It's kind of ridiculous but in the best way. It's fun, clever, and unexpectedly impressive, especially once you realize how much skill goes into something most people barely think about. If you're in LA and can catch it before it closes, it's a really cool stop. read more

Japan House - Cultural Center Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This was my 2nd visit here and I appreciate how the space has expanded and the displays keep changing. When I went this time, it was dedicated to Japan's food replicas. When I went last year, it was more of a general overview of Japanese design, from something as simple and small as a toy top, to something as ancient as Jamon swirl carved pottery. I've been fascinated with Japanese culture for years now back to when I used to watch anime to now when I still watch their travel shows, like "Journeys in Japan" online on their NHK website, so to be able to see these things I've only ever seen on screen in person instead means a great deal. I regret forgetting to try their free iced matcha tea. I was too caught up trying to figure out how to use their printer. One of the things you could do was print a free photo of yourself with a special border exclusive to the exhibit. You would take it after creating your own bento box with some of the fake food. However, even though I followed the directions, at one point I got stuck and my phone wasn't doing what I think it was supposed to. When I tried asking one of the employees for help, she just pointed back to the printed out directions. I think it was a combination of fearing not being able to speak English well enough to explain, which I know is a common fear among Japanese, and not being technologically savvy themselves. Either way, in the end I just left without the printout. However, while I was waiting for help, I filled out a survey and got a free pair of chocolate sticks wrapped in origami paper, so at least I went home with that. Also, there's a gift shop where you can look at and buy authentic Japanese merchandise. Some of it was too expensive for me, but last year I did buy some miso balls that could be dropped into hot water and turned into soup. Everything from the packaging to the experience to the taste was beautiful and unique. One thing I did last year, but not this time was go up to the 2nd portion of the museum which is on the highest floor. There's a quiet library where you can look through some Japanese books and if you go out on the balcony, you'll get amazing views of Hollywood Blvd. Overall, it was a good experience. Even the bit of inconvenience can be viewed as something you'd experience if you actually were in Japan trying to figure something out with both a language and cultural barrier in-between. read more

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Super cool exhibit space that I stumbled upon while I was visiting Ovation Hollywood to check out some of the stores! They have a huge replica of a ramen bowl right at the entrance and boy did I want to touch it! But don't touch it! Definitely take a look up close tho! They also have a replica of some melted ice cream on the counter at the entrance. Don't touch that either! In fact, don't touch things unless there is explicit permission! One of the coolest things was being able to assemble your own bento box, take a picture and post it on their gallery wall. SUPER cool! They had tons of food replicas on display and it really all looked so real! I also learned that by having food replicas out at restaurants, it actually resulted in a decrease in food waste because people got to see what they were ordering and also saw how big the portions were. That's a win! If you're in the area, I definitely recommend you coming by to visit and be in awe at the art on display. It's worth it! Oh, and they had delicious green tea available too! Very refreshing. Thank you for hosting! read more

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One of my favorite things to do in Hollywood, and they always have a new and fascinating exhibition. I've probably been to every one they've put on for the past 4 years. The most recent is a pictograms exhibit, with a deep dive into what a pictogram is and the role it plays in society...really interesting to see things that you experience in your everyday life all over explained and presented that way. We loved the last exhibit (the fake food one, Looks Delicious! Exploring Japan's Food Replica Culture) a ton as well, but I digress... The people here are very helpful, and the Japan House is run by the US-Japan exchange and Japan's tourism sector. They can give you awesome advice and resources, in case you're thinking of visiting Japan like I am. The location is always tidy, always has a good amount of foot traffic, and I find they're regularly putting on some fun events, chances to engage deeper with Japanese culture, opportunities to try Japanese products, etc. In short, this place is the bomb, and a solid reason to make the trek to the Ovation, no matter where you're coming from. read more

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I'v wanted to visit this little Japanese museum for a while. It's conveniently located at the Hollywood & Highland mall. We were doing a bit of shopping there and checked out this great place. The current exhibition is Samurai and Beyond. I'v been playing Assassin's Creed Shadows for a while so this exhibition was very interesting to me! This museum is free and they offer free matcha green teas. It's a small museum but extremely organized. The gift shop was fantastic and everything was from Japan. The gifts were very well made and so beautiful. Most of the stuffs were on the pricey side. I got two pairs of very cute chopsticks and a gorgeous crane plate (高岗漆器). The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. One of them explained some of the gifts to me and it was eye opening. A very interesting experience and I would like to be back for more exhibitions! read more

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The Looks Delicious exhibit was wonderful! I was nostalgic for my trip to Japan. The entire staff is so knowledgeable and helpful. They even gave us local Japanese recommendations. I also enjoyed the library. The books are numerous with a variety of topics. I'll definitely come back for other exhibits and events. read more

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wonderful experience here. cant wait for the next exhibit. the pictographs were very informative and enjoyed taking pictures with the props read more

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日本人就是很厲害，很多東西做得唯妙唯肖的，來到好萊塢，每次都會到旁邊來看看他們的展覽是什麼，而且還會定期有不同的東西，這一次是不同的食物，不管是毛蟹，和牛，還是拉麵，看起來都好逼真又好可愛喔 read more

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It's is located in the Ovation in Hollywood. They offer a 2-hour parking validation. Parking was easy to find. The entrance features a cute little gift shop, and the current exhibit showcases food replicas of all kinds of items. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area. They also have an area where you can make your own bento box. read more

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I came here last weekend specifically for the fake food exhibit. I was in love and my cup was filled. Staff was extremely helpful. Everything was very clean and thoughtfully put together. It's a three dollar price for parking in the big structure when you validate. read more

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What a beautiful space. You walk in there's a mini library with a spectacular view. They have free as well as paid workshops on level 5. Additionally level 2 there's a museum that changes every few months. Ask for validation get 4 hours parking at Oviation for $3. read more

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Visited today (12/19/25) with my friends and we had a blast. $3 for 4hrs parking with validation from the gallery. We saw a vid on ig or TikTok that looked cool. The staff was friendly. There were even samples of wasabi and yuzu popcorn that had a promotion. There was a pitcher of green tea complimentary to guests. This is a must see exhibit. I am going to follow the gallery on ig to make sure I'm updated on the new exhibits. Would be interested in more pop culture exhibits. read more

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This is one of my favorite spots to stop by in LA when I am in the area. The exhibits are always fascinating and the people always friendly read more

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There are two Japan House spaces, but one is always accessible to the public while the other one is mostly for private events. The one open to the public is on the second floor and primarily features goods from Japan. This is more of a to learn about Japanese culture that is not relevant to anime specifically, so if you're only interested in Anime, you could still come here to learn a little bit more about Japanese culture. Right now they're hosting an exhibit on the plastic foods that you can find in Japan. They're often sitting outside at the window so that people have an idea of what kind of food they can eat at the restaurant. They used to be made out of wax and now they're largely made out of resin and a lot harder to melt compared tot he wax. You can even try to make your own bento box with some of the plastic food they have available! read more

soooo cute. i loved the pictography exhibit for both the aesthetics and the educational aspects. although i did expect it to be a bigger spot, it was far from quick to walk through. i love how there are different types of visuals to enjoy and offer activities as well. they had free matcha to try which was great, and a nice little gift shop at the front. added bonus of parking validation so that it was only about $3 for a few hours. read more

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I actually stumbled upon this place because I was trying to kill a few hours before a show I was going to watch. Admission was free so I decided to go in. At the time that I went in, the exposition featured "Masters of Carpentry", where they feature tools and techniques that carpenters use to fabricate wood items, like teahouses and wood screens. There were really only 3 rooms to go through, plus the gift shop. It's a very small gallery, but it was very informative. There was a description written for every single thing that was displayed in there. There was even a small section with different types of trees that are used for different purposes where you could even smell the shavings. There's also a room that plays a video of the entire process of creating wooden screens and partitions and it was very interesting to watch. There were many different examples on display and very thorough descriptions of each one. It seems that they rotate the exhibitions every so often so I'm sure that there is something different on display every time you come to the mall. I'll be sure to check it out again and see what the next focus is on my next visit. read more

Japan House - Cultural Center Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My experience has been that although the Japan House is an important resource for Americans interested in Japan, with an interesting museum, shopping and tourist information center, I am disappointed. I made a small purchase at the shop at Japan House- and somehow-they acquired my personal e-mail with out my giving it to them- which is a COMPLETE INVASION OF MY PERSONAL PRIVACY and also kind of creepy. And - it's been my experience -- that I receive unsolicited emails from them. I am really angry at how poorly I was treated by Japan House - I expected higher standards than this. read more

A free exhibit and it's a cute little place to take us back to Japan. A few interactive displays at the back and some cute merch to check out. They also have some samples to try and a matcha class you can join. We had a wonderful time. read more

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Really cool place that offers an inside look at Japan and the wonderful foods and art of the nation. I also loved the leather goods they offered at a reasonable price and the complimentary cold matcha! read more

This is such a fun place to visit and very informative. We just wandered in but will definitely be coming back!! read more

Japan House - Fun piece of art on exhibition - Cultural Center Near Me - Los Angeles, California

For a Visual Art Space, it was super cool to walk into a Bedroom Full of Kawaii. You saw Hello Kitty Art pieces and just an explosion of Kawaii. It is a sight to behold. Sponsored and Funded by the Japanese Government. 1. Free Green Tea 2. Free Treat after Survey Japan House has a library that had a private event that I was attended. Super cool to see a bird's eye view of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. There are a lot of transients, be aware! read more

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Beautiful venue! Amazing time was had here for a Wagyu tasting event! A beautiful place with amazing everything from Japan! We enjoyed our time here a lot! So beautiful and elegant! read more

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Cute free museum and exhibits in Hollywood. I love how there's parking validation for just 3 dollars. I've taken my friends and I to their kawaii exhibit 3 times and it doesn't disappoint. I enjoyed the interactive exhibits of the kawaii museum the most such as the VR Teddy bear and the sensory room full of kawaii. Will definitely be back for any future exhibits. read more

Japan House - Cultural Center Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Literally stumbled upon this place when we left the parking structure and were on our way to the El Capitan theater. No idea it was located there and was a delightful surprise as I saw ads for the POKÉMON X KOGEI exhibit. The Poke'mon exhibit is currently part of their temporary pop up and they rotate out events and pop up exhibits. Fun fact, I did not know that X JAPAN drummer, Yoshiki, is an advisor for Japan House, pretty dang cool! There are workers there to greet you and answer any questions at the start. The front half is a small gift shop with items pertaining to the current pop up as well as other Japanese cultural items and gifts ranging from household goods, food, etc. The middle part of the exhibit features videos on how some of the artists created their Poke'mon pieces as well as physical drafts, illustrations, sketches, etc for the works that are displayed in the last part, the exhibit. It's pretty neat to see the wide array of medium used for the Poke'mon pop up ranging from ceramics, textiles, and much more. I can't say that I care for some of the pieces as some are a bit too hyper realistic and just not my style, but neat to see at the very least. It does give off a vibe of a fancy man museum as there are workers stationed at ever part to ensure that nothing is being touched and people aren't getting too close. I loved the last part where you can walk through the hanging "Pikachu garden". I can't say that I would head out of my way and brave the Hollywood traffic to visit here, but if you're in the area and you need to kill time before a movie showing or what not, this is a great free thing to check out! read more

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Came to see the current exhibit on Japanese carpentry. Fascinating & beautiful! Part gift shop, part/mostly mini museum. They also have a library & meditation lounge on the 5th floor of Ovation too. Free admission for all & they even had free iced matcha. All staff are Japanese except security. Makes me feel like being in Japan again. read more

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I may have missed the Pokémon exhibition but I was able to check out their latest art. They used tech to showcase Japanese architecture and clothing and it was interactive where you can navigate by using an Xbox controller or a rolling ball thing. It's a small space but they have a gift shop and the highlight of my visit was their free green tea. It was so refreshing and if you take a survey they give you a free snack. But the real highlight was their stamp activity. Everyone is so friendly! We even went to the 5th floor to check out their other space. read more

My daughter told me about this exhibit, and we were able to get here today. It is a small exhibit, but for Pokemon enthusiasts, artists, crafters, the designs were exquisite, and provided artistic inspiration. We browsed the exhibit for about 45 minutes, took lots of photos (allowed) and one accidental video (not allowed). Security and signage is very clear there is not flash or video allowed. Oops. The crafting was a variety - pottery, textiles, paper materials, sculpture...everything but with Pokemon in mind. The detail is amazing with some of the items, and there is explanation of each piece with the artist's intention. The exhibit was on level two (with a shop at the front), while on the fifth level in another area (near Forever 21) there is a library, and that is where the restaurant is also as well as a hidden gem of a view. I mean...THIS VIEW!!! We enjoyed it and actually spent quite a bit of time on the fifth level. Highly recommend. Parking in structure - they validate for two hours I believe. read more

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My teenaged son and I visited JAPAN HOUSE for the Pokémon x Kogei exhibit and had such a great time, we both want to go again. The exhibit was beautifully curated with a variety of traditional art styles on display. It was small enough to take in without being overwhelmed, and extensive enough to be worth the drive from Orange County. I feel like future exhibits would be similarly worthwhile. After the exhibit, we enjoyed the gift shop that features beautiful items from various regions of Japan, and we picked up some travel brochures as we are hoping to visit Japan- this place is a good resource for travel info, with friendly staff to help find information. There's also a lovely reading room with books in English and Japanese about all aspects of Japanese history and culture. The art and architecture books are especially fun to browse. The staff offered us cups of green tea, and we had a really nice, relaxing time poring over books and sipping tea. It was such an enjoyable experience. If you're near LA and you have an interest in Japan, this place is a great way to spend a few hours. read more

Japan House - Cultural Center Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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