Ota Memorial Museum of Art 10:30
¥1,000, university & high school students ¥700, junior high school students & younger children free
The Ota Memorial Museum of Art offers a tasty dive into the past with an exhibition that explores the evolution of Japanese culinary culture during the Edo period (1603–1868), a pivotal time when many now-iconic dishes emerged and were democratised.
‘Edo Gourmet Dishes’ highlights the richness of the period’s gastronomy through 90 ukiyo-e prints signed by masters such as Hokusai, Hiroshige and Kuniyoshi. These artists, famous for their landscapes, caricatures and depictions of warriors, also immortalised the daily life of the people of Edo (now Tokyo) – including their eating habits.
The exhibition focuses on familiar dishes such as sushi, soba and tempura, exploring their ingredients and the seasonings used at the time, including miso, vinegar and soy sauce, which became widely distributed during this period. Among the works on display are prints such as Women in Benkei Stripes: Matsuno-zushi by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, a playful depiction of sushi culture, and Hiroshige’s Famous Places in Edo: Amusements While Waiting for the Moon on the Twenty-sixth Night in Takanawa, which beautifully illustrates the role of dining in social gatherings. Works by Hokusai and Hiroshige depicting scenes of meals along the Tokaido route can be contemplated as well.