Have you ever seen those videos where people react negatively to really smelly foods and thought, “Surely it’s not that bad?” Have you ever wanted to know why people complain about the smell of stinky tofu or surströmming? Are you ready to test your olfactory system just to make sure it still works?

If you said yes to any of these questions, Japan’s “Smell Exhibition” is meant for you. Also known as Nioiten in Japanese, this quirky exhibition is a must-visit for those with a daring sense (of smell) for adventure. This year’s exhibition is the second time this event is held in Tokyo, with the first one taking place back in 2016.

For those unfamiliar, some of the unusual smells you’ll be taking a whiff of include food items such as Sweden’s infamous fermented fish, surströmming, its Japanese equivalent, kusaya, and a type of food that warns you with its name, stinky tofu.

From top clockwise: surströmming, stinky tofu, kusaya

There are also non-food items included in the exhibition. This includes the newly-added “smell of a warlord” (a reproduction of a scent that famous warriors like Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu used before battles), the smell of a stink bug, and “age-related odor” from men in their 30s and older.

A new exhibit called “Scent of a Masterpiece” was also added this year for those who want to experience something more pleasant. Visitors can smell fragrances inspired by world-famous artworks like the Mona Lisa.

If you’re ready to take your nose for a ride, you can find more details on the Smell Exhibition below.

Smell Exhibition 2021

• Date: July 9 to September 30, 2021
• Hours: 10:30 - 20:00 (Entrance closes at 19:30; Exhibition ends at 18:00 on September 30 only)
• Venue: Machida Modi B1 Floor, 6 Chome-2-6 Haramachida, Machida, Tokyo 194-0013
• Admission: 800 yen (Children below 3 years old can enter for free)
• Event website (Japanese)