#Japan #Tokyo #Immersive Experience #CHOCOLATE Inc. #Iidabashi exhibit

'The School Staff Room' Exhibit Extended

CHOCOLATE Inc., based in Shibuya, Tokyo, has decided to extend the duration of the highly praised immersive exhibit 'The School Staff Room' in Iidabashi until December 7, 2025. The exhibit, which opened on November 15, showcases a recreated teacher's office from a middle school that existed 15 years ago. With over 3,000 exhibit pieces, including classroom diaries, students' reflective essays, and confiscated personal belongings, visitors can explore each item and experience the past through their own perspective.

Exhibit Overview

• - Duration: November 15, 2025 - December 7, 2025
• - Hours: 10 AM - 9 PM (Entry every 20 minutes)
• - Duration of Experience: Approximately 40 minutes
• - Location: Iidabashi School Site (2-28 Agabacho, Shinjuku, Tokyo) – Just a 2-minute walk from Iidabashi Station, Exit B4b
• - Ticket Prices: ¥2,500 (Weekends and Holidays) / ¥2,300 (Weekdays, with taxes included) – Reservations required
• - Special Site: anoshokuinshitsu.com
• - Ticket Purchase Page: Purchase Tickets for Extended Dates

Tickets for the extended dates, December 1 to 7, will be available starting today at 6 PM.

Concept of 'The School Staff Room'

In this exhibit, you'll find everything related to a school setting. The middle school from which this exhibit is drawn opened its doors in 1954 amidst the construction of nearby housing complexes and once boasted a thriving community with 454 students across three grades. However, over time, student numbers dwindled, and the school closed its doors in 2010, marking the end of its 56-year legacy. At the time of closure, only 27 first-year students remained in attendance.

So, what happened during the last year of this school’s existence? The exhibit offers a glimpse into this critical time through the remnants left behind in the teacher's room: forgotten student belongings, records of interactions among teachers, messages from students, traces of teachers' work, and records of events that occurred at the school. By closely examining these materials, visitors are invited to explore the memories of the 12 teachers and 27 students who were there.

Note: The content of the exhibit is fictional and not based on real schools, individuals, or events.

Exhibit Design and Artifacts

The venue, located in the former school site of Iidabashi, has been meticulously recreated to reflect a teacher's room from 15 years ago. The furnishings, including desks, chairs, cabinets, and lockers, were sourced from an actual school that was closed down.

Visitors will find over 3,000 unique pieces throughout the room, including items from the teachers' desks, contents of lockers, news articles pinned to the walls, and class diaries. Interacting with these artifacts allows guests not just to feel the atmosphere of that time but also to uncover personal stories woven throughout the exhibit.

About the Creation Team

This exhibit is the latest work from the same team that produced the 'The Summer Vacation Vending Machine,' a hugely popular experiential project by Suntory in August 2024 that garnered a waiting list of 10,000. This previous event allowed participants to operate an unassuming vending machine to time travel back to their childhood days at the end of summer break, generating a wave of nostalgia and shared stories on social media. With over 34 million views on related videos, it became a sensational success with tickets quickly selling out.

Read more about 'The Summer Vacation Vending Machine' here.

Comment from the Project Lead (Masato Onodera, CHOCOLATE Inc.)

I am genuinely surprised by the overwhelming response to the exhibit. 'The School Staff Room' encapsulates a year of memories shared between teachers and students in a space dedicated to exploration. Every object in the exhibit holds stories and traces of those lives. By engaging with these displays, one can grasp fragments of what that last year at school looked like. While there’s no right way to experience this exhibit, I encourage visitors to reflect on their own middle school memories as they explore.

Event Details

• - Event Name: 'The School Staff Room'
• - Duration: November 15, 2025 - December 7, 2025
• - Hours: 10 AM - 9 PM (Entry every 20 minutes)
• - Duration of Experience: Approximately 40 minutes
• - Location: Iidabashi School Site (2-28 Agabacho, Shinjuku, Tokyo)
• - Ticket Prices: ¥2,500 (Weekends and Holidays) / ¥2,300 (Weekdays, with taxes included, reservations required)
• - Special Site: anoshokuinshitsu.com
• - Ticket Purchase Pages:

- For Nov 15 - 23
- For Nov 24 - 30
- For Dec 1 - 7