Capsule toy machines, known as "gashapon" or "gachapon," dispense small toys or trinkets in plastic capsules when you insert a coin and turn the lever. In Japan, these machines can be found almost everywhere people gather, including supermarkets, shopping malls, major retail stores, game centers, and even train stations. Some large specialty stores house over 1,000 machines and receive new items nearly every day.
This article introduces large capsule toy specialty stores in popular areas such as Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Harajuku! Some of these stores have opened fairly recently, so be sure to check them out!
【Ikebukuro】Gashapon Department Store Ikebukuro Flagship Store
Located on the 3rd floor of the Sunshine City World Import Mart Building, this is a large-scale capsule toy specialty store. "Gashapon Department Store" is a brand of capsule toy stores planned, operated, and produced by Bandai Namco Amusement, with locations across Japan.
The Ikebukuro flagship store boasts one of the world’s largest collections, with over 3,000 capsule toy vending machines. Visitors of all ages and backgrounds come to explore its extensive selection, which includes character-themed toys and corporate collaboration items. The store also features a "Gashapon Bandai Official Shop," where you can find every new capsule toy release from Bandai, the market leader in the capsule toy industry. You can even check the store’s stock on the official Gashapon Bandai website. With so many options available, it’s a great idea to browse online in advance and decide what you want to get!
Spot Information
Store Name: Gashapon Department Store Ikebukuro Flagship Store
- Address: 3rd Floor, Sunshine City World Import Mart Building, 3-1-3 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
- Access: About an 8-minute walk from JR, Tobu Tojo Line, and Seibu Ikebukuro Line Ikebukuro Station
- Business Hours: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Closed: Open year-round
- Number of Machines: Over 3,000
- Store Size: Not disclosed
【Ikebukuro】Gachagacha no Mori Ikebukuro Sunshine City Alta Store
Located in the specialty store district of the Sunshine City complex, "Sunshine City Alta," this capsule toy store is designed like a dense forest or a maze, with capsule toy machines stacked across the entire floor. The Ikebukuro Sunshine City Alta store is the largest "Gachagacha no Mori" location in the Kanto region, offering a wide variety of products. Given its location in Ikebukuro, it attracts anime fans, families visiting Sunshine City, and international tourists alike.
Spot Information
Store Name: Gachagacha no Mori Ikebukuro Sunshine City Alta Store
- Address: 1st Floor, Sunshine City Alta, 3-1-3 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
- Access: About an 8-minute walk from JR, Tokyo Metro, Seibu, and Tobu Ikebukuro Station
- Business Hours: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Closed: Open year-round
- Number of Machines: About 1,240
- Store Size: 199㎡
【Akihabara】Gashapon Department Store Akihabara Store
Located on the 4th floor of the game center "namco Akihabara," the Gashapon Department Store Akihabara offers a similar experience to its Ikebukuro counterpart, including a "Gashapon Bandai Official Shop." The store also features a "Gasha Point Station," where you can recycle empty capsules, as well as a display case showcasing featured products. On top of that, it regularly hosts interactive events, making it a fun and engaging place to visit!
Spot Information
Store Name: Gashapon Department Store Akihabara Store
- Address: 4th Floor, namco Akihabara, 1-15-9 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- Access: About a 1-minute walk from Akihabara Station
- Business Hours: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Closed: Open year-round
- Number of Machines: 500
- Store Size: Not disclosed
【Asakusa】Gashapon Department Store Asakusa Hanayashiki
Located in the amusement park "Asakusa Hanayashiki" on the west side of Sensoji Temple, this capsule toy specialty store is in a free-entry area outside the park, meaning you can visit without an admission ticket. It offers all the latest capsule toys, including character-themed and corporate collaboration items. Bandai’s newest and most popular releases arrive here quickly, ensuring a well-stocked selection.
Spot Information
- Store Name: Gashapon Department Store Asakusa Hanayashiki
- Address: Asakusa Hanayashiki (Outside the Park), 2-28-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Free Entry Area)
- Access:
- About a 5-minute walk from Tsukuba Express Asakusa Station
- About a 10-minute walk from Ginza Line, Asakusa Line, and Tobu Skytree Line Asakusa Station
Business Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Varies by season and weather)
- Closed: Irregular holidays
- Number of Machines: 750
- Store Size: Not disclosed
【Shibuya】#C-pla Shibuya Center Street
Just a 2-minute walk from Shibuya Station, this capsule toy specialty store spans three floors from the basement to the second floor. The second floor was newly opened on November 1, 2024. Each floor has a unique design, ensuring an enjoyable experience throughout. Due to the high number of international visitors, many capsule toys feature strong Japanese themes. Popular items include fortune-telling capsule toys, sushi, ramen, and other Japan-inspired designs. The store also has a foreign currency exchange machine.
Spot Information
Store Name: #C-pla Shibuya Center Street
- Address: Shibuya Heiwa Building B1F – 2F, 21-8 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Access: About a 2-minute walk from Shibuya Station
- Business Hours: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Closed: Open year-round
- Number of Machines: 2,238
- Store Size: 506.54㎡
【Harajuku】#C-pla+ Harajuku Takeshita Street
This capsule toy specialty store is located on the first and second floors of a black building along Takeshita Street, just a short walk from Harajuku Station. The store's pop and cute exterior design, featuring a large digital display, makes it stand out. Always bustling with young visitors, the store caters to Takeshita Street's trendy crowd by offering many cute character-themed capsule toys. Miniature items are also particularly popular. New items arrive almost daily, so there’s always something fresh to discover!
Spot Information
Store Name: #C-pla+ Harajuku Takeshita Street
- Address: 1-16-3 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Access: About a 2-minute walk from Harajuku Station
- Business Hours: 9:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Closed: Open year-round
- Number of Machines: 1,002
- Store Size: 164.69㎡
【Shinjuku】Gachagacha no Mori Shinjuku Subnade
Located along the south corridor of "Shinjuku Subnade," the largest underground shopping complex in the Shinjuku area, this capsule toy specialty store is easily accessible for tourists visiting nearby Kabukicho, Isetan Shinjuku, and Golden Gai. The store entrance features sample displays of its capsule toys. Sanrio, Disney, and Chiikawa-themed toys are popular choices, along with miniature brand bags and cosmetics. Since the store primarily targets women in their 20s and 30s, the front sections showcase products appealing to adult women rather than children.
Many foreign visitors staying in Kabukicho-area hotels also stop by.
Spot Information
Store Name: Gachagacha no Mori Shinjuku Subnade
- Address: Shinjuku Subnade, 1-2-2 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
- Access: About a 2-minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station East Exit
- Business Hours: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Closed: Open year-round
- Number of Machines: About 1,050
- Store Size: 218㎡
【Odaiba】#C-pla Aqua City Odaiba
Located on the third floor of the large entertainment shopping mall "Aqua City Odaiba," this capsule toy store is designed with the theme "aqua planet," featuring a cool and refreshing blue-toned interior. The store offers a wide range of products, including character and anime-themed items, miniature figures, and exclusive original products. Many of the selections are geared toward families, making capsule toys featuring children's favorite characters especially popular.
Spot Information
Store Name: #C-pla Aqua City Odaiba
- Address: Aqua City Odaiba 3F, 1-7-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo
- Access: About a 5-minute walk from Odaiba Station
- Business Hours: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Until 9:00 PM on weekends and holidays) *Follows Aqua City Odaiba’s schedule
- Closed: Open year-round
- Number of Machines: 766
- Store Size: 124.72㎡
【Ueno】Dream Capsule Ueno Marui
Located on the second floor of the "Ueno Marui" shopping mall, directly connected to Ueno Station, this capsule toy specialty store attracts many international tourists. To keep things fresh, the store frequently rotates in new products. Given its location, panda-themed capsule toys—symbolic of nearby Ueno Zoo—are always available. Additionally, many popular character-themed items, including those from well-known Japanese anime and Chiikawa, are in stock. Sanrio and Anpanman toys remain fan favorites. In normal times, about 70% of visitors are foreign tourists!
Spot Information
Store Name: Dream Capsule Ueno Marui
- Address: Ueno Marui 2F, 6-15-1 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo
- Access: About a 1-minute walk from Ueno Station
- Business Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Closed: Open year-round
- Number of Machines: 613
- Store Size: 139㎡
【Ginza】#C-pla premium Marronnier Gate Ginza 1
Opened in June 2024, this capsule toy store is located on the fourth floor of Marronnier Gate Ginza 1. As the name "premium" suggests, the store exudes an elegant and luxurious atmosphere. It features higher-end capsule toys, including ¥500 and premium-priced items. The selection ranges from slightly more sophisticated collectibles to miniature and anime-related products, appealing to a broad audience.
Spot Information
Store Name: #C-pla premium Marronnier Gate Ginza 1
- Address: Marronnier Gate Ginza 1, 4F, 2-2-14 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Access: About a 6-minute walk from Ginza Station
- Business Hours: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Closed: Open year-round
- Number of Machines: 1,000
- Store Size: 192.29㎡
Looking for capsule toy stores in popular areas? These large-scale specialty stores are perfect for discovering exciting finds! Since each location has a vast number of machines, it’s a good idea to research in advance to pick out your favorites before visiting.
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