[Amusement] Our Favourite Places for Gashapon in Tokyo!

I'm huge huge huge huge fan of Gashapon/Gachapon. My husband always say I'm a prone-to-addiction gambler who likes things that involve money and luck. Hahaha. But somehow, I've managed to influence him and he is also quite into it now. #poweroflove

Main reason for my love for Gashapon is of course the character products! My resistance is ZERO when I see a Toy Story Gashapon, I'll be like I MUST GET THE ALIEN. Lol.

I'm like an unleashed monster in Japan when it comes to Gashapon. Not only because it is cheaper than Singapore, the products are also more varied and updated!

Even though it is really easy to find these machines in Tokyo, I've consolidated the few places we went for Gashapon during our trips. Hopefully, this guide is useful to Gashapon fanatics like me!


1. YODOBASHI CAMERA GACHAPON KAN - SHINJUKU (ヨドバシカメラ ガシャポン館)

Yodobashi Camera is known for selling an array of tech products. Not only do they have many buildings dedicated to different genres of tech products, they also have shops dedicated to the almighty Gashapon.

We chanced upon the Gashapon Kan in Shinjuku located near to the West exit of Shinjuku Station. This is how the entrance looked like:

Entrance photo from Google map

Thank goodness I can read Katakana and know that the banner meant that there's Gashapon at the basement. If not I would have missed this heaven. You can enter the basement from the staircase on the left!

Interior of the Gashapon Kan

There is around 200 Gashapon machines at B1. The variety is huge! They placed the machines according to categories such as Anime, Young children, Characters, etc. Very thoughtful! This is definitely my favourite place to gashapon because it is really empty, there's either just a few people there or none at all! It is also kind of like my lucky place, I usually get what I want here at first few tries!

Anime category on the left, Girly ones right in front, etc.

However, the funny thing about this place is that there is no in-house coin changing machine. We saw  signs that instruct us to change coins at the Yodobashi Game and Hobby Kan opposite to the Gashapon Kan. The coin changing machine is near the entrance. 

Change your money at Yodobashi Game and Hobby Kan

Haha, yes you did not see wrongly. There's like rows of Gashapon machines again at this building and more on 5F! It's never ending aka 沒完沒了。

There is no staff on duty at the Gashapon Kan, so pray that your chosen machine doesn't get faulty. My guess is that you can probably ask the staff of opposite building for help.

Shop info:
Address: 〒160-0023, 1 Chome-11-8 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tōkyō-to 160-0023, Japan
Google Map

2. AKIHABARA GACHAPON HALL 秋葉原ガチャポン会館

This place is extremely popular among foreigners as there's lots of blog post and video introducing it. There're more than 400 machines in this shop! The walkway between the rows of machine is slightly narrow and sometimes it gets a little crowded due to its popularity. But that's not a problem and you will find yourself spending much time here!

Rows of machines!

What I like best about this place is the nostalgia (懐かしい) of the environment. Some of the machines looks vintage and the old boss is always there to help out. Some of the machines are placed really high, so you will need the ladder to reach it! I guess that's some kind of new Gashapon experience.

Using a ladder to reach the top!

To conclude, we still prefer the Shinjuku Gashapon Kan to the Akihabara Gachapon Kaikan. Even though there's a double number of machines here, we felt like we've never got what we want here! Owell, maybe its just our luck! We also prefer the uncrowded environment the Gashapon Kan provided!

However, it is definitely worth coming by if you are visiting Akihabara! It is quite an experience with the nice nostalgic setting! There are also figurines and Re-ments for sale.

Shop info:
Address: Japan, 〒101-0021 Tōkyō-to, Chiyoda-ku, Sotokanda, 3 Chome−15, ＭＮビル
Google Map


3. NARITA AIRPORT

The machines at Narita Terminal 1

You might have seen news about the 350 Gashapon machines placed at Narita Airport's Terminal 1 and 2. Since Singapore Airline departs from Terminal 1, we got to visit Terminal 1's Gashapon area. There're around 150 Gashapon machines located on Level 5 of Terminal 1. Most of them are near Lawson and the Food Court.

This is awesome because we get to spend away our remaining 100 yen coins EVEN THOUGH we ended up changing more coins. HAHAHA. I think we went crazy because of the "Aiyah now don't turn go back Singapore turn more expensive lor." mentality We also spotted some Gashapon machines which we didn't see elsewhere. They make good souvenirs for friends too!

Pickles Gashapon which I regret not getting!

If you are leaving from Terminal 2, there's also 170 Gashapon machines located at Basement One.

Info: Level 5 of Narita Airport, Terminal 1
Japan, 〒286-0111 Chiba Prefecture, Narita, Sanrizuka, Goryobokujo−1−1, 〒282-0011


4. TOKYO STATION CHARACTER STREET 

Tokyo Station's Character Street is a huge area made up of the official shops of many characters. Rilakkuma, Tamagotchi, Pokemon, Snoopy, etc name it and they have it. The area is located at Tokyo Eki 1 Bangai 東京駅一番街. It is one of my favourite shopping site in Tokyo!

Tokyo Station is HUGE, so finding this place might be tricky. You will have to exit from Yaesu North Exit 八重洲北口 and go down to B1 or exit from Yaesu Central Exit  八重洲中央口 and go down to B1 from its left.

Gashapons can be spotted at some of the character shops! So, you can simply head straight to your favourite character's shop to GASHA!

Gudetama's Gashapon outside TBS Shop (TBS screens Gudetama clips)

PUTITTO and FUCHICO Gashapon as of May, 2016

There's also a neat collection of Fuchico and Putitto Gashapons at the Character Street. These are less commonly seen at the places I've mentioned above. I've yet to visit the newly open Fuchico shop at the Character Street. But I've heard that there's even more Fuchico Gashapon there! Next on my list!!!

And guess what! I just learnt that a new Gashapon Street has just opened early March 2017 at the Character Street! OMG. I definitely need to go back! Here's more info on the the Gashapon Street.

That's all four of the places I recommend for a special Gashapon. Here are some other places where you can find Gashapon Machines:

1. Game Center (Sega, Round One, etc)

2. Kiddyland at Harajuku

3. Tokyu Hands and Loft

4. Every other shops in Akihabara

5. BIC Camera (Lots of them at BICQLO at Shinjuku)

6. Sanrio Gift shops 

7. Other Yodobashi (At the entrance or just spot ガシャポン on their floor map)

8. Forget it! They are simple EVERYWHERE!

Have fun Gashapon-ing in Tokyo!