Visiting Japan - Gacha machines

[SerAndrew]

Hi!
I'm visiting Japan in a couple of weeks and would be great to visit one of this huge gacha shops with houndreds of different machines. I'd be really happy if I can find any Yujin or Kaiyodo one so I was wondering if anyone in the forum has experience or knows of a specific place where I can find them. Would be a weird feeling to get figures that way, after so many years getting them through YAJ and such.

Honestly, I don't think it should be so difficult once in Akihabara, but just in case...

Btw, Kaiyodo has an official museum in Osaka...

[RyujinGodOfTheSea]

Ah, Osaka, land of one of the best aquariums in the world. Kaiyukan my beloved.

[MudpupWaterdog]

I've done the gacha rounds in Akihabara and elsewhere in Tokyo a few times, most recently in March 2024. Give me a few days to write a little guide up and I'll post it here.

[SerAndrew]

Thank you both!

[JimoAi]

you're mostly going to find recent stuff like the Bandai or re released Ikimon sets. Yujin and Kaiyodo you will have to try at second hand stores. Suruga ya may have them.

[SerAndrew]

It's not that I'm looking for any specific figure, I have almost all I want. But just that I'd be happy if I find something related to what we all collect. A Bandai will be OK

Talking about what I am indeed looking for, my main holy grial is the Southland Replicas thylacoleo. Just in case... haha

[MudpupWaterdog]

So here's the rundown on my usual Tokyo toy circuit:

Akihabara (most places here prohibit photography for some reason, so I don't have pics) Most stores around here mainly sell anime merch or electronics, with a lot of car/plane/gundam models. You can pop into any store to check if they have animal toys, but the following are the spots I know will have them.



Toys Goldenage - https://maps.app.goo.gl/ch5jcz7gP3YUQf4E8
Found some old Kaiyodo in the back, VERY reasonable prices. It was a small selection but they had toys I'd seeking for years.

Akihabara Radio Kaikan - https://maps.app.goo.gl/6QFDd6WpbuThQwAU7
This building has several floors worth exploring, and most of these spaces are for resellers. Some resellers have the toys packaged for individual sale, so you can just grab it and take it to the register. Other stores have display cases, each rented out by a different seller, so you have to find a staff member and point out which one you want. I've had the most luck with cool finds in this building - some places have current/recent releases, but you'll also occasionally find some toys a decade old or more. This is my main shopping spot if I'm pressed for time, since it has a little of everything.

Kaiyodo Hobby Lobby - https://maps.app.goo.gl/WqswHEXXnqx4Mzvx9
Exactly what it sounds like – the Kaiyodo main store. Good for new/current releases


Other places

National Museum of Nature and Science - https://maps.app.goo.gl/1TVLMD9VixvbHMsr5
Great gift shop for Kinto and Colorata products, also a cool museum on its own. I think the entrance fee was 700 yen last time I was there? So pretty cheap if you only want to pop in to check out the gift shop.

Shibuya has a few big gachapon stores, I've had good luck finding current releases around these places:
C-Pla Shibuya 109 - https://g.co/kgs/fzfbhzd
Magnet by Shibuya 109 - https://g.co/kgs/5AULaZi
It's a crowded area, and again most of the merch is anime-themed, but the animal toys are scattered within. There are more gacha centers than just these, but it's a good area to wander.







Tokyo Sea Life Park - https://maps.app.goo.gl/oEJLYv5rd3zqBpC38
The best of Tokyo's many aquariums (that I've been to far, at least). Small gift shop but has some cool stuff I haven't really seen elsewhere, especially if plushies are your thing. Had some neat hollow rubber fish carrying bags - the zippers are placed where you'd cut them to cook them.









Happy hunting! Please show us what you end up getting, and if you find any new stores or have any tips after this experience, let us know!

[SerAndrew]

Thank you!
Will keep you posted