Gachapon Toys in Japan Are Wild!
/Photos of the strangest capsule toys you can buy. Even a bird hugging bread?
A couple admiring all the gachapon choices. Photo- Rittis/Shutterstock.com
Gachapon or gacha gacha capsule toy machines have exploded in Japan.
They’ve been popular for years, but I kept seeing them everywhere in Osaka during my latest trip—entire store sections of them in malls and even at revolving sushi restaurants.
I was only away for three years, and now almost any kind of toy is in a gachapon.
They’re like gumball machines where you put your coins in and turn the knob, it makes a gacha gacha sound, and a plastic ball falls out with a toy inside. You pop it open and see which character or object you’re lucky enough to collect this time.
Each machine has a different toy theme based on anime characters or just about anything imaginable. Yup, there are plenty of gacha toy collectors hoping to find that missing character from their collection. It’s not just for kids. Adults love discovering their favorite gachapon wherever they go.
Most gachapon toys cost around three hundred yen each or roughly three dollars, which might sound expensive, but it doesn’t feel like it because you’re using coins.
There’s a one hundred yen coin, and dropping three of them in a gachapon feels easy and fun. I couldn’t resist taking photos of some of the more interesting toys available for your gacha gacha purchase.
Here’s a Naruto gachapon toy in my hand for size reference.
Who wouldn’t want birds hugging bread?
Cute animals are everywhere doing strange things. Maybe some of these are associated with manga or anime, or they’re mainly there to make you smile and wonder about their meaning.
Cute bears wrapped in food? Should you hug them or eat them?
Panda bread looks delicious!
Cute kitty cat pancakes. They don’t look very happy to me.
Aaaaah! Scary cats!!
Sometimes, the animals are busy doing one of their hobbies. Or waiting for you to squeeze them.
This one looks like a cat’s dream.
Nothing’s more relaxing than squeezing the life out of a cute squishy bird.
If you’re a foodie, I guess these gachapon toys might be something you could collect.
Oooh! The sashimi looks so fresh!!
Stackable burgers are so hot right now.
Wait. Is this even food?
I didn’t know furniture was an option for gachapon toys. If you’re into miniature models, these are for you.
Airplane seats that recline. Buckle your seatbelts.
I love the sophistication of this Karimoku collection. So rich!
I purposely avoided the standard cartoon character toys based on anime and manga you see everywhere. It was fun looking for ones that were creative and different.
I couldn’t resist these, though.
Mini Squid Game murderers for your keys.
You can get the whole bloody family!
If you visit Japan someday, make sure to get a few gachapon toys. They make great souvenirs and are fun to shop for while you’re sightseeing.
What creative capsule toys have you seen or bought?
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