HOME Kansai Osaka Umeda, Osaka Station, Kitashinchi Introducing Osaka's First Official Bandai Gashapon® Specialty Shop, with 330 Capsule Toy Machines!
Introducing Osaka's First Official Bandai Gashapon® Specialty Shop, with 330 Capsule Toy Machines!

Introducing Osaka's First Official Bandai Gashapon® Specialty Shop, with 330 Capsule Toy Machines!

Date published: 12 January 2023

On December 8, 2022, Bandai opened their 31st Official Gashapon Shop in Umeda, which is also the first in Osaka. This is the place to visit for more kinds of capsule toys than you can imagine!

Capsule toys first appeared in Japan in 1965, introduced by the United States. Since then, these small, round plastic containers containing tiny trinkets like keychains and toys, have greatly evolved.

One such evolution is none other than the original capsule brand by Bandai called 'Gashapon,' with specialty shops all over the country. Here we look inside their brand-new, official Gashapon shop!

Umeda, the heart of Osaka

Image: PIXTA
Image: PIXTA

Umeda is often said to be the center of Osaka, located right near the Shinkansen's Shin-Osaka Station and easily accessible from Osaka's neighboring prefectures, Kyoto and Nara. You can get there using the JR, Hankyu, Hanshin, and Osaka Metro lines.

Umeda is famous for its shopping centers, with malls such as Lucua Osaka and Grand Front Osaka and department stores like Hankyu, Hanshin, and Daimaru. HEP FIVE is another giant shopping facility right near the Gashapon Bandai Official Shop Umeda, with floors spanning from two basement levels to nine floors above ground.

Umeda is undoubtedly one of the hottest fashion spots for the trendy youth of Osaka. And with so much to see and buy, this is the place to shop till you drop!

Rows upon rows of the latest Gashapon goodies... with 330 machines!

Rows upon rows of the latest Gashapon goodies... with 330 machines!

Gashapon Bandai Official Shop Umeda Store is located near several stations, including JR Osaka Station and Hankyu/Hanshin Umeda Station.

Exit the Osaka Umeda Twin Towers South, which directly connects to Osaka Metro Umeda Station. The shop will be right before your eyes! Nearby, you'll also find the entrance to Hankyu Higashi-dori Shopping Street and the landmark red "namco" sign.

The store is on 3F of the Namco Umeda Game Center. There are also crane, racing, and music games throughout the other floors, making this an absolutely irresistible game lover's paradise!

Head up the escalator to the third floor. Gashapon Bandai Official Shop Umeda is located toward the back, where you'll find a whopping 330 Gashapon machines spread throughout the store!

'Gashapon,' or 'capsule toys,' are small toys that come in round, plastic containers called 'capsules.'

The Gashapon Bandai Official Shop carries all of Bandai's latest capsule toys, including toys from popular Japanese anime and manga, making it a must-visit attraction for anime lovers of all kinds!

At the time of our visit in December 2022, there were Gashapon featuring popular works such as the anime, The Quintessential Quintuplets, and the mobile app game Genshin Impact.

The Quintessential Quintuplets (©春場ねぎ・講談社/「五等分の花嫁∬」製作委員会)
The Quintessential Quintuplets (©春場ねぎ・講談社/「五等分の花嫁∬」製作委員会)
Genshin Impact Acrylic Charm 04 (© miHoYo)
Genshin Impact Acrylic Charm 04 (© miHoYo)

Of course, you'll find more than just anime and manga capsules here. Capsule toys come in a wide variety, including animals, dinosaurs, and miniature Japanese food replicas!

Their series include 'Ikimono (living things),' 'Cool,' and 'Variety,' so you can even search for your favorite capsule toy by category.

Ikimono Encyclopedia Repti Leopard Gecko (©BANDAI)
Ikimono Encyclopedia Repti Leopard Gecko (©BANDAI)
Marukome Mini Package Charm (©marukome co.,ltd. All Rights Reserved.)
Marukome Mini Package Charm (©marukome co.,ltd. All Rights Reserved.)

Toys also come in a wide range of prices, from the affordable 200 yen capsule to the more premium 1,500 yen capsules, which are often unique to specialty shops.

After collecting your goodies, recycle your unneeded Gashapon containers at the Gashapon Point Station. Just pop them in and turn the large handle!

As of December 2022, Umeda is the only large-scale specialty store in Osaka that sells official Bandai Gashapon®. This is the place to visit for more kinds of capsule toys than you can imagine!

  • Gashapon (Bandai Official Shop Umeda Branch)
    ガシャポン バンダイオフィシャルショップ梅田店
    • Address 3F, 3-3 Komatsubara-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 530-0018
    • Hours: 10:00 a.m. - Midnight

Written by:

Shiro Tsuchida

Shiro Tsuchida

After graduating from university, Shiro worked with an advertising agency for about a year. Leveraging her experience from a journalism club she was part of during her college days, she began her career as a freelance writer. Based in the Kansai region, she capitalizes on her local insights, writing event coverage and reports spanning genres like art, music, comedy, food, and entertainment within the Kinki area. She also handles photography. Additionally, she focuses on region-specific anecdotes and deep dives into local culture and history. Currently, she regularly contributes articles to more than five media outlets.

*Information in article as of December 2022. Please see official website for the latest updates & information.

English translation by Krys Suzuki

*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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