Picking up JR Railways related merchandise and Gashapon while in Japan

[bc6]

I'm looking to pick up some Japanese-related merchandise while I'm in Japan, and I wanted to know where to go to that has the biggest selection. 

 

I also would like some JR or train-related Gashapon items as well, I know Japan has tons of Gashapon machines but I'm mainly interested in train stuff.

 

Thanks

[UnfinishedKit]

For gatchapon railway stuff I’ve had good pickings at:

 

Haneda T3 Keikyu line station

Biccamera Akihabara 

Narita T1 station has a big gatchapon centre outside the gate and some different stuff inside th JR gates

Keio department store in Shinjuku, Top floor by the lifts where the temporary exhibition space is. 
also keep a good eye out in the major stations on the private railways as they often have railway related gatchapon. 

 

for general JR merchandise, try the Suica store in Tokyo station or the New days in the maranouchi building in Tokyo station in the south west corner. IIRC that one is in the basement under the south exit gate. If there’s a JR stamp rally going on that’s where you go to get the book and they often have some special Tomix DecoKore stuff. 
 

For other fun merch. I really like Ojico for their t-shirts featuring Japanese trains, both my son and I have a bunch. Search online for their stockists.
 

Popondetta also does good t-shirts but their stock levels are crazy inconsistent and tend to favour child sizes. 

Train museums like the one in Omiya, the romancecar museum in Ebina and the Tokyo subway museum all have great gift shops. 

 

[bc6]

Thanks unfinishedkit for the huge list of places to check out I really appreciate your help with this obsession of mines lol.

[chadbag]

There is a small gashapon store in Akihabara that is famous on YouTube.   That’s all they have is floor to ceiling machines.  You never know what you’ll find but I have seen train related stuff in there when we’ve visited.  We visit every time we go to Japan. 
 

[Gunzel]

Shosen Grande in Jinbocho (better merch selection than Shosen Book Tower in Akihabara). 
 

General Store RAILYARD (Akihabara and Omiya), I’ve never managed to get to one when it’s open but photos show gacha etc. 
 

As UnfinishedKit mentioned any railway museum, and many larger stations will have a shop selling merchandise. 

[miyakoji]

Thanks everyone, will add to my substantial itinerary notes 🙂

[bc6]

Over on Reddit someone asked a similar question and links were left. Pf course have your web browser translate into your preferred language.

 

https://osakametro-shop.myshopify.com/

https://www.osakametro.co.jp/news/news/other/20240520_teikikenhatsubaisyo_goods.php

https://www.hankyudensha-shop.com/

[RS18U]

Picked up these at the JR Kyushu Hotel Kagoshima.  Cute, but 500 yen compared to the 300 yen of the other types in the nearby mall.  The hotel had a couple of machines both for train stuff, and you would get 1 of 5 possible choices.

 

 

[bill937ca]

 

[kuro68000]

14 hours ago, chadbag said:

There is a small gashapon store in Akihabara that is famous on YouTube.   That’s all they have is floor to ceiling machines.  You never know what you’ll find but I have seen train related stuff in there when we’ve visited.  We visit every time we go to Japan. 
 

 

In fact there are at least two that I know of, probably more. I don't really pay attention but there's one on the ground floor of the MN building: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Verbdzw4TsADovFU7

 

There's another one further down Junk Street: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2VVFaad7PafF6NTi7

 

I think there's one on the main street too. Some of the model train shops around there have some JR merchandise too, like actual used stuff that was decommissioned. Sometimes Hard Off has it as well, but it's of course completely random and you would need to do a fair bit of travelling to get lucky.

[chadbag]

15 hours ago, kuro68000 said:

In fact there are at least two that I know of, probably more. I don't really pay attention but there's one on the ground floor of the MN building: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Verbdzw4TsADovFU7

I think that’s the one based on pics attached and the fact there is a maid place across the street.  It’s in a side street not far off the main street.  
 

we saw it on several YouTube videos and have since made it a regular place to stop. 
 

 

[ED75-775]

On 2/23/2025 at 8:26 AM, chadbag said:

There is a small gashapon store in Akihabara that is famous on YouTube.   That’s all they have is floor to ceiling machines.  You never know what you’ll find but I have seen train related stuff in there when we’ve visited.  We visit every time we go to Japan. 
 

That would be the Akihabara Gachapon Kaikan (Gachapon Hall), the ground floor there is very packed with capsule machines though I've never noticed any specific railway ones during my passing through.

 

I note 'passing through' because Popondetta have their Akihabara Reuse Store dedicated to second-hand trains on the floor above the Gachapon Kaikan. Maybe kill two birds with one stone and pay a visit upstairs after you're finished buying capsules?😉

 

Alastair

[chadbag]

4 hours ago, ED75-775 said:

I note 'passing through' because Popondetta have their Akihabara Reuse Store dedicated to second-hand trains on the floor above the Gachapon Kaikan. Maybe kill two birds with one stone and pay a visit upstairs after you're finished buying capsules?😉

Good to know.  I did not know that was there. 

[Ander88]

Its not so romantic/fun but some of the Gachapon collections you can get them through internet. Once there you can check if some are available online and only buy there those that are not, not to return with an entire bag full of gachapons.

 

https://www.amazon.co.jp/日本信号-ミニチュア灯器コレクション-鉄道編-ガチャガチャ-カプセルトイ/dp/B0BVM482V4

https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Train-Switch-Collection-Gatchagacha-Capsule/dp/B0C142H86B/ref=pd_sbs_d_sccl_3_2/357-3386109-5982464?pd_rd_w=BlwgG&content-id=amzn1.sym.dcca1cb7-d8ee-4f71-9db0-310358fcccf4&pf_rd_p=dcca1cb7-d8ee-4f71-9db0-310358fcccf4&pf_rd_r=0CA3FYEX2AB5RT67VCDD&pd_rd_wg=xOdTG&pd_rd_r=2b2adba8-c68b-4a19-94b4-e290d078a734&pd_rd_i=B0C142H86B&psc=1

 

https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Collection-Types-Tallin-International-Capsule/dp/B0CLXWWNTD/ref=pd_rhf_dp_s_ci_mcx_mr_hp_d_d_sccl_1_10/357-3386109-5982464?pd_rd_w=6Ia4c&content-id=amzn1.sym.7225cbd5-9046-47c0-9711-30772e8cfb94:amzn1.symc.72052e08-f310-431d-80e0-b172c323d1e5&pf_rd_p=7225cbd5-9046-47c0-9711-30772e8cfb94&pf_rd_r=YPCQS93F79B9N1NKEZK9&pd_rd_wg=xUMiR&pd_rd_r=3b9df967-ec79-4a02-b7c2-2b472d479aec&pd_rd_i=B0CLXWWNTD&psc=1

 

https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/gp/product/B0C2CBJ71X/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_8?smid=A32EAJI7FYU6TT&psc=1

Edited February 24 by Ander88

[kuro68000]

11 hours ago, ED75-775 said:

That would be the Akihabara Gachapon Kaikan (Gachapon Hall), the ground floor there is very packed with capsule machines though I've never noticed any specific railway ones during my passing through.

 

I note 'passing through' because Popondetta have their Akihabara Reuse Store dedicated to second-hand trains on the floor above the Gachapon Kaikan. Maybe kill two birds with one stone and pay a visit upstairs after you're finished buying capsules?😉

 

Alastair

 

That's interesting, I haven't been in there for years but they used to have a character goods shop as well. The top floor was a maid cafe, I believe the first or certainly one of the very early ones in Akihabara, if not Japan. I went there thinking it was just a cosplay kind of thing, not really understanding it. It wasn't like the modern ones with bright costumes, they were all Victoria style long black/brown dresses with white frills.

 

They have at least one gachapon "shop" in Nakano Broadway, and I think I remember seeing some train related stuff. There are model train shops there, at least.

[Yavianice]

Shoshen Book Tower in Akihabara has a large selection of train merchandise. 

Highly recommend you also check it out. https://maps.app.goo.gl/1XJ4YeddMh88r4JEA

They are not cheap though. 

[bc6]

I just found out that Yodabashi Camera has a huge Gashapon section on the 6th floor.