What other travelers are saying about Akihabara Gachapon Kaikan
I went in with a mission: find the elusive capsule toy I’d seen online: a tiny sushi chef cat holding a knife with the confidence of Gordon Ramsay. Simple, right? Wrong.
This place is wall-to-wall gacha madness. Hundreds of machines, each promising joy, confusion, or mild existential dread for just a few coins. You’ll find mini ramen bowls, screaming hamsters, or office chairs for action figures... everything except the thing you actually came for.
After 20 minutes of intense cranking and bargaining with fate, I walked out empty-handed… but somehow happy. That’s the magic of this place. You don’t go to win. You go to lose gloriously.
If Willy Wonka had designed a casino for toy addicts, this would be it. Bring coins, low expectations, and a sense of humor... you’ll need all three.
It is in the heart of Akihabara, Tokyo, just a short walk from Akihabara Station. The exact address is 3 Chome-15-5 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo, making it easy to find for visitors exploring the anime and gaming district.
Each gachapon turn costs between 200 and 500 yen, depending on the rarity and theme of the toy. Some limited-edition or highly detailed figures may cost more.
No, gachapon machines work like a lottery. You insert coins, turn the handle, and receive a random toy from that machine’s set. The thrill comes from not knowing which toy you will get.
Yes, some capsule toys are limited edition and highly sought after. Certain gachapon sets have rare figures that collectors try to complete, making them valuable in Japan’s toy market.
Yes, the machines are frequently updated with new themes and seasonal collections. Even if you visit multiple times, you are likely to find new toys each time.
This used to be the go-to destination for Gacha lovers, but it’s hard to recommend it over the newer official Bandai or #C-Pla shops that are popping up everywhere now.
While this hall used to be the spot to find rare or difficult-to-find capsules, the selection now feels very repetitive and is largely the same as what you’d find at any major station or mall. The space itself is quite tight and cramped, which is expected for an older shop, but it hasn't evolved with the times.
The biggest difference is the service and environment. The official Bandai Gashapon and #C-Pla stores offer much cleaner facilities and, more importantly, better support if a machine jams or you run into an issue. Unless you are right next to it, you’re better off visiting one of the modern flagship stores for a more comfortable experience.
A very dense gachapon hall. Machines are stacked high, and more than a couple of customers (plus members of staff emptying machines) makes it a challenge to make any progress looking at them all. Other locations have far more space, although perhaps less variety.
The machines are an OK price, with a change dispenser situated in the middle of the hall, employee desk in the middle, and figurine sales at the back.
A must see for the vintage fans
Has all types of older consoles.
Do note most games sold are in Japanese.
The price of the older consoles are dependant upon status.
So a newer looking one will cost a bit.
They also sell you the adapters to go along with it.
Game Room on top floor with snacks.
A bit hard to find as the entrance is a corridor.
Look out for the potato on the sign outside.
