Gashapon in Asakusa

Japanzon Asakusa Store has about 50 gashapon （ガチャガチャ） machines lined up along its shopfront. They stand on the pavement side, facing Orange Street, so you can try them without coming inside. Kaminarimon （雷門） is a four-minute walk away, and the shop is directly opposite Asakusa Public Hall （浅草公会堂）.

In Japan these machines are called gachagacha （ガチャガチャ） or capsule toys; in English you will also see gashapon, gachapon or gacha. You turn the handle, a plastic capsule drops, and you find out what is inside.

What is in the capsule toy machines

The machines hold the kind of capsule toys made for the Japanese market: characters from anime and video games, animals, and miniature everyday objects reproduced at small scale. The line-up is changed as series come and go, so the machines are rarely the same twice. If you come back a few days later, expect different titles.

Because the contents rotate, we cannot promise that a particular series will be in the machines on the day you visit. The machines are outside and in plain view, so a look as you pass takes a few seconds.

If you do not have coins

The machines take coins. If you do not have any, come inside and ask a member of staff, and we will sort it out.

What else is in the shop

Behind the gachapon machines, the shop carries retro games, figures, plush toys, trading cards and plastic model kits. We also stock our own brand, COOKING SAN: matcha, bento boxes and chopsticks, all made in Japan.

Staff speak Japanese, English and French, so you can ask what something is before you buy it.

Finding gashapon machines in Asakusa

The shop sits on Orange Street, about 280 m from Kaminarimon, roughly four minutes on foot from either the gate or Asakusa Station. Asakusa Public Hall is across the road, which makes the spot easy to find again. We are open every day of the year.

Store information and access

Shop	Japanzon Asakusa Store （Japanzon Co., Ltd. / 株式会社ジャパンゾン）
Address	1F, 1-39-13 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032
Phone	03-5830-3421
Opening hours	10:00–17:00 （Wednesdays and Sundays 12:00–17:00）, open every day of the year
Access	4 minutes on foot from Kaminarimon （雷門）, about 280 m along Orange Street / 4 minutes from Asakusa Station / directly opposite Asakusa Public Hall （浅草公会堂）
Languages spoken	Japanese, English, French （Chinese and Spanish also on Wednesdays and Sundays）

Selling toys and games to us

We buy toys and games over the counter: bring them to the shop, a member of staff will look at them and give you a valuation, and you are welcome to come for the valuation alone. Sellers under 18 need the consent of a parent or guardian. Please bring identification, which the Second-hand Articles Dealer Act requires （second-hand licence 古物商許可 第307742116189号, Tokyo Metropolitan Public Safety Commission）.

We also buy toys and games

If you have capsule toys, figures, retro games, cards and model kits at home that you no longer want, bring them to the counter. A member of staff looks at each item in front of you and tells you a price, and you are paid on the spot. Valuation is free, and coming just to hear a price is welcome — you are never obliged to sell.

We buy over the counter only. We do not collect from your home, we do not buy by post, and we do not give valuations from photographs. Please bring identification: for a visitor from abroad, a passport is fine. Sellers under 18 need the consent of a parent or guardian. How selling to us works →