Gashapon Bandai Official Opening 300-Machine Outlet at NEX Serangoon

Last Updated on 2023-05-17 , 10:20 am

If you’ve visited Japan, you may have noticed capsule machines everywhere. You may even have used up all your 100 yen coins to get the capsule you wanted.

These Gashapon machines offer many things, from miniatures and figurines to keychains, and are indeed an addiction once you get into them.

There will be an official Gashapon store in Singapore soon, which may or may not be a good thing for your pockets, but at least we don’t have to fly to Japan for an actual store now.

The outlet at NEX will also have promotions on opening day, so stay tuned.

The Details

According to the Gashapon Singapore website, the store will open on 25 May, in unit #03-31 of NEX.

The 772 square feet store will have 300 capsule machines. It will be open from 10 am to 10 pm daily.

Gashapon Bandai Official Shop will give free exclusive tote bags and stickers to customers who spend $50 and above.

The offer will be limited to 200 sets, and terms and conditions apply.

Besides the official store, Gashapon has a pop-up at 313@Somerset, which runs from 6 May 2023 to 31 October 2023.

The pop-up, located next to Owndays, offers 90 capsule machines.

So if you’re missing Japan, you can visit these two places to immerse in a real-life Bandai store.

Origins of Gashapon

A capsule machine is much like a vending machine, where you insert coins to get your desired product, and it will come out at the bottom.

However, unlike a vending machine where you can choose what you want, a capsule machine is random and leaves you wanting more.

Gashapon earned its name because of the machine’s sound when the capsule comes out. “Gatcha-gatcha” is what you hear when you turn the knob on the machine for the toy to come out, and “pon” is the sound the capsule makes when it pops out.

Ryuzo Shigeta created the first gashapon machine in the 1960s. Bandai Co. later trademarked Gashapon in the 70s.

Gashapon machines are a holy grail of miniatures, containing anime and animal figurines, traditional souvenirs, famous snack keychains and more.

They are most commonly found in Tokyo’s Akihabara district, which has a store with around 500 of these machines.

Japanese Products in Singapore

It is no secret that Singaporeans love Japanese culture. Their food and efficiency are top-notch, and Japan is the number one destination besides Korea every December holiday.

Products from there are becoming increasingly widespread here, with Don Don Donki having 15 outlets.

It most recently opened in Jewel, with an aviation theme complementing the airport. It is also the first outlet to have over 100 halal Japanese products.

You can even find Don Don Donki on Shopee now to satisfy your cravings and wants from the comfort of your home.

You don’t even have to get out of your house to immerse in the wanderlust of being in Japan too.

To visit their Shopee store, click here. Not all items may be sold here, but best-selling ones can be found.