Where to buy Japanese character items: “Tokyo Character Street”

Pokémon, Rilakkuma, Hello Kitty, Ultraman, and Crayon Shin-chan! With about 30 shops featuring popular Japanese character items “Tokyo Character Street” is a shopping paradise for children as well as adults. Moreover, many of the items sold here are limited! This time, our writer Marei visits three of her favorite shops!

“Tokyo Character Street” consists of about 30 shops.

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Donguri Republic
Rilakkuma store
Shochiku Kabuki-ya Honpo

Donguri Republic

“Donguri Republic” is specialized in items from Studio Ghibli, the famous Japanese animation studio, whose works are popular all over the world! The shop has it all: from small items to large items, stuffed animals, picture books, towels, wallets and so much more. Since the shop is located next to Tokyo Station, you can buy items for your trip before hopping on the bullet train. How convenient!

So many stuffed animals! ©︎ Studio Ghibli

Besides a ton of cute children’s items, the shop also features many easy-to-use articles for adults who want to show off their love for Studio Ghibli.

Look at the clasps of these Totoro patterned pouches! The larger ones can also be used as shoulder bags.

These genuine leather wallets are a popular item for adults. The more you use it, the softer and worn-in the texture gets.

Accessories from “Castle in the Sky” and “My Neighbor Totoro.

In addition, “Donguri Republic” features limited products you can only buy at their stores.

Limited edition embroidery brooches. They are sold in bags sorted by series. You don’t know which one you get – it’s a surprise until you open it later!

When I bought two types of brooches, I got the characters San from “Princess Mononoke” and Totoro from “My neighbor Totoro”.

Rilakkuma store

The bear character Rilakkuma has been appointed as a tourism ambassador for the Chiyoda Ward Tourism Association. Here, you can buy all kinds of Rilakkuma goods.

Rilakkuma, who welcomes customers at the entrance of the store, is dressed in a limited design that can only be purchased at this Tokyo Station store.

Rilakkuma in a classic outfit, looking like a hotel concierge. The version with the little yellow duck Kiiroitori peeking from the Tokyo Station building is also super cute!

Many items can be used in your daily life, such as these stainless steel bottles and tableware.

The message of the new design series “Rilakkuma’s Messages” that started recently is lovely. It’s Rilakkuma in a simple line drawing design, saying “I will accept any individuality” and watching over you. Wow! The series was so popular that the stuffed animals were already sold out that day. I definitely need to get my hands on this series when it is back in!

“Hugging plush toys”, pouches, tote bags, and a tissue box cover with pockets from the new series.

Interior art is very popular among Japanese customers.

Rilakkuma as a dumpling! I love these kinds of quirky items – and there are a lot of them!

Plushies of Rilakkuma and his friends that can strike a pose. When you gently bend their arms and legs, they will keep the pose.

The world of Rilakkuma is evolving day by day. If you are interested in the latest items featuring Rilakkuma and his cute friends, this official store is the place to go!

Shochiku Kabuki-ya Honpo

“Shochiku Kabuki-ya Honpo” sells a variety of Japanese-style miscellaneous items as well as Kabuki-related goods.

Popular among Japanese customers are the famous rice crackers “Kabukiage”, the character goods featuring “Kabukinyantaro”, and the collaboration items with pictures of popular anime characters dressed as Kabuki actors.

A gigantic “Kabukiage” rice cracker, collaboration goods of “Attack on Titan” (Shingeki no Kyojin) as Kabuki actors, and “Kabukinyantaro” goods.

I met Rilakkuma and his friends again! The traditional Kabuki costumes look great!

Kanahei’s small animal goods corner is extremely popular with foreign customers.

Even if you are not familiar with the countless Japanese characters, you will surely find wonderful gifts and souvenirs at this Japanese-style goods corner!

The “*tenugui*” towel corner is really nice!. They feature a wide variety of patterns, from Kabuki actors and famous *oiran* (courtesan) to cute Japanese patterns!

How about chopsticks designed with zodiac signs?

By far the most popular products of “Shochiku Kabuki-ya Honpo” are the lucky charms made by “Takuminokai-HINEMOS”.

It’s fun to choose your favorite combination of handmade original straps and charms, but how about a special lucky charm that comes in the shape of a small mallet filled with tiny lucky charms?!

So many kinds of lucky charms in such a small container!

This box is for returning charms that you don’t need any longer. Many people keep their lucky charms until something really good happens to them. Then, they return the charm and get a new one.

Besides the three shops above, “Tokyo Character Street” has still a lot more shops with Japanese character items. The underground shopping area is directly connected to Tokyo Station so if the weather isn’t good, you can spend your time without worrying about getting wet in the rain. “Tokyo Character Street” is definitely a place where you can spend hours!