Frequently Asked Questions

Short answers to the questions visitors ask at the machines.

Your questions, answered plainly

Q: Can I choose the item? A: No. You choose the series; the item is random within the pictured line-up. Q: Can I exchange a duplicate? A: No — makers' official rules do not accept design exchanges or returns; a broken item is a defect and is handled differently (see the rules guide). Q: How much does one play cost? A: Mainstream series run JPY 200-1,500 per play (official band). Q: Do machines take cards? A: Some rows do (IC or QR), coin-only rows are still common — carry 100-yen coins. Q: Are the big-store face counts exact? A: Counts change as floors are rearranged; Ikebukuro's flagship is 'over 3,000 faces', with press figures between about 3,220 and 3,775 at different dates. Q: Is this site official? A: No. It is an independent guide; GASHAPON is Bandai's trademark and GACHA is Takara Tomy Arts' trademark. Q: Where is current stock listed? A: On the makers' and stores' official pages — this guide never states stock.

Sources: Bandai / Bandai Namco Gashapon official information and 50th-anniversary growth-strategy briefing (8 October 2026, reported by Mynavi News, Real Sound and Asahi Shimbun); Japan Capsule Toy Association (JCTA) market survey (figures cited via industry reporting — survey scope differs from Bandai's, so market size is given as a range); Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) visitor statistics 2025; official shop pages (Bandai official shops, Gashapon Department Store, #C-pla and other chains); Wikipedia 'Gashapon' (CC BY-SA 4.0, credited only, not a destination). Checked 5 November 2026.