If you love cute characters, Studio Ghibli, Snoopy, Rilakkuma and all things kawaii, Tokyo Character Street is one of the best places to visit in Tokyo Station. It’s an underground street packed with small shops from your favorite characters, and it’s perfect for souvenir shopping, especially on a rainy day.
In this post I’m sharing my visit to Tokyo Character Street, the shops I went into, what I bought, and a few tips if you’re planning your own trip. I filmed the whole day, so you can also watch the vlog right below.
What Is Tokyo Character Street?
Tokyo Character Street is an underground shopping street inside Tokyo Station, filled with small shops dedicated to all kinds of Japanese characters. You’ll find stores for Studio Ghibli, Snoopy, Rilakkuma, Mofusand, Sanrio characters and many more, plus a corner full of gashapon (capsule toy) machines.
One thing worth knowing: new stores are always opening and closing, depending on demand, so the line-up can be a little different every time you visit. That’s part of the fun, because there’s always something new to discover.
My Morning Before Tokyo Character Street
My day started with a simple Japanese breakfast: onigiri with a salmon filling, which is one of my favorite quick breakfasts in Japan. It was a rainy day, so my outfit for the day came with an umbrella.
We headed to Tokyo Station for some shopping, but we came out on the wrong side of the station. We were too tired from the day before to look for the main entrance, so we went straight to Tokyo Character Street. Tokyo Station is huge, so if you want to see the front of the building, check your exit before you go. I never got to see it on this trip, and I’m still a little sad about that.
When we arrived, only the restaurants were open, so we had to wait a bit for the shops to start opening.
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Shops I Visited on Tokyo Character Street
Donguri Republic (Studio Ghibli)
The first stop was the Donguri store, the Studio Ghibli shop, and it had just opened. There are lots of plush toys, pins, towels, and all kinds of gift items. Each Donguri store always has items that are different from the others, so it’s worth checking more than one if you’re a Ghibli fan.
I really wanted to take home some teacups, but I was afraid they would break in my suitcase, so I left them behind. My purchase here was small, but I was happy with it. There’s also another Studio Ghibli shop nearby that is very themed and beautifully decorated, perfect for photos.
Snoopy Store
At the Snoopy store, I found keychains with birth dates on them. They’re great for giving as gifts, since you can pick the one that matches the person’s birthday.
Sanrio and Gashapon Corner
My sister loved a Badtz-Maru keychain, and she’s already using it. There’s also a little corner with lots of gashapon machines, which is always fun to explore.
Rilakkuma Store
The Rilakkuma store is quite large, with plenty of things to look at. I bought some stickers here.
Mofusand Store
The Mofusand store was quite busy, but everything there is so cute. I even got a sticker with my purchase.
There are so many shops that you could easily lose count, and get lost yourself. The street is very busy, with storage boxes in the corridors, and there were lines at some of the stores.
A Rainy Day in Tokyo
The rain didn’t stop all day, but it was beautiful to watch it fall on the buildings. I tried to film it, but you can’t really see anything in the video, sorry about that!
After shopping, we rested on one of the few “benches” we found. By “benches” I mean an area with steps where you can sit. We were exhausted, but we were enjoying our last moments in Tokyo. I hope to come back when it’s not raining so much.
A nice detail: at one of the shops, they put a plastic bag over the paper bag so it wouldn’t get wet in the rain. Japanese service really thinks of everything.
Unboxing My Tokyo Character Street Haul and Gifts
Back at the hotel, I did a quick unboxing of what I remembered to show on camera. I got fabric tote bags and some gifts, including lots of Donguri stationery. My favorite was a Spirited Away folder.
There was also some food inside the gift bag:
- Snaffles: soufflé-style mini cheesecakes that come from the city of Hakodate, in Hokkaido. I had never heard of them before. They’re extremely soft and light, and they melt in your mouth. Very good!
- A roll cake: it looked just like a Brazilian roll cake.
- A chocolate corn dessert: very tasty.
Tips for Visiting Tokyo Character Street
- Go when the shops open: when I arrived, only the restaurants were open. Check the opening times before you go, so you don’t have to wait, and so you can visit the stores before they get busy.
- It’s a great rainy day plan: since it’s underground, it’s an easy way to spend a rainy day in Tokyo while still doing something fun. Just bring an umbrella for the walk there.
- Think about fragile items: I left the teacups behind because I was worried they would break in my suitcase. If you want fragile souvenirs, plan some extra packing space or protection.
- Visit more than one Donguri store: each store has different items, so if you love Studio Ghibli, it’s worth comparing before you buy.
- Buy small gifts for friends and family: keychains, stickers and stationery are easy to pack and make great souvenirs from Japan.
- Check which exit you take: Tokyo Station is huge. Look up the right exit beforehand so you don’t end up on the wrong side like I did.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tokyo Character Street?
It’s an underground street inside Tokyo Station with many small shops for Japanese and international characters, such as Studio Ghibli, Snoopy, Rilakkuma and Mofusand, plus a gashapon corner.
Is Tokyo Character Street a good place to buy souvenirs?
Yes. It’s one of the easiest places in Tokyo to buy character souvenirs, from plush toys and stationery to keychains and stickers, all in one place.
Where can I buy Studio Ghibli merchandise at Tokyo Station?
On Tokyo Character Street, there’s a Donguri store, the Studio Ghibli shop, and another themed Ghibli shop nearby. Each Donguri store has different items.
Do the stores on Tokyo Character Street change?
Yes. New stores open and close depending on demand, so it’s a good idea to check the official Tokyo Character Street website for the current list of shops before your visit.
Is it a good plan for a rainy day in Tokyo?
It is. Since the street is underground, you can shop for a long time without worrying about the weather, which is exactly what I did on this trip.
Watch the Video
If you want to see everything in action, from the Studio Ghibli stores to the unboxing and the taste test of the snaffles, watch the full vlog on my YouTube channel. If you enjoy Japan travel, vlogs and cozy content, I’d love to have you there 🤍
Watch the full video on my YouTube channel here
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