What this is
Chiikawa — the wildly popular Japanese character franchise featuring tiny, round, emotionally expressive creatures — gets a dedicated pop-up shop across three cities simultaneously in 2026. The Nagano and Kyoto stops offer event-commemorative merchandise and new product releases alongside a wide selection of existing Chiikawa goods. It's a retail pop-up, not a ticketed experience: you browse, you buy, you leave happy (or broke).
Who should go
Chiikawa fans of any age, collectors hunting limited commemorative items, and anyone travelling with children who are into the franchise. Not worth a special trip if you're unfamiliar with the IP.
Good to know
No tickets are required to enter — just show up during department store opening hours, which are typically 10:00–20:00 for both Tokyu and Takashimaya locations. Nagano Tokyu Department Store is a short walk from Nagano Station's east exit; Kyoto Takashimaya S.C. (T8 building) is directly connected to Kyoto Station. Both venues are large department stores that accept major credit cards including foreign Visa and Mastercard at their general tills, though individual pop-up stalls may prefer cash. Popular Chiikawa releases can attract queues; if a numbered entry ticket (seiri-ken) system is in place, it will typically be distributed at the venue from opening time. The Taipei leg runs at MRT Zhongshan Station area through July 12, so international visitors passing through Taiwan have a separate window.
This event was sourced and translated from Japanese by What's On Japan. Details may change — verify with the official source before attending.