Addie discovered her vending heaven. Gachapon are coin-operated, bright vending machines that are loaded with toy capsule balls, each of which contains a different small toy. The collectible you receive is normally picked at random from a variety of objects and ranges from retro toys and miniature Japanese foods to a range of cat-themed caps.
Gachapon machines began in Japan in the 1960s, originally aimed at children, but now adults are the main market. The name gachapon references the distinctive sound the machine makes as the toys pop out. “Gacha-gacha” is the sound of the machine handle being cracked, and “Pon” is the sound made as the ball comes out of the machine.
The toys are of higher quality and are occasionally only available in limited quantities, which you can get for less than 500 yen. The toys are popular desk collectibles for adults.
Bochner Family Adventure 