If you love Rilakkuma then make sure you add a visit to the Rilakkuma Stores to your itinerary. You’ll find branches around Tokyo and Japan, especially in sightseeing areas, packed full of new and exclusive goods.
The stores are run by Kiddyland so if you wish their San-X areas were bigger, this is the place to go where you’ll find the biggest range of designs and products. As well as the usual plushies, stationery and accessories, you’ll find bento and kitchenware, Rement miniatures, homewares, clothing, bags, electronics and much much more.
Best of all are the souvenir goods with ranges for Tokyo Station, the Sky Tree, Shinkansen, JAXA and baseball teams. These are available at all Rilakkuma stores – so you don’t need to visit the Sky Tree to buy Sky Tree souvenirs – but you won’t find them easily anywhere else. There are also lots of cute cookie and candy gift sets to bring back for your friends and family.
Although each store is pretty similar, I still spent ages in every one I visited. Most have small sections for the other San-X characters like Sumikko Gurashi, Jinbe San and Mamegoma so it’s worth hunting around, plus there are adorable giant figurines for each store that make for great photos.
How to get there
The main branches I’ve visited are in Tokyo Station’s Character Street, the Sky Tree Solamachi mall and in Osaka’s Umeda mall (part of Kiddyland but on another floor). There are more in Tokyo and across Japan. Here’s the full shop list (ones that say ‘relax store’ – リラックマストア – are Rilakkuma stores, the rest are general toy/kawaii shops)
Last updated: 28 August 2016