Tag Archives: Japan Travel

News

Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo Reopens 24 August 2026

Leave a comment

Japan’s largest Pokémon store has a confirmed comeback date: Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo, the iconic flagship location inside Sunshine City in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, will reopen on Monday, 24 August 2026 — five months after a tragic incident forced its indefinite closure. For Singapore fans who put this Ikebukuro landmark at the top of every Japan itinerary, the wait is nearly over.

A Tragic Closure: What Happened on 26 March

On 26 March 2026, a fatal stabbing occurred at Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo. A stalker entered the Sunshine City store and killed a female employee before taking his own life. The Pokémon Company immediately closed both Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo and the adjacent Pikachu Sweets by Pokémon Café out of respect and concern for staff and customers. Other Pokémon Centers across Japan and the official online store remained in operation throughout the closure.

Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo entrance featuring the iconic Poké Ball logo and Pokémon Legends: Z-A promotional display
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

This wasn’t just any store going dark. Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo is the largest Pokémon Center in the world, occupying the second floor of Sunshine City Alpa in Higashi-Ikebukuro and stocking more than 2,500 items — from limited-edition plush and stationery to exclusive regional products and trading card supplies. Its closure for five months has been keenly felt by Pokémon fans visiting Japan.

Confirmed: Reopening Monday, 24 August 2026

In an official announcement published on 27 July 2026, The Pokémon Company confirmed that both Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo and Pikachu Sweets by Pokémon Café will resume operations on Monday, 24 August 2026.

“We sincerely apologize for the concern and inconvenience caused during the temporary closure,” the company stated, with the goal of creating “an environment where customers can visit and shop with peace of mind.”

Key details for the reopening:

  • Partial renovations have been carried out during the closure period
  • Employee safety measures have been significantly strengthened
  • Temporary entry restrictions will be in effect after reopening — the specific admission method will be announced separately
  • No campaigns or events will be held at this location during August; expect the usual event schedule to resume from September onwards
  • The Pokémon Company noted the date “could still change depending on circumstances”

What’s Inside Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo

Pikachu Sweets by Pokémon Café official logo
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

For those visiting for the first time, Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo is far more than a souvenir shop. Alongside thousands of Pokémon products spanning plush toys, clothing, accessories, games, cards, and collectibles, the complex houses several dedicated zones:

  • Pikachu Sweets by Pokémon Café — Pokémon-themed desserts, drinks, and sweets
  • Pokémon Card Station — a dedicated area for Pokémon Trading Card Game products, booster packs, and singles
  • Pokémon GO Lab — a zone for Pokémon GO players with themed activities and exclusive merchandise
Pokémon Card Station logo
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

The store operates daily from 10:00 to 20:00, and is a three-minute walk from Higashi-Ikebukuro Station.

Inside Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo | Tokyo Store Tour 2026 — via Rokka Biyori | Explore Japan with Rokka on YouTube

Planning Your Visit from Singapore

The 24 August reopening lands squarely in Singapore’s August school holiday period, when Japan trips are among the most popular destinations for families and groups. If you are heading to Tokyo this August, Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo is finally back in play — but plan ahead for the entry restrictions that will be in effect. The admission process will be detailed by The Pokémon Company before opening day, so check the official store page and the Pokémon Center’s social channels before your visit.

For more Pokémon news and Japan gaming updates, stay tuned to GameTrader.SG.

Event

Fate/Grand Order Exhibition Opens in Tokyo — 11 Years of Chaldea Come to Roppongi Hills

Leave a comment

Eleven years of Fate/Grand Order — the servants, the singularities, the heart-wrenching event stories, and the climactic conclusion of Part 2 — have been distilled into a single Tokyo exhibition that opened its doors this morning. Fate/Grand Order Exhibition: Stargazer’s Corridor (Japanese: 星見の回廊) is now running at Mori Arts Center Gallery on the 52nd floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, and it runs through 14 September 2026. If a Japan trip is anywhere on your radar this summer, this is the pilgrimage.

Fate/Grand Order展 -星見の回廊- チケットCM — via 【公式】Fate/Grand Order チャンネル on YouTube

Seven Zones Trace the Whole Chaldean Journey

Organised by Aniplex, the exhibition lays out the breadth of FGO’s decade-plus lifespan across seven distinct zones that you walk through in sequence. The highlight — Zone 4, Chaldea’s Journey — features a 17-metre ceiling painting that frames Mash Kyrielight’s arc from debut to the finale of Part 2: Cosmos in the Lostbelt, accompanied by newly commissioned illustrations that were made specifically for this venue. Zone 5, the Stargazer’s Corridor itself, uses video projection to put you inside the final battle, and it’s the centrepiece the title promises.

Fate/Grand Order Exhibition Stargazers Corridor floor map showing all 7 zones
Image courtesy of TYPE-MOON / FGO PROJECT

The remaining zones are equally worth your time. Zone 1 opens with a premiere video made for the exhibition only. Zone 2, the Production Materials Room, surfaces the scripts, storyboards, and concept illustrations that shaped every chapter — rare stuff that FGO’s overseas player base has never had a chance to see in person. Zone 3 archives items and motifs from the event stories, while Zone 6 wraps up with a Memorial Message wall signed by the staff who built the game. Zone 7 is the FGO Store, selling event-exclusive goods bearing the newly commissioned main visual artwork.

Mash at the Centre — and the Art Tells the Story

Mash Kyrielight in Shielder armour holding a crystal star, FGO exhibition visual
Image courtesy of TYPE-MOON / FGO PROJECT

The main visual — illustrated by Takashi Takeuchi and finished by Hiroyoshi Koyama — foregrounds Mash standing in a field of flowers, and that choice telegraphs the exhibition’s emotional angle: this is FGO’s story told through its characters as much as its lore. Every zone loops back to the human (or quasi-human) relationships that made the writing land.

Mash Kyrielight in a white dress beside an ornate embroidery wheel, FGO exhibition art
Image courtesy of TYPE-MOON / FGO PROJECT

All visitors receive a booklet and a random bookmark — one of 12 designs — on entry. A weekly rotating set of A5 cards (14 designs in total) is also given out, so fans who visit more than once across the run have a reason to return.

Collab Café, In-Game Bonus, and What FGO Singapore Players Can Grab Now

Close-up of Mash Kyrielight's face in warm orange tones, FGO exhibition art
Image courtesy of TYPE-MOON / FGO PROJECT

A collaboration café called THE SUN & THE MOON operates on the same 52nd floor throughout the exhibition run (17 July – 14 September, 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM). A valid exhibition ticket or Roppongi Hills Tower entry ticket covers access — no separate booking, just show up. Menu specifics have yet to be detailed in the materials available, but expect FGO-themed drinks and desserts in line with the exhibition’s aesthetic.

For Singapore players who can’t make the trip: the official FGO game is running a commemorative in-game campaign (Japanese) tied to the opening. If you play the JP server, check the campaign page — there’s a pickup gacha and login-bonus rewards live now.

Practical Info: Tickets, Hours, and Getting There

Venue: Mori Arts Center Gallery, 52F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Dates: 17 July – 14 September 2026
Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM (last entry 7:30 PM)
Access: Direct from Roppongi Station via the underground concourse (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line or Toei Oedo Line)
Tickets (day-of): ¥3,800 standard / ¥6,800 with merchandise bundle (layered acrylic block) — children of preschool age and under, free
Timed entry is in effect; book your slot via Mori Arts Center Gallery’s site or E-plus

Singapore fans flying to Japan this northern summer already have a packed itinerary — the Dragon Quest the DIVE exhibition is also running in Harajuku through early September. Two major Tokyo exhibitions in one trip is entirely doable.

Check out other events on GameTrader.SG for more Japan pop-culture coverage.

Game News, Travel

JR East Pokémon Stamp Rally 2026 Starts Tomorrow — Your Tokyo Guide

Leave a comment

The JR East Pokémon Stamp Rally is back — and this year, Pokémon’s 30th anniversary turns it into something special. Starting Thursday, 16 July, fans in Tokyo can ride the trains, collect stamps at 36 stations across the network, and walk away with exclusive prizes unavailable anywhere else. For Singapore families heading to Japan this school holiday season, the timing could not be better.

What Is the Pokémon Stamp Rally?

An annual summer tradition in Tokyo, the stamp rally is run in collaboration with JR East — Japan’s largest commuter-rail operator. Participants pick up a free stamp booklet at a major station, then travel the network collecting character stamps at each participating stop. Complete a course and present your booklet at the goal counter to claim a limited-quantity prize on a first-come-first-served basis. This year the rally runs from 16 July to 31 August 2026, with prize exchanges accepted through 1 September.

JR East Pokémon Stamp Rally 2026 participating station map Greater Tokyo
Image courtesy of JR East

2026 Theme: 30 Years of Starters

Pokémon’s 30th anniversary gives this year’s rally a bigger scope than usual. Stamps and prizes pull from the full franchise history, featuring starter Pokémon from every mainline generation — Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle through to the newest — alongside Captain Pikachu (star of the current TV anime), Koraidon and Miraidon from Scarlet and Violet, and newer anime faces Masqueranda and Weenibal. Pokémon-branded train wraps will also run on three of Tokyo’s busiest lines from August: Yamanote Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, and Chuo Line Rapid.

Four Courses — Four Sets of Prizes

6-Station Course

Collect stamps from any 6 of the 36 participating stations and head to the goal counter near Oimachi Station. Rewards include a Captain Pikachu collectible figure from the Pokémon Frienda prize machine, a ticket-style commemorative sticker, and a Captain Pikachu sun visor — ideal for a Tokyo summer.

JR East Pokémon Stamp Rally 2026 6-station course prizes Captain Pikachu
Image courtesy of JR East

9-Station Course

A fixed nine-station route spotlights starter Pokémon — one per station, with a choice of stamp at each stop. The goal counter is at Tokyo Station. Complete it for a special starter Pokémon neck strap spanning every generation.

JR East Pokémon Stamp Rally 2026 9-station course prize neck strap
Image courtesy of JR East

36-Station Course

The full challenge: collect stamps at all 35 JR East stations and 1 Tokyo Monorail station on the list. Redeem the completed booklet at Tokyo Station for a limited-edition rally key ring exclusive to the 2026 event.

Shinkansen Course

Travelling beyond Greater Tokyo? Seven bullet-train stations across the Tohoku and Shinetsu regions also carry stamps. Finish the Shinkansen course for a dual-sided Koraidon and Miraidon medal made for the 30th anniversary.

Pokémon Trains and Photo Spots

Riding the Pokémon-wrapped trains is half the fun — and you can never quite predict which platform one will pull into. From August, special liveries appear on the Yamanote, Keihin-Tohoku, and Chuo Line Rapid services. Dedicated photo spots are set up at Tokyo Station, Waters Takeshiba, and the Oimachi Tracks business park. Waters Takeshiba also hosts a unique layered stamp experience where four overlapping designs combine into a single picture, plus a Honda Koraidon display on the ground floor.

JR East Pokémon stamp rally 2026 Pokémon-wrapped train livery Yamanote Keihin-Tohoku Chuo
Image courtesy of JR East

Captain Pikachu Meet-and-Greet

A free Captain Pikachu character meet-and-greet is scheduled at two venues — advance reservation is required and no same-day slots are available.

  • Oimachi Tracks: 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 July
  • Waters Takeshiba: 1, 8, 15, 22 August

Up to four guests per group; 15 groups per session across four daily sessions. The reservation window for Waters Takeshiba opens 27 July at noon JST (11:00 AM SGT) through 29 July at noon. Full booking details are on the official JR East event site (Japanese).

JR East Pokémon Stamp Rally 2026 deluxe special stamp book with Pokémon pass case
Image courtesy of JR East

How to Participate — Tips for Singapore Visitors

Getting started requires nothing more than showing up at a major JR East station from 16 July and picking up a free stamp booklet at the dedicated desk. Your existing IC card or Suica — the same card you use to get around Tokyo — is all you need to hop between stations. A JR Pass also covers Shinkansen course stations.

If you want something more substantial to keep, a deluxe edition stamp booklet bundled with a Pokémon-themed pass case is available at NewDays convenience stores inside JR East stations for ¥2,420 (roughly S$21) while stocks last.

Prizes are limited and distributed first-come-first-served at the goal counter, so if the 36-station challenge is on the list, build a dedicated station-hopping day early in the rally rather than saving it for the final weeks of August. All prizes must be redeemed by 1 September 2026.

Looking for more Japan trip ideas? Browse our travel guides for Singapore gamers.

Event

One Piece Premier Summer 2026 at USJ: Boa Hancock Is Back, Elbaf Takes the Ride

Leave a comment

With the Straw Hat crew deep into the Elbaf arc and Episode 1170 just previewed, there has never been a better time for a One Piece pilgrimage to Japan — and Universal Studios Japan is ready for you. ONE PIECE PREMIER SUMMER 2026 kicks off on 30 July and runs all the way to 19 November 2026, making it a serious option for Singapore families and fans heading to Japan during the August school break.

ONE PIECE PREMIER SUMMER 2026 TVCM — via ユニバーサルスタジオジャパン公式チャンネル on YouTube

ONE PIECE Premier Show 2026 — Boa Hancock’s 12-Year Return

ONE PIECE Premier Show 2026 key visual featuring the full Straw Hat crew at the WaterWorld stage
Image courtesy of Universal Studios Japan

The centrepiece of the event is the ONE PIECE Premier Show 2026, a live stunt spectacular held at the WaterWorld arena. The big story this year: Boa Hancock and the Kuja Pirates are back in the main show for the first time in 12 years, alongside returning fan-favourites Smoker and Lucci. The performance runs approximately 80 minutes, with doors opening at 6:15 PM and the show starting at 6:45 PM. A total of 84 shows are scheduled across the event period.

Ticket prices: Adults from ¥3,000; Children (ages 4–11) from ¥2,000. Show tickets went on sale 10 June 2026 via the official USJ website.

One Piece × Story Ride: Sail into Elbaf

One Piece x Story Ride Elbaf themed key visual featuring Luffy in Elbaf warrior outfit on a cloud-boat coaster with Chopper and giants
Image courtesy of Universal Studios Japan

For the first time, USJ’s classic Hollywood Dream – The Ride coaster gets a One Piece overlay themed around the Elbaf arc — the very story arc currently airing in the anime. The ride is reimagined as a cloud-boat adventure through the Island of Giants, with Luffy (decked out in Elbaf warrior costume), Chopper, and the crew encountering ferocious beasts and the Norse-styled giants of Elbaf. For fans following the anime week to week, this is the perfect extension of the story in the most immersive way possible.

Sanji’s Pirate Restaurant: Dinner with the Crew

Sanji's Pirate Restaurant at USJ featuring Sanji serving an elaborate set meal to a delighted guest
Image courtesy of Universal Studios Japan

The fan-favourite Sanji’s Pirate Restaurant returns at Lombard’s Landing with a completely new menu for 2026. Seatings run approximately 85 minutes, and character appearances from other Straw Hat crew members are part of the experience. Advance purchase is required — same-day tickets are not available.

  • Adult: ¥7,000
  • Child: ¥2,600

If you want to go all-in, USJ also offers a VIP Experience Group Tour bundling the Premier Show and a restaurant ticket, priced from ¥34,900 per adult. That is a significant spend, but this combination rarely disappoints One Piece fans.

An exclusive advance-purchase dessert, Mellorine Love Sweets (a nod to Chopper’s favourite food), can only be added when booking the restaurant ticket online — there will be no same-day sales, so plan ahead.

Planning Your Visit from Singapore

USJ is in Osaka, about 15 minutes by train from JR Osaka station and roughly an hour from Kansai International Airport (KIX) — well connected by direct flights from Singapore Changi on Singapore Airlines and Scoot. August in Japan is peak summer, so book accommodation and tickets early.

The event runs until 19 November, so there is no pressure to squeeze into the August rush if your schedule is flexible. October and November visits avoid the summer heat and are still well within the event window.

Find the full ticket and schedule details on the official USJ One Piece Premier Summer 2026 page. For more events worth watching in Singapore and the region, check our Event coverage.

News, Travel

The World’s First Pokémon Airport Is Now Open in Japan

Leave a comment

There is now a Pokémon airport in Japan — and that is not a figure of speech. The Noto Satoyama Pokémon With You Airport officially opened on 7 July 2026, making it the world’s first airport to carry the word “Pokémon” in its official name. It sits in Ishikawa Prefecture on the Noto Peninsula, and it will operate as a Pokémon experience destination through 30 September 2029.

Noto Satoyama Pokémon With You Airport interior render showing all flying-type Pokémon murals and Pikachu on a plane
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / Ishikawa Prefecture

Recovery Through Pokémon

The project’s roots go back to the devastating Noto Earthquake that struck Ishikawa Prefecture on 1 January 2024. The quake caused severe damage across the Noto Peninsula, and The Pokémon Company responded by donating 50 million yen to aid victims. The Pokémon With You Foundation — which has run charity initiatives in Japan since the 2011 Tōhoku disaster — partnered with the Ishikawa Prefectural Government to make this airport transformation happen, using Pokémon’s reach to draw tourists back to a region still rebuilding.

The result is a full airport rebrand. The official nickname has changed, Pokémon illustrations cover the exterior pillars, and the interior has been transformed from floor to ceiling.

Official teaser PV: Noto Satoyama Pokémon With You Airport, opens 7 July 2026 — via Ishikawa Prefecture Official Channel on YouTube (Japanese)

What Is Inside

Real photo of Noto Satoyama Pokémon airport lobby showing murals and With You signage
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / Ishikawa Prefecture

The second floor features murals of all 111 Flying-type Pokémon (excluding regional forms and Mega Evolutions). It is the kind of thing a Pokémon fan could spend an entire layover cataloguing. The first-floor lobby has life-size monuments of Pikachu, Plusle, and Minun — the trio associated with the Pokémon With You Foundation — which have already become the prime photo spot for arriving visitors.

Pull up the airport’s smartphone feature and you can trigger original short AR animations about Noto and the airport, bringing the illustrated Pokémon around you briefly to life.

Exterior of Noto Satoyama Pokémon airport with Pokémon-illustrated columns
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / Ishikawa Prefecture

Exclusive Merchandise and Food

The airport sells exclusives that you can only get on site. Merchandise includes Pikachu and Charizard keychains bearing the airport’s NTQ IATA code, luggage belts, tote bags, and a T-shirt featuring the official key art. Items branded with an airport code are perennially popular with collector-travellers, and NTQ is going to be a standout pick.

Noto Satoyama Pokémon airport exclusive merchandise including keychains, luggage belt, tote bag and T-shirt
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / Ishikawa Prefecture

Pokémon-themed food is available on site, and from mid-July 2026 the experience extends beyond the airport itself: Pokémon-wrapped buses will run between Wajima and Kanazawa on an existing route, plus a new route hitting Pokémon-related tourist sites across the Noto Peninsula.

Planning a Visit from Singapore

Noto Satoyama Airport (NTQ) is a regional airport that serves domestic routes within Japan, with ANA operating flights from Tokyo Haneda. Singapore fans would typically fly into Tokyo or Osaka and connect domestically, or fly into Komatsu Airport near Kanazawa and travel overland to the Noto Peninsula (roughly one to two hours). Kanazawa is already a popular stop on Japan itineraries for its Kenroku-en garden and seafood — the Noto Peninsula’s Pokémon airport is an easy extension of that trip.

The airport’s Pokémon makeover runs through 30 September 2029, giving Singapore fans a generous window to plan. For more Pokémon news and Japan travel reads, check out our travel section and latest Pokémon updates.

Manga Anime, Travel

Ghibli Park’s First Original Short Film Opens Tomorrow

Leave a comment

Studio Ghibli opens a new chapter — literally. From tomorrow, July 8, 2026, visitors to Ghibli Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan can watch Night in the Valley of Witches (魔女の谷の夜), the first original animated short film that Studio Ghibli has ever created specifically for the park. It is a park exclusive: there is no streaming release, no theatrical run outside the park, and no plans for a wider rollout. If you want to see it, you need to be there.

What We Know About Night in the Valley of Witches

The film is co-directed by Goro Miyazaki and Akihiko Yamashita — two names that carry serious Ghibli pedigree. Goro Miyazaki (son of Hayao Miyazaki) previously directed Tales from Earthsea and From Up on Poppy Hill, and co-directed Earwig and the Witch. Akihiko Yamashita served as animation director on Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Ponyo, making this a reunion of deep Ghibli craft at both the directorial and animation level. The copyright credit reads: © 2026 Goro Miyazaki, Akihiko Yamashita/Studio Ghibli.

The story is set within the Valley of Witches (魔女の谷) area of Ghibli Park itself — a European storybook town inspired by the magical settings of Ghibli’s witch-themed films — bringing the physical park and the new animation into a single, intertwined experience. Further plot details have not been released, which is very much in the Ghibli tradition of minimal pre-release disclosure.

The Valley of Witches area at Ghibli Park, Nagakute City, Aichi
Image courtesy of Studio Ghibli / Ghibli Park

Where to Watch It and What Tickets You Need

The film screens at Cinema Orion, inside Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse (ジブリの大倉庫) — one of the five areas that make up Ghibli Park. To watch it, you need Ghibli Park admission that includes Grand Warehouse access. All Ghibli Park tickets require advance reservation; there are no same-day walk-in passes. Tickets for July 2026 screenings opened on May 10, 2026 via the official Ghibli Park website.

The premiere event on July 8 was a special, limited affair — just 150 tickets were made available, with a director stage greeting from Goro Miyazaki and Akihiko Yamashita. Regular screenings from July 8 onward continue as part of normal Grand Warehouse admission, no special ticket required beyond the Grand Warehouse entry.

The witch broom carousel in the Valley of Witches area at Ghibli Park
Image courtesy of Studio Ghibli / Ghibli Park

The Singapore Angle: Worth Planning a Japan Trip Around

Ghibli Park has already become one of the most-searched Japan travel destinations for Singapore visitors since it opened in 2022. A park-exclusive short that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world — and that comes from the same studio as Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, and Princess Mononoke — is exactly the kind of thing that makes a Japan trip feel unmissable rather than optional.

Practically: Ghibli Park is in Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture, about 20 minutes by subway from Nagoya station. From Singapore, Nagoya is not directly served with regular Singapore Airlines routes, but it is easily reached by connecting through Tokyo or Osaka — and if you are already planning a trip to central Japan, Nagoya is an easy addition. From Tokyo, the Shinkansen Nozomi takes about 1 hour 40 minutes. From Kyoto or Osaka, it is under an hour.

The key caveat for Singapore visitors planning ahead: all Ghibli Park tickets require advance online reservation and can sell out weeks in advance. Check the official Ghibli Park English-language site for booking windows, which open monthly. For more Japan culture and travel content, browse our Japan travel picks.

Manga Anime, Shop and Merchandise

GARRACK Demon Slayer Watches Add Upper Moon Villains at Narita

Leave a comment

Japanese watchmaker GARRACK arrived at Narita International Airport last week carrying three anime franchises on their dials — and the Demon Slayer collection just grew with three new Upper Moon villain watches that fans have been waiting for.

Kanazawa Gold Leaf and the Full Demon Slayer Lineup

GARRACK’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba collection is the most expansive of the three. Each watch features an automatic mechanical movement with a dial hand-finished in Kanazawa gold leaf (金沢箔) — a traditional craft from Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, where artisans beat gold into sheets thinner than a micron before applying them by hand. No two dials come out identically, which is part of the appeal.

The full lineup spans 16 characters including every Hashira: Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, Inosuke, Rengoku, Giyu, Shinobu, Uzui, Muichiro, Kanroji, Sanemi, Iguro and Himejima. Three new models — Douma, Akaza and Kaigaku — have just been added to the collection, bringing the Upper Moon villain trio into the fold for the first time. Two advance-sale models — Kanao Tsuyuri and Genya Shinazugawa — round out the lineup.

Prices run ¥74,800–¥77,000 (tax included) per piece, placing these firmly in collector and gifting territory.

GARRACK Demon Slayer Douma watch — Kanazawa gold leaf mechanical watch
Image courtesy of GARRACK / Ueni Trading
GARRACK Demon Slayer Akaza watch — Kanazawa gold leaf mechanical watch
Image courtesy of GARRACK / Ueni Trading
GARRACK Demon Slayer Kaigaku watch — Kanazawa gold leaf mechanical watch
Image courtesy of GARRACK / Ueni Trading
Demon Slayer × Kanazawa Gold Leaf Mechanical Watches — Douma, Akaza & Kaigaku New Models — via TIMEPIECE CO.,LTD UENI on YouTube

Ultraman Heroes in Raden Mother-of-Pearl

GARRACK’s Ultraman series takes a different craft route: raden (螺鈿), the art of cutting and inlaying mother-of-pearl from shells to create iridescent patterns on watch dials. Artisans in Takaoka, Toyama — a region with over 400 years of metalwork tradition — hand-finish each piece. The effect is a shifting, luminescent surface that reads very differently from the gold leaf Demon Slayer variants.

Three Ultraman heroes are represented: Ultraman Tiga, Ultraman Zero and Ultraman Z (Zett). Prices are ¥77,000–¥79,200 (tax included).

GARRACK Ultraman raden mother-of-pearl mechanical watches lineup
Image courtesy of GARRACK / Ueni Trading
Ultraman × Japanese Traditional Craft — GARRACK Raden Dial Mechanical Watches — via TIMEPIECE CO.,LTD UENI on YouTube

Evangelion Raden Watches: Three Eva Units

The Evangelion collection, which GameTrader.SG covered when pre-orders opened in June, is also part of the Narita debut. Unit-01 (Shinji) is priced at ¥77,000; Unit-00 (Rei) and Unit-02 (Asuka) at ¥79,200 each. Like Ultraman, these use raden mother-of-pearl craftsmanship.

GARRACK Evangelion raden mother-of-pearl watches — Unit-01, Unit-00, Unit-02
Image courtesy of GARRACK / Ueni Trading

Narita Airport Terminal 3 — and Online for Singapore Fans

From 30 June 2026, all three collections are on display at Fa-So-La SOUVENIR AKIHABARA ANNEX inside Terminal 3 at Narita International Airport, where they join the store’s existing lineup of Japanese pop-culture goods. Ueni Trading describes the Narita placement as a limited-time offering, so availability may change — if you’re heading to Japan and transiting through Narita, it is worth a detour into the Terminal 3 shops to see them in person.

Narita is a primary hub for Singapore Airlines and Scoot flights to Tokyo, making this a realistic pick-up point for Singapore fans on Japan trips. For those not travelling any time soon, the watches are also stocked online at world-wide-watch.jp and select Japanese retailers including TiCTAC, Joshin, Sofmap and Yodobashi Camera’s online store — check each platform’s international shipping terms before ordering.

More information on all three collections is at world-wide-watch.jp (Japanese). Check more anime and Japan culture coverage on GameTrader.SG.

Event

Tokyo Is Building a Brand-New Anime Festival — TOKYO ANIME NEXT Lands in Ikebukuro This October

Leave a comment

Tokyo just announced a brand-new anime festival, and it could become one of the most important events on the calendar for anime fans everywhere. The Japan Animation Association, co-hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, has unveiled TOKYO ANIME NEXT — a four-day showcase running 30 October to 2 November 2026 across Ikebukuro’s Toshima Ward. The announcement landed today directly from Tokyo’s official government press release, with no English coverage yet.

TOKYO ANIME NEXT — official announcement visual
Image courtesy of Tokyo Metropolitan Government / Japan Animation Association

What Is TOKYO ANIME NEXT?

TOKYO ANIME NEXT is the Japan Animation Association’s first major Tokyo-based event at this scale. The headline venue is Tokyo Tatemono Brillia HALL in Ikebukuro, with additional programming spread across multiple locations in the Toshima Ward district — the same neighbourhood that houses Sunshine City, Animate Ikebukuro, and some of the densest concentration of anime goods stores in the world.

The event’s stated mission is to showcase both the present and future of Japanese animation: connecting anime with international audiences and providing a platform for emerging animation talent.

What to Expect Across Four Days

The programme spans a genuinely broad range of formats. According to the official announcement, TOKYO ANIME NEXT will feature:

  • Screenings — acclaimed works and latest notable titles
  • Exhibitions — deep dives into animation production and craft
  • Workshops — children’s and educational programmes
  • Symposiums and talk events — panels on the state of the industry
  • Stage events — live performances and presentations

The finale on 2 November at Brillia HALL is the headline moment: a special orchestral performance synchronised with footage from anime titles popular overseas, framing both the art form’s history and its global future. Think less Comiket floor-scramble, more curated cultural showcase — with a live orchestra as the close.

The Bigger Picture: A Major 2027 Event Is Coming

Here is the part that has us paying close attention. The October 2026 event is explicitly described as a launch project — a test run, in effect, for a full-scale international anime festival planned to open in earnest in 2027. Organisers will use the finale on 2 November to formally announce those 2027 plans. In other words, what we are seeing now is the prologue to something bigger.

With Sony Music Solutions handling operations and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government as co-host, the backing is serious. This is a government-supported push to establish Tokyo as a permanent, globally recognised anime events destination — similar to what AnimeJapan does for the spring season but with a stronger international and creative focus. The official website is already live at tokyoanimenext.jp, and the secretariat can be reached at info2026@tokyoanimenext.jp — programme details are listed as “coming soon.”

Last words

Late October into early November is arguably the best time of year to be in Japan — autumn leaves, cooler temperatures, and now TOKYO ANIME NEXT to anchor the anime side of any trip. Ikebukuro already draws Singapore otaku in big numbers given its Animate flagship and the Sunshine City figure shops; adding a four-day curated anime festival to the mix makes the case for a late October 2026 Japan trip even stronger.

Programme details and ticketing are still to come from the official site. We will update this page when announcements drop. Keep an eye on our events page for the latest Japan and SG anime event news.

Community, Guides

Attack on Titan: Become a Scout at Hita’s Forest Park

Leave a comment

If you’ve ever watched the Survey Corps go screaming through the canopy on ODM gear and thought “I want to do that,” there’s a forest in Kyushu that has been waiting for you. Forest Adventure Okuhita — tucked deep in the hills of Hita, Oita — runs a limited-time Attack on Titan collaboration that turns its zipline obstacle course into a Scout Regiment training run. Cloak on, blade in hand, the only thing missing is the Titans.

Visitors in Survey Corps cloaks at Forest Adventure Okuhita's Attack on Titan collaboration

Why Attack on Titan, and why Hita?

This isn’t a random anime tie-in. Attack on Titan creator Hajime Isayama is from Hita, and the town has leaned into being the spiritual home of Shingeki no Kyojin — there’s even a bronze statue trail of Eren, Mikasa and Armin nearby. So when the official Forest Adventure Okuhita park recreates the “Forest of Giant Trees” arc, it’s doing it on the franchise’s home turf. The course frames your safety briefing as Survey Corps enrollment, then sends you out on a mission inspired by the Female Titan capture operation.

So what does “role-playing as a Scout” actually involve?

The base attraction is a proper high-ropes adventure course: 35 activities spread across four sites, including swaying suspension bridges, a single-plank bridge that won’t stop wobbling once you start, and a Tarzan swing that flings you off a treetop platform onto a net. The headline thrill is the ziplines — four of them, with two stretching over 150m across deep valleys, and the longest runs around 180m at roughly 30km/h. The whole circuit takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.

Zipline through the cedar forest at Forest Adventure Okuhita

That’s the part that does the heavy lifting for the fantasy: gliding between cedar trunks on a harness is about as close as a theme attraction can get to the feeling of ODM gear without the imminent threat of being eaten.

The Attack on Titan magic comes from the add-on collaboration option, which has run at roughly ¥1,500 per person on top of admission. It kits you out with:

  • “Wings of Freedom” original non-slip gloves
  • A rental Survey Corps “blade” prop to carry through the course
  • A special completion certificate carved from Hita cedar — your proof you survived recruitment

Travel creators have captured the vibe well. In a widely shared Instagram reel, food-and-travel account @japanomnom framed the experience simply: “POV: It’s your first day in the Survey Corps.” During special collaboration runs, guests can even don Survey Corps cloaks for the photo spots dotted along the trail.

“POV: It’s your first day in the Survey Corps” — via @japanomnom on Instagram

Watch it in action

We Got the Ultimate Attack on Titan Experience — via OniGiri on YouTube

The practical stuff: price, height limits and getting there

Standard admission runs ¥3,800 per person for adults and children, dropping to ¥3,500 each for groups of eight or more, with the collaboration option layered on top. To take on the course you’ll need to be at least 140cm tall or 10 years old, and under the 110kg weight limit. Kids 17 and under need an adult along (one adult can supervise up to three children), while high-schoolers can go solo with ground-level supervision.

Survey Corps themed obstacle course at Forest Adventure Okuhita

The park sits in Nakatsue, Hita City, near the old Taio Gold Mine — punch “Taio Gold Mine” into your navigation. It’s roughly a 1.5–2 hour drive from Fukuoka, so a rental car is basically essential. Bookings, including the Attack on Titan option, go through the park’s official reservation site.

One important caveat: the Attack on Titan collaboration is a recurring limited-time event, not a permanent fixture. It has returned across multiple seasons (2021, 2023 and 2024 among them) and the themed option has been listed again heading into 2026, but the exact dates shift each run. Check the official booking page or the Hita City Tourism Association for the current window before you plan around it — the base adventure course, however, runs year-round.

Worth building a trip around

Kyushu is an easy, underrated add-on to a Japan itinerary: fly into Fukuoka, and Hita is a doable day trip — the same region as Yufuin and Beppu’s onsens, if you want to soak away the muscle ache afterwards. For an Attack on Titan fan, slotting in a morning where you actually strap into a harness and play Scout beats another merch run, and it’s hands-down one of the closest real-life brushes you’ll get with the world of Shingeki no Kyojin.

For more trips and tie-ins worth your leave days, browse our community features and guides.