I am now back from Japan! I was so fortunate to be able to spend about two weeks in the beautiful Land of the Rising Sun. If you’ve been following me and my wife’s food and travel blog, Foodsteps we’ve been chronicling our journey and the delicious cuisine of Japan!
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to fit in a lot of LEGO-related activities into our packed itinerary – first and foremost, it was a vacation so I wanted to properly enjoy Japan instead of going out of my way to shop or chase down obscure LEGO novelty attractions.
I guess the most notable LEGO activity I got up to was visiting Click Brick, a LEGO Certified Store in Roppongi Hills – a very upscale part of Tokyo that’s popular amongst the expat community and filled with great restaurants. Since we don’t have Official or Certified Stores in Australia, getting to visit one is always a treat since they typically stock novelty LEGO items that you can’t typically find in regular stores.
The range of LEGO sets was decent, although there were a few glaring omissions such as Pirates and some larger sets, but it was no big deal since I wasn’t shopping for actual LEGO. The prices were a little expensive with the Australian dollar being particularly weak.
Interestingly, I found an extensive rack of official LEGO apparel! It’s typically quite hard to come across official LEGO shirts that aren’t tacky, and I was pleased with the selection that they had there and got myself two shirts.
Here are the two shirts that I got. My favourite is the baker with the LEGO croissant! Croissants are my favourite pastry.
Each shirt was ¥2,769.
Here are the smaller items I got – two LED Lite keychains, one featuring the retro Blue Classic Space minifigure and surprisingly Bunny Suit Guy! Bunny Suit Guy from Series 7 is my favourite minifigure of all time, so I was extremely surprised and delighted to find that they had LED Keychain versions of him.
I’ve never seen/heard of one before and I knew that I had to buy it immediately.
Here’s the comparison with the real minifigure. So adorably super-sized! The LED Keychains costed me ¥1,300 each, which I felt was a fair price to pay.
Me and my wife have a tradition of buying fridge magnets of places we’ve visited. The magnet I got from my recent trip to Legoland Malaysia now has a friend from Tokyo! The magnet was ¥648.
There was a LEGO Education Centre right next to Click Brick in Roppongi Hills which had afterschool programs. Outside of a small play area, it didn’t seem like it was open to the public, so I didn’t linger long.
Despite not going out of my way to look for LEGO in Japan, I did stumble upon this massive model of Kyoto Station in Kyoto Station itself. It was purely serendipitous, I was looking for a toilet and before coming across this behemoth replica of the station complex. The LEGO Model is 4.8 metres long and was made out of over 300,000 bricks. It was created by LEGO Japan to celebrate LEGO’s 50th anniversary in Japan and the Kyoto Station’s 15th anniversary.
It was petty detailed and most of all HUGE. I can’t exactly remember where it was located (Kyoto Station is huge) but I think it was on the B1 level (basement).
So yup, that’s about it of my (very brief) LEGO adventures in Japan.
Glad to be back home in Australia (although I do miss Japan dreadfully) and back to writing the blog. Stay tuned for regular programming to continue very soon, with a few reviews lined up for the coming days!
It’s great to be back and I can’t wait to get back into the swing of things!
You don’t need to go far to visit a Lego store. At the basement 2 of that building, there is a Lego store, not just a lego certified store. It sells current Lego models, including modular buildings.
Oh, interesting! Will have to check it out when I go back, which is soon!
Hi, stumbled on your site looking for info on places to buy Lego for my daughter. Anyway, you can get the Love Tokyo Lego Magnet on Amazon Japan. I know they have started international shipping on some items, or maybe someone local can get it for you if you werent able to find one.
LEGO 850802 I Love Tokyo マグネット レゴ アイラブ トーキョーマグネット https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00GJY0RIG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_7qswybD4XH8B4
all the best.
Oh neat, thanks for sharing that!
Did get to see Kyoto station lego model. There are lots of interesting souvenirs to buy there so plenty of options for gifts.? They have nano blocks but haven’t got into them yet…still enjoying your blog happy ? ? to you and your family..soon!
😀
Oh very cool! Glad you had a good time there!
Yeah Nano Blocks is absolutely huge there. They’re cool but I don’t like how fiddly and tiny they are.
Hi
Tried Bic Camera, Yodobashi and click a brick Tokyo Station stores .. no luck !
🙁
Hi Jay
Just to let you and your readers know that I went into the Roppongi store and found they didn’t have any of the exclusives you have mentioned- they have downsized and didn’t know where to get the fridge magnets and keychains.
Was really disappointed (should have phoned first.
Anyway still really like your blog !
😀
Thanks for the update! So sorry to hear about the change. Did you manage to visit any other LEGO stores whole in Japan?
Actually what 😀 saw is the Lego store at the basement of the building. The clickbrick store that Jay describes is located at the 4th floor. It’s a lot bigger than the Lego store below it.
You don’t need to go far to visit a Lego store. At the basement 2 of that building, there is a Lego store, not just a lego certified store. It sells current Lego models, including modular buildings.
Hi Jay!
I’m just wondering – are all elements of the Legoland Malaysia fridge magnet glued together? I read that for some magnets, some are, and some are not.
Thank you! 🙂
I just go back from Japan, I went to Click Brick @ Shinsabaishi in Osaka (semi decent) I got a notebook and golden lego man keychains from there. I also went to Legoland Discovery Centre in Odaiba (Tokyo), I didn’t know I needed a kid to go in (oh well blame it on my lack of research) the lego store next to it was rubbish. I also went to Click Brick @ Roppongi hills after I saw your photo that you were able to get lego t-shirt from there, sad to say when I arrived the store appear a lot smaller than your photo and there wasn’t much options as well. Still love japan but I will never go out of my way to look for lego anything in Japan ever again.
The biggest Lego store in Japan is in Legoland, Nagoya, It’s 1.5 hrs by bullet train from Tokyo.
Did the Roppongi Hills store have the:
– “build a minifigure” station;
– custom engraved/printed brick keychain service; or
– “pick a brick” wall?
I’m planning a visit to Tokyo soon and I’d like to go to the best and biggest Click Brick store, but I’m having trouble figuring out which stores have which services from their website (http://clickbrick.info/).
Hey Adam
The Roppongi Hills store doesn’t have a Pick A Brick wall but it did have a very small Build a Minifigure Station. The Build a Minifig station was quite underwhelming when I was there – there weren’t any interesting elements, accessories or body parts which is why I didn’t bother and just got myself keychains and t-shirts.
I can’t quite remember about the custom engraved brick service…, I kind of want to say yes but I can’t be 100% sure, sorry! Let me know if you have any other questions! You should also check out the Legoland Discovery Centre in Tokyo – I wanted to visit when I was there but I didn’t have time. Do note that you have to have a kid to go inside, but I think the store should be semi-decent
Following your footsteps made me feel like I was in Japan again – been there four times now but still haven’t had enough of it. I too stumbled upon the Kyoto Station model while looking for the toilet in my last trip. I agree it’s an impressive build! From memory it’s located near the luggage forwarding/storage service counter.
Hope you enjoy your purchases! 🙂
Wow, you’ve been there 4 times? That’s awesome! I definitely have to go again, I feel that I’ve barely scratched the surface of all that it has to offer.
Now that you mention the luggage storage, I think you’re right! We dropped our bags off there for the day while we were sightseeing!
Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m excited for my sister, she is moving there with her family at the end of the year. I’ve only heard good things about Japan. I love the bunny suit guy, too! One of my favorites. I love the LED. I’ve never seen them here in the US. Also I had no idea there was no Official Lego store in Australia.
Oh, that sounds amazing, I’m so jealous of your sister! Sounds like you have a great reason to go visit! Have you tried looking at Official LEGO Stores? The ones I’ve been to in Malaysia had them as well.
Yup, we Australians lack a lot of things! Hopefully it will change soon! There are rumours that we’ll be getting a LEGO Discovery Centre, so that’ll be a decent stepping stone.
Wow, I didn’t know there was a Click Brick at Roppongi Hills! I came across one at a shopping mall in Toyosu when I went last year. I guess I know where to look for LEGO when I go again next year. 😀 I also have the exact same designs of the two magnets, except mine are keychains instead haha!! Glad to hear you’ve enjoyed your holidays in Japan too. I don’t think I have heard anyone telling they didn’t enjoy their time in that country. 😉
Apparently Bic Camera is good for LEGO shopping as well! But with the exchange rate being quite unfavourable for me, there weren’t too many deals to take advantage of. That and we were more concerned with filling our suitcases with snacks and candy! Omg the Kit Kats and Pocky were just too good.
Japan was so beautiful, I definitely have to go back one day 🙂
Hi jay,
Welcome home. My trip to Japan also included a random stumbling into the Rappongi Hills ‘Click-Brick’ also– and it’s funny because I had the same reaction after checking out the Lego education centre as well — I poked my head in, had a brief look and realised it wasn’t meant for randoms to go lurking haha. Click Brick was my first non-Australian experience of Lego and it was interesting just to see Lego in another country. Cool stuff.
I only picked up one Lego set in Japan– the holiday Chirstmas tree poly bag with the two children setting up and decorating it. It’s quite large for a poly bag and shall remained UNOPENED for eternity! It’s a sealed memento of Japan forever reminding me of an amazing experience there. It’s no big deal if I want to built a set like it– I have all the parts to do it if I want. But those pieces in that special crinkly sounding bag….. That’s the good stuff. Weirdly, I love that crinkly sound.. Those plastic baggies have the same effect as cleaning your ears out with cotton tips .. Hehe yeah, you know it!
Other than Lego, the only other toys I picked up were the nano blocks sets- I bought some that were Disney and Universal (Jaws) themed. They are unreal — again, unopened. Maybe one day I WILL open those. But not yet. The only other Nano blocks I have bought was a brachiosaurus model, but that one wasn’t from Japan. It was an Australian Geographic buy.
One of my more memorable moments in Japan was Kyoto station— it is incredibly huge and so expansive. When I was there, it was over the Christmas period so there were huge decorated trees and other ornaments adorning the structure. We also spent quite a while enjoying the fountain light show that was timed to music outside of the station. Just so beautiful.
Japan is certainly a place that anyone SANE would miss dreadfully. So I totally hear you, Jay. I think of the place almost all the time and enjoy talking about our journey through it (in case you weren’t aware lol). I met some wonderful people and felt so welcome there. I’m glad more people don’t go there (for whatever reason???) because it’s so magical that I want to keep it for myself! Lol.. So keep it on the dl, Jay!
So…Did you go to the theme parks? I remember that during pretty much our whole train ride to Universal Studios, I was annoyingly singing/humming the iconic theme tune to Jurassic Park and occasionally doing a one-man dialogue between Marty McFly and Doc Brown. Hahaha. Oohhhh the memories!! I also bought a Cookie Monster beanie that had Cookie Monster’s arms dangling down that you could Velcro under your chin to keep him on tight! Haha had so many weird looks — but also lots of people talking to us because of it.
Anyway……
Looking forward (very eagerly) to your next review/s! Bring them on!!
Sayonara!
Nick
Hey Nick
Thanks, it feels great to be back! Polybags are fun, have you though of building the entire set within the bag? I’ve tried it a few times and it’s quite fun once you get the hang of it. It’ll technically still be new and unopened!
Haha glad you mentioned Nano Blocks, I picked up a Pokemon one from the Pokemon centre. Quite interested to have a play with it since I’ve never had Nanoblock. Not too convinced by the tiny bricks, but I’ll see for myself once I actually build it.
Kyoto was amazing, I kinda regret not spending enough time there and if I ever make it back to Japan, spending more time in Kyoto is right at the top of my list. you’re totally right, it’s an incredibly special country and I already miss it so much!
Haha, when I was there, there were TONS of tourists. Maybe it’s gotten really popular? On facebook alone, I’ve seen tons of friends and acquaintances who were in Japan now. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to the theme parks as the weather was bad and we wanted to sight see. I was very close to going to Disney Sea, but we decided to forgo it at the last minute! Maybe next time 😉
Welcome back!
Thanks!