How did you guess that the moment I caught a glimpse of this vending machine filled with cat shaming gachagacha, all my laundry coins would be history?
There was only one problem…
I got the first four before running out of coins, but how could I not come back to try for the mystery cat?
NO REGRETS.
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This series may be sold out by the time you’re next in Tokyo, but there will be plenty more to take its place! If you’d like to discover the latest, greatest, gachagacha, a guide to the best gachapon hunting spots in Tokyo is on my travel blog, The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had. Happy hunting!
Thanks to Sora News 24 for the cat-destroyed shoji background and to redditor stellaxtine for the excellent cat-devoured plant photo background
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The Last Tea Bowl Thief was chosen as an Editor’s Pick for
Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon
“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
Only In Japan 
Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy reading about your adventures in Japan!
I have been to Japan twice and looking forward to a 3rd trip.
Keep up the good work.
😎🇨🇦
Thank you so much for your kind words – you made my day! I’m so happy we found each other. It’s fab that you’re planning to come to Japan again too! Where do you like to go when you come?
Love them, as always, but I have a question. What do you do with them? Rochi got me a full set of cats lounging on computers but now they are lounging in a bag in the cupboard. I imagine your attic lined with shelves crammed with glorious gachagacha goodies…and your laundry piling up to the ceiling. Am I far off the mark?
Aieee, how did you know about the closet in my office…! Actually, I DO give them away to people who will enjoy them, and I dispersed a ton of them at my last book party, but they’re oddly hard to part with. Am thinking I might start carrying one around and take pictures of it at various destinations. I’m rebooting my Tokyo travel blog (which has languished in shabbiness for lo these many years) and some of the photos are going to be inherently boring…unless, say, they have a gachapon cat in them…
SO CUTE!!!!
I so understand your obsession with vending machine toys Jonelle, they are tiny treasures. Love these ones too. Yes definitely you should go back and get the others when you have more coins. I have some to share on my blog soon too that I got on a recent trip. They are little cats as well, with signs too but I have no idea what the signs say as I can’t read Japanese. Keep posting more gatchipon toys Jonelle…love it!
My sistah! Would love to see your collection too!
I will be visiting Japan for the first time in October and I am very much looking forward to the Vending Machine Experience! Where do I find them and how do I interact with them? They need coins, yes?
My sistah! And great minds must think alike – I’m heading out this very afternoon to finish mapping my favorite gachapon hunting spots, to put in a post on my other site, The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had! I’ll post the link here when it’s up. And meanwhile, know that I’m envying you coming here and seeing everything for the first time – it’s such a pleasure to watch people just light up at the crazy wonders all around! (And if you’d like to see the places I take my friends when they come to town, here’s where my Tokyo travel stuff & maps are: jonellepatrick.com.)
Thank you so much! I’ve already been studying the Tokyo Guide pages with great focus 😀 Please explain using small words, as if to a Martian because that’s pretty much what level I’ll be at… it’s tragic the lack of gachapon in the US!