Donguri Republic is Japan’s official Studio Ghibli store chain, comprising around 40 stores plus mountains of Princess Mononoke merchandise, shedloads of Spirited Away souvenirs and tonnes of Totoro gifts.
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From Osaka to Tokyo, Fukuoka to Sapporo, these gorgeous Studio Ghibli gift-shops can be found all over Japan.
Each store has thousands of different items to buy and take home, often with exclusive and seasonal merchandise. So popular are some of the limited edition gifts, people have been known to queue for hours.
Better still, there is something to suit all tastes and budgets from glorious Studio Ghibli gachapon to huge plushies – some stores even have huge recreations of the My Neighbour Totoro bus stop and cat bus which you can pose with.
From plushies to photos, locations to original characters, here is our ultimate guide to visiting Japan’s Donguri Republic Studio Ghibli stores with photos.
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How many Donguri Republic stores are there in Japan?
As of May 2024, there are approximately 40 Donguri Republic Stores across Japan – the full list of current stores can be found here via their retail partner’s site, Benelic >
The highest concentration of Donguri Republic Studio Ghibli stores can be found in Japan but there are also stores in Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong.
Most Donguri Republic stores in Japan open from between 10am and 9pm although some of the smaller stores (open from 9:30am to 5:30pm).
The larger Donguri Republic stores (where they have a bigger selection of Ghibli gifts and character scenes) are referred to as Acorn Republic stores. These include the Tokyo Skytree Town Solamachi store, the Nagoya Takashimaya Gate Tower Mall store and the LUCUA Osaka store.
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Our Studio Ghibli stores in Japan video
Donguri Republic Tokyo and Osaka
There are five permanent Donguri Republic Tokyo stores as of May 2024 including:
- One at the base of Tokyo Skytree in Tokyo Skytree Town Solamachi
- Donguri Republic (Ghibli Store) DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba
- Donguri Kyowakoku (Ghibli Store) in Tokyo Ikebukuro
- Donguri Republic Tokyo Station Character Street
- Ghibli Acorn Republic LaLaport Tachikawa Tachihi
In Osaka, there are 8 Donguri Republic stores selling Studio Ghibli gifts and merchandise:
- Donguri Republic Lucua Osaka store
- Dongiuri Republic Namba store x 2
- Tennoji Mio store
- Donguri Republic Osaka Shinsaibashi store
- Republic KiddyLand Umeda store
- LaLaport EXPOCITY store
- Ario Otori store
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Donguri Republic store in Kyoto
Just to mention that if you are visiting the historic Kyoto area of Higashiyama, the Kyoto Donguri Republic Store is particularly nice as it is located in a traditional style building, in keeping with the rest of the area.
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Visiting Donguri Republic – Totoro, Catbus and No Face photo opportunities
Whilst most shoppers and Studio Ghibli fans will be visiting to buy cute gifts and collectors items, if you aren’t a big shopper but love the movies, it is still worth visiting, especially if you want to pose with Totoro or take a selfie next to a colossal Catbus!
Most of the larger Donguri Republic stores (like Tokyo and Osaka – and the bigger stores often refer to themselves as Acorn Republic) have very cute selfie spots and scenes where you can stand next to Totoro whilst he is at the bus-stop.
Some stores also have a huge Totoro lying down and a select few have an actual cat bus you can get in (similar to the one at Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse).
In one of the Osaka Donguri Republic stores (Shinsaibashi Parco) we visited, there was even a cool Spirited Away scene recreation, where you could pose with Kaonashi (No Face) – so cool!
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What to expect from Donguri Republic
Other than huge queues and lots of excited shoppers, you’ll find an array of awesome gifts and collectibles based on the Studio Ghibli movies, everything from Porco Rosso prints to Spirited Away stationery.
Popular Studio Ghibli merchandise includes mini figures, posters, pin badges, linen, miniature movie recreations plus books and fashion.
You can also buy a Donguri Republic shopping bag to put them all in at the end for a small extra cost.
To be honest, if you are a big Studio Ghibli fan, as these stores are generally only in Japan and select Asian countries, why don’t you buy an empty suitcase and just fill it up to take home?
It works out much cheaper than buying stuff on ebay (and Donguri Republic doesn’t ship overseas anyway).
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Studio Ghibli store in Japan merchandise
There are literally thousands of different items to buy in the Studio Ghibli Donguri Republic shops. Thankfully if you are travelling light, there are lots of small gifts too like pin badges, magnets and face-cloths.
Some of the official Studio Ghibli merchandise you can buy includes:
Studio Ghibli tote bags
Yes, Tototo tote bags are tote-ally a great thing to buy – you can fill them full of your new Ghibli gifts too!
Figurines and models
The scale models are so detailed and would amazing in any home.
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Totoro hats
Hats off – this was one of our favourite Ghibli items of clothing.
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Chibi Totoro watering can and other gardening tools
‘Water great gift!
Bathroom accessories
A Catbus toilet seat cover anyone? Catbus at your ‘convenience’
Kitchen accessories / tableware
Totoro tea-bag holder
Definitely our ‘cup of tea’
Mugs and cups
Cute designs and an easy to transport souvenir – cheers!
Catbus Clock
A purrfect way to tell the time.
Porco Rosso collectors set
Figures pig… sorry… big and small – these are quite expensive though but hopefully you can still ‘bring home the bacon’
As well as all your favourite Studio Ghibli movie characters, Donguri Republic have their own range of instore characters called Acorn Friends – Gran and Korori are two inquisitive acorns with their own Line Friends sticker range and instore gifts.
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Studio Ghibli store in Japan exclusive gachapons
Many of the stores have exclusive Studio Ghibli gachapons (which sell out very quickly) – gachapons are the small toy capsule machines and often stores have machines out the front.
Generally, it seemed to be My Neighbour Totoro limited edition gachapons but the range does vary.
You might like – Plan My Japan’s Guide to the coolest gachapon capsule toys >
Does Donguri Republic ship overseas?
No, Donguri Republic does not ship their Studio Ghibli merchandise overseas.
It can only be shipped to a Japan address and they also do not accept overseas payments / non Japanese Yen currencies.
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Donguri Republic Website (Official)
The official Donguri Republic website in Japan can be found here >
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GBL Studio Ghibli Japan adult clothing range
Some Donguri Republic stores also carry the GBL clothing range.
GBL is a Studio Ghibli fashion wear line designed for adults that started off online only.
It also recently opened two GBL stores in Tokyo – GBL Miyashita Park (in Shibuya) and GBL Tokyo Character Street (inside Tokyo station).
Selling stylish Studio Ghibli store merchandise such as Spirited Away skateboards to Porco Rosso denim jackets (plus Howl’s Moving Castle Hawaiian shirts!), these are fine fashion reinterpretations of all your favourite Ghibli movies.
You can buy Studio Ghibli GBL clothing online from the the official GBL site here >
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