The Hakuhinkan Toy Park in Ginza has a section dedicated to toys for grown-ups like this samurai-Darth Vader statue. (Trevor Andersen/Stars and Stripes)
The Hakuhinkan Toy Park in Ginza has a section dedicated to toys for grown-ups like this samurai-Darth Vader statue. (Trevor Andersen/Stars and Stripes)
Slot cars zip by on the slot car track on the fourth floor of Ginza's Hakuhinkan Toy Park. (Trevor Andersen/Stars and Stripes)
Vintage robot toys at Hakuhinkan Toy Park in Ginza. (Trevor Andersen/Stars and Stripes)
More bizarre toys at the Hakuhinkan Toy Park in Ginza. (Trevor Andersen/Stars and Stripes)
The first floor of Hakuhinkan Toy Park in Ginza is full of all the bizarre, Japanese toys and candies most Americans have only seen on the Internet. (Trevor Andersen/Stars and Stripes)
Floor two of Hakuhinkan Toy Park in Ginza is dedicated to stuffed animals. (Trevor Andersen/Stars and Stripes)
Hakuhinkan Toy Park in Ginza has an impressive collection of Lego sets. (Trevor Andersen/Stars and Stripes)
Hakuhinkan Toy Park in Ginza is a 4 story toy store. (Trevor Andersen/Stars and Stripes)
When your friends visit you in Japan, they will be impressed by how beautiful the mountains are, the cleanliness of the streets, the shrines and customs, but they will eventually notice something disappointing. Where’s all the weird stuff they’ve heard about?
At that point, you have lots of options. For example, you can take them to the Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku for some evening craziness, or you can make a quick day trip to Tokyo’s Hakuhinkan Toy Park in Ginza.
The Toy Park is a four-story toy store full of all the crazy Japanese toys you might have seen on the Internet. Food-themed phone covers, robot models, samurai sword umbrellas and a samurai Darth Vader can all be purchased on the first floor alone. Not to mention all the wasabi-flavored candies you can imagine.
On the other floors there are stuffed animals, baby toys, games, puzzles and hobby equipment. There is even a slot car track on the fourth floor where, for a few yen, you can challenge your friends to a race.
Hakuhinkan Toy Park Directions Address: 104-8132, Tokyo Ginza, Chuo-ku, 8-8-11
Times Store hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
Information Online: www.hakuhinkan.co.jp
