Japan gave the world Hello Kitty and Pokemon. Now another cast of cute characters has become nearly impossible to miss across the country.
Chiikawa and its animal-like friends appear on everything from toys and stationery to snacks and clothing, and fans can step inside their strange and sometimes surprisingly dark world at Chiikawa Park in Tokyo.
The indoor attraction in Ikebukuro re-creates scenes from the popular comic series and combines photo opportunities, games and interactive exhibits with a sprawling merchandise shop.
Chiikawa is short for the Japanese phrase “nanka chiisakute kawaii yatsu,” meaning “small and cute ones.”
Illustrator Nagano began posting the comic on X in 2020. The series follows the everyday adventures of friends Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi, pairing their adorable appearance with stories that can take bizarre, dark turns.
The franchise has since expanded into animation, merchandise and other entertainment. It was also made into a movie that became a box-office hit this summer.
The Chiikawa series follows the everyday adventures of friends Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi, pairing their adorable appearance with stories that can take bizarre, dark turns. (Hana Kusumoto/Stars and Stripes)
Chiikawa Park opened last year in Ikebukuro, a major shopping and entertainment district in northern Tokyo that is home to numerous anime, manga and character stores.
Visitors expecting something on the scale of Tokyo Disneyland or Universal Studios Japan may be surprised. The park occupies just two indoor floors and has no large amusement rides. Instead, it is designed to immerse fans in the comic’s world.
The first floor features life-size character figures and re-creations of familiar scenes. Visitors can step inside Chiikawa’s room or pose with Hachiware in a setting inspired by an episode of the franchise.
Interactive attractions include a game in which visitors try to photograph Chiikawa characters racing across large screens. There is also a mirror maze and a 3D movie featuring Chiikawa and friends.
Upstairs, visitors can try festival-style shooting and bowling games for a chance to win Chiikawa prizes.
The second floor is also home to an extensive gift shop stocked with stationery, socks, cookies, chopsticks and other character merchandise. Some items are exclusive to the attraction.
Chiikawa Park is unlikely to fill an entire day in Tokyo, but it doesn’t need to. For fans or visitors curious about one of Japan’s biggest recent character phenomena, it offers an easy way to experience the whimsical and occasionally weird world behind those cute faces.
Chikawa Park's first floor features life-size character figures and recreations of familiar scenes. (Hana Kusumoto/Stars and Stripes)
The Chiikawa series follows the everyday adventures of friends Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi, pairing their adorable appearance with stories that can take bizarre, dark turns. (Hana Kusumoto/Stars and Stripes)
Chiikawa and its animal-like friends appear on everything from toys and stationery to snacks and clothing. Now, fans can step inside their strange and sometimes dark world at Chiikawa Park in Tokyo. (Hana Kusumoto/Stars and Stripes)
Chiikawa Park opened in 2025 in Ikebukuro, a major shopping and entertainment district in northern Tokyo that is home to numerous anime, manga and character stores. (Hana Kusumoto/Stars and Stripes)
On the QT
Directions: The entrance is in the basement of Sunshine City Annex building, 3-3-5 Higashi Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo.
Times: Open daily, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. with last entrance at 5:40 p.m.
Costs: 3,500 yen (about $22.67) for 12 and older; 1,800 yen for ages 4 to 11; 2,800 yen for students with valid IDs. Tickets must be purchased in advance from the park’s website.
Food: You’ll find a variety of options at the adjacent Ikebukuro Sunshine City mall.
Information: Online: chiikawapark-tokyo.jp/en
