Tokyo Disney is one of the most amazing amusement parks in the world, but what it truly excels at is merchandise: pieces to commemorate your time in the park, or to wear through it and show off your passions. Japanese fans love their merchandise. You’ll see girls wearing backpacks covered in so many little Duffy keychains that the backpack simply disappears, and everyone who is anyone in the park wears some sort of Disney gear. Trust me, once you see what’s on offer, you’ll find it hard not to buy it all.
These are small objects, but many show the same eye for detail that makes the parks themselves worth studying. Here is my list of the best items to buy while you’re in the park and to bring home for your Disney-loving friends and family.
One of the most popular items throughout the park is the pass case. Many people in Tokyo carry a rechargeable transit card, such as a Suica or PASMO, which you load with money and simply tap at the gates to ride the trains. It’s so easy, especially for foreigners, since you don’t need to work out the fare for each distance. Because these cards are so common, the cases made to carry them have become one of Japan’s hottest accessories.
And Disney doesn’t hesitate to corner the market! Here you can buy the heads of many of your favourite Disney characters, even some beyond the mega-popular princesses we only see merchandise for in the West. The hamburger pass case is one of the most popular, despite the fact that it isn’t a character at all, so even if you’re not a huge Disney fan but love these cases, there is something for you!
Price: ¥1,800
Tokyo Disney’s iconic “sublimation” shirts are among the most sought-after pieces of merchandise. New patterns and themes come out throughout the year, but the consistent ones are the movie character groupings. They are so bright and colourful that no Disney fan can leave without at least one. Some releases also draw their patterns from areas of DisneySea, such as Mermaid Lagoon. Some Disney character T-shirts can look cheesy or too childish, but the patterns on these are so impressive and dynamic that you won’t hesitate to wear them everywhere.
Price: ¥2,600–¥2,900
Something adorable that is easy to wear outside the parks is the Mickey ear baseball cap: a baseball cap with two giant pompoms on either side to replicate Mickey’s ears. They come in a variety of colours, and in springtime and during special events they often come in limited-edition hues. Casual and sporty, they give any outfit a joyous spirit.
Price: ¥3,500–¥3,600
I was dying to get the character sunglasses at Tokyo Disney, and when I finally saw all the options I was overwhelmed! I settled on the pair I had been coveting from afar for a month, the Donald and Daisy kissing pair. There were plenty of other characters, including Winnie the Pooh, the Monsters, Inc. favourites and a selection of seasonal Mickey and Minnie options. They are so cute, and on a sunny day they’re the perfect way to up your look.
Price: ¥1,800–¥2,000
The oversized bows, modelled after the ones Minnie wears in her hair, are Tokyo’s version of the sequined Minnie ears found in the US parks. They come in a myriad of colours, and the seasonal selection is always extra special; in summer 2018, I found patterns inspired by different summer fruits. The Mickey ears are similar to the ones in the US parks, but the designs are often unique to Japan, so if you’re a collector this is a great place to find something you can’t get anywhere else. I also spotted Mickey train conductor hats, a fitting souvenir in a country so devoted to its trains.
Price: ¥1,400–¥2,600, depending on style and size
In my opinion, Tokyo Disney’s popcorn is the best at any Disney park. The flavours are wilder and weirder, and they demand your gluttonous attention. There is no better way to eat it than out of a themed bucket, which makes a great souvenir and a beautiful accessory to carry around the park. Some designs are permanent, but the limited editions are where it’s at. When Tokyo Disney celebrated Donald Duck’s birthday in 2018, it released a limited-edition birthday-cake bucket so stunning it was hard to believe it wasn’t real cake. After you buy your bucket, you can bring it back to a popcorn wagon in either park for a refill (¥600 for the standard flavours), which gives you more reasons to try them all.
Price: ¥2,400–¥3,400, depending on size and design
Duffy is one of the most popular characters at Tokyo DisneySea. He began in 2002 as an unnamed “Disney Bear” plush at Walt Disney World, and it was Tokyo DisneySea that gave him his name and his story as Mickey’s travelling companion. With expert marketing, a darling storyline and an adorable character, Duffy caught on like wildfire in Japan. The bears are sold all over DisneySea, along with his friends ShellieMay, Gelatoni and StellaLou. Each plush can be dressed in costume sets, sold separately, so you can style Duffy and Friends to match your own personal style. They are darling, and if you’ve got kids, this is the best kind of souvenir for them to cuddle for years to come.
Price: plush ¥3,900; costume sets about ¥5,800
While Disney pins are much bigger in the US, the Tokyo parks do have a few unique options. Like the rest of the merchandise at Tokyo Disney, these pins are wildly adorable and creative. I made sure to pick up the ones with the names of the parks spelled out in Japanese lettering, but there is also a selection of character pins worth checking out.
Price: ¥800–¥1,100
One of Japan’s most beloved collectables is the Tomica car. Takara Tomy releases a new model in its yearly lineup on the third Saturday of every month, and die-hard collectors know the date by heart. Disney-themed Tomica have become extremely sought-after in the parks, and new ones keep coming out. They are miniatures of some of the real vehicles that drive up and down the streets of Tokyo Disney Resort, as well as fantastical models designed after various Disney characters. They are great for kids and adults alike.
Price: ¥1,600–¥2,000
While in Japan, you’ll be eating with chopsticks every day. If you’re not familiar with using them, visiting Japan is like taking a crash course! Bring back some of those memories with a charming set of Disney-themed chopsticks, which come in a variety of designs featuring your favourite characters.
Price: ¥800–¥1,000
Throughout the park, you’ll find oversized bags with the darling faces of popular characters. Duffy is a favourite, followed by Gelatoni and Chandu the tiger cub from Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage, and there is even a giant version of the tiny hamburger bag. They are colourful and cute, and while they are on the pricey side, if you’re looking for a large, fantastically whimsical bag to carry every day, this is the bag for you!
If you’re looking for something smaller but just as fun, the stationery shops at Tokyo Disney sell all sorts of pens. That might sound boring, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. Each pen comes with two exchangeable accessories, and you can buy different toppers to mix and match, creating a piece of stationery customized just for you.
Price: ¥850; toppers ¥500–¥700
If you’re anything like me, you have a thousand silicone phone cases. Not only are these so cute, they do a good job of keeping your phone safe! They make your phone rather oversized, but I find that the larger the phone, the easier it is to find. The cases at Disney are marvellous, featuring obscure characters and designs you couldn’t have dreamed up that the designers have already thought of for you.
Cosmetic brands often collaborate with Disney, creating beautiful packaging with our favourite characters. If you’re looking for a lip balm or sunscreen, pick it up here; it might cost a little more, but the cute packaging will make you happy every time you go to grab it.
Price: ¥1,800–¥3,200, depending on the product
The food at the Tokyo Disney parks is out of control, and people are obsessed with it. There is even souvenir merchandise built around it. All over Japan you’ll see fake food in restaurant windows and storefront displays advertising what can be eaten inside, and at Tokyo Disney they’ve used that styling to develop new merchandise. You can have a keychain with your favourite meal from the park cheerfully displayed wherever you go!
Price: ¥1,800
Although there are a lot of well-priced items in the park, there is perhaps none as cheap and iconic as the simple Tokyo Disneyland logo T-shirt. They are sold in vacuum-sealed bags, and although the quality is slightly lower than the other shirts in the park, you get a lovely pale grey souvenir shirt with the Tokyo Disney logo on it for less than $15 USD. Vacuum-sealed, they make cheap, easy-to-pack souvenirs for the whole family!
Price: ¥1,500
Shopping at Tokyo Disney is an experience all its own. You do not need to buy everything you see. But finding an item or two you genuinely like is a good way to remember your trip. Whether you pick out a simple logo shirt or a giant popcorn bucket, take your time looking around the stores. The parks have plenty to offer, so find what fits your style and enjoy the rest of your visit.
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That Donald birthday cake popcorn bucket is 👌👌👌
I know! I wish I had the chance to visit the park during his birthday celebrations.
I am hoping to visit Disney Tokyo this year and will definitely pick up some of these items! Love the rice scoops!!
Thanks for the comment Katie! Aren't those rice scoop adorable?! The souvenirs in Japan are unbelievable, hope you have an amazing time!