Capsule toy machines are a huge draw – top 10 must-photo specialty capsule toy machines

Text by MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Department

Following the debut of the giant capsule toy machine in Tainan, specialty capsule toy machines have sprung up all over Taiwan, including massive ones and pink capsule walls, sparking a wave of capsule toy photo ops.
 
1. New Taipei – Taiwan’s Largest Capsule Toy Machine
The giant capsule toy machine in Tamsui claims to be the largest in Taiwan, standing about four stories tall (12 meters), and made its debut at the “2017 Tamsui Egg Egg Festival” in Tamsui Fairy Tale New Town. Aside from the eye-catching giant capsule toy machine, the Tamsui Egg Egg Festival also featured a colorful container park, with exhibitions themed around “eggs,” including oversized colorful eggs, a world capsule toy exhibition, the Egg Evolution Institute, and cartoon egg stars, among dozens of other fun activities for both kids and adults.

Event location: Fairy Tale New Town (Intersection of Ding’er Road and Xinshi 5th Road Section 3, Tamsui District, New Taipei City)
Event period: December 23, 2017 to April 8, 2018
Event hours: 09:30 - 18:00 (Last admission at 17:30)
*Closed on New Year’s Eve

2. Train'sBanqiao – Taiwan’s Largest Capsule Toy Flagship Store
Train's is Taiwan’s first chain store specializing in capsule toys. In addition to designing its own toys, it also imports many of the latest capsule toy products from Japan. Train's has set up Taiwan’s largest capsule toy flagship store inside Banqiao Eslite, offering over 250 capsule toy machines, comparable to Japan’s Yodobashi Capsule Toy Department Store. Additionally, life-sized Anpanman figures and a giant Gundam bust have been gradually added.
 
Banqiao Eslite Flagship Store: 3F, No. 46, Section 1, Zhongshan Road, Banqiao District, New Taipei City
Taipei Zhongxiao Store: 2F, No. 97, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, Taipei City
New Taipei Yingge Store: No. 192, Guangming Street, Yingge District, New Taipei City
Taoyuan Zhongli Store: No. 193, Section 1, Zhonghua Road, Zhongli District
Changhua Yuanlin Store: No. 240, Guangming Street, Yuanlin City
Kaohsiung Dome Store: No. 757, Bo’ai 2nd Road, Zuoying District (Store K05, 1st Floor, Kaohsiung Dome)

3. Taichung – The Astonishing Capsule Toy Machine

The “Astonishing Capsule Toy Machine” at Taichung’s Caotun Plaza resembles a rocket about to take off, attracting many visitors for photos. Each capsule costs NT$200, and the machine produces the largest capsules in Taiwan, with a diameter of 20 cm.
 
Location: Caotun Plaza, Taichung (No. 534, Yingcai Road, West District, Taichung City)
Business hours: Weekdays 17:00 - 21:00, weekends 13:00 - 21:00 (Do not insert coins outside operating hours)

4. Taichung – The Heartbreak Capsule Toy Machine

The “Heartbreak Capsule Toy Machine” in Fengjia, Taichung, dispenses a useless piece of paper when you turn the capsule, giving people a taste of heartbreak. This sparked a wave of discussion and led to the rapid opening of four additional locations in Taichung, with the Fengjia flagship store featuring a pink theme.