Gachapon machines are an eye-catcher    Top 10 must-photograph themed gachapon machines

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

Following the debut of the giant gachapon machine in Tainan, uniquely themed gachapon machines have sprung up all over Taiwan, including massive gachapon dispensers and pink gachapon walls, sparking a wave of gachapon photo ops.
 
1. New Taipei – Taiwan’s Largest Gachapon Machine
The giant gachapon 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 gachapon machine, the Tamsui Egg Egg Festival also featured a colorful container park, with exhibitions themed around “eggs,” including super-sized colorful eggs, a World Gachapon 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 Dingshier Road and Xinshiwu Road Section 3, Tamsui District, New Taipei City)
Event period: December 23, 2017 to April 8, 2018
Event hours: 09:30 - 18:00 (last entry at 17:30)
※ Closed on Chinese New Year’s Eve

2. Train'sBanqiao – Taiwan’s Largest Gachapon Flagship Store
Train's is Taiwan’s first chain specialty store for gachapon, not only designing its own toys but also importing many of the latest gachapon products from Japan. Train's has set up Taiwan’s largest gachapon flagship store inside Banqiao Eslite, offering over 250 gachapon machines, rivaling Japan’s Yodobashi Gachapon Department Store. In addition, life-sized Anpanman and giant Gundam busts have been introduced one after another.
 
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 Arena)

3. Taichung – The Surprising Explorer Giant Gachapon Machine

The “Surprising Explorer Giant Gachapon Machine” at Taichung’s Caotun Plaza resembles a rocket about to take off, attracting many visitors for photos. The gachapon machine sells one ball for NT$200 and produces the largest gachapon ball in Taiwan, with a diameter of 20 centimeters.
 
Location: Taichung Caotun Plaza (No. 534, Yingcai Road, West District, Taichung City)
Business hours: Weekdays 17:00 - 21:00, holidays 13:00 - 21:00 (Do not insert coins outside operating hours)

4. Taichung – The Heartbreak Gachapon Machine

The “Heartbreak Gachapon Machine” in Fengjia, Taichung, dispenses a piece of useless scrap paper when you turn the handle, giving people a taste of heartache. This has sparked a wave of discussion and popularity, leading to the opening of four additional locations in Taichung in a short period, with the Fengjia flagship store especially featuring a pink theme.