Akihabara is a paradise for collectors of anime, manga and video game merchandise. Although trawling through second hand shops looking for rare items and deals is one aspect of this, there’s another way to acquire goods that has captured the imagination of Akihabara’s patrons.

'Gachapon', or capsule toy machines, may usually be seen as something for children, but in Japan they are a popular with all ages. The main draw lies in the excitement of not knowing what you will get. Rather than the usual simple transaction involved in buying merchandise, the thrill of getting of the one you wanted out of sheer luck (or the disappointment of getting the same one again) is what makes these machines so compelling.

Secondly, compared to the items for sale in ordinary shops, the toys are usually very cheap (between 200 and 400 yen). There are also plenty of quirky and interesting toys to be stumbled upon, alongside famous characters and items from various anime and games.

Gachapon mania has gripped otaku culture to a point were the machines can be found all around Akihabara and led to one of its most famous stores, Gachapon Kaikan.

This store is filled floor to ceiling with gachapon and gachapon only. Due to the amount on offer, this is probably where you can see some of the strangest capsule toys around.

Some cases in point, take a look at this pouch that looks like a pizza slice...

...or this squishy pudding.

If you’re in Japan and not sure what to get as a souvenir, they’ve got you covered there too. Take a chance on some traditional Japanese items to take home as a present or keep for yourself.

A pretty cool souvenir would be your very own ‘Osaka Auntie’ figure to pay tribute to this iconic group in Japanese society.

If you’ve ever dreamed of looking like an important reporter person you can get a mic to attach to your clothes to properly play the role.

There’s also a surprisingly large range of cat hats. That’s hats for cats. Choose from the ‘cats from around the world’ range, vegetable head cats or some bunny ears for your kitty.

If you’re in Akihabara and stuck for some cheap souvenirs, Gachapon Kaikan is the perfect place to pick up some merchandise at a cheap price. All the beloved famous Japanese characters can be found like Sailor Moon or Pokemon, or you could go for something a bit more eccentric…