Tour Inside Official Studio Ghibli Shop Kyoto • Donguri Kyowakoku
It’s a beautiful summer day here in Kyoto. Good morning, everyone! We are standing somewhere near Ninenzaka in Kyoto, on our way to Donguri Republic. Regardless of the season, this area is always packed with a huge crowd of visitors. I’ll show you more of this neighborhood in my next video, but for now, without further ado, let’s head over to Donguri. Donguri Kyowakoku, also known as Donguri Republic, is a popular chain of official Studio Ghibli merchandise stores in Japan. You can also find their branches in Tokyo and Osaka; some of them even have a wider variety of products or cuter store designs. They offer a wide selection of merchandise from beloved films like My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Spirited Away. Every time I step into this store, I feel like a kid again. Let’s go inside! This branch is quite unique because it features both outdoor and indoor areas. From the outside, with its stone walkway, you’ll already see plenty of Studio Ghibli characters scattered around. If you’ve watched the films, you might have noticed that much of Hayao Miyazaki’s work reflects a deep love for the natural world. Welcome inside Donguri Kyowakoku! Most of the merchandise here includes plush toys and figurines of all sizes but you’ll also find a wide range of bags, keychains, tableware, linens, accessories, and everyday utensils. If you love puzzles and Studio Ghibli, you’ll be spoiled for choice with their wide variety of jigsaw designs. They range from 300-piece puzzles all the way up to
1000 pieces. But of course, the most important decision is— which film do you love the most? Out of all the movies, my favorite is Kiki’s Delivery Service. I just love imagining a world where we can use magic in our daily lives. Let’s take a closer look at some of the merchandise! Here we have an action figure of Kiki and Tombo. Personally, I find Kiki’s cat, Jiji, even more lovable. Here’s a whole collection of jigsaw puzzles. The Spirited Away cover might be my first pick. What about you? There’s still plenty of merchandise to see, so stay with me. Starting from the right side… We can see more action figures here—No-Face, Jiji, and Totoro in different colors. This paper theater set makes a really nice souvenir. It’s compact and easy to pack in your luggage— I even bought one myself the other day. Savoia S.21… Wow, it’s so beautifully made! These are very small bags, I think they’re more suitable for children. And yes, this must be the children’s section—just look at these tiny Jiji socks. I want them! Handkerchiefs are very popular in Japan, so naturally, you’ll find a wide selection here as well. Most of them feature My Neighbor Totoro or Kiki’s Delivery Service designs. This shelf looks dedicated to lunch boxes and their accessories. That red lunch box really stands out. Now let’s move to the left side of the shop. Is this wall clock for sale too? Blind boxes! These feature the side characters from Spirited Away. That sumo-like guy actually gave me chills when I first watched the movie. So here’s how it works—you buy a blind box and get one of the figures displayed here on the right. Meowww~~ There’s still plenty of Spirited Away merchandise in this area. The shop is quite small, yet it’s crowded with people—Studio Ghibli truly has fans from all over the world. The ceramic plates are stunning. Each one costs about JPY 5,500. I really wanted to buy one, but I was too worried I might break it in my luggage. How do you usually bring ceramics home safely? A distinguished gentle-cat. Here’s a special glass case displaying an array of men’s neckties. Wow, these are adorable. We’ve already seen the ceramics and figures on the top two shelves now let’s check out the bottom two. Here we have a set of super cute mugs, perfect for your morning coffee. And they would go so well with the matching plates! At first glance it looks like a tree, but if you look closer, there’s something sticking out of the branches. These are finger puppets of blue Totoro, and they even make a little bell sound when you flick them back and forth. Pins and keychains are some of the most budget-friendly souvenirs when traveling, and they’re super easy to carry in your bag. That bottle opener is so cute! If you’ve seen Castle in the Sky, looking at that robot might make you feel a little sad, too. Here’s what it looks like from the back. These pins can be attached to your bag, scarf, or pouch. And don’t miss the chance to take a picture with Jiji when you enter the shop. This is the cashier area, and over there is another entrance. Finally, near the other entrance, you can even wait for the Catbus with Totoro! Continuing on, here’s a whole section of socks with different designs. This suddenly reminds me of that video where a kid dressed as No-Face in class and scared everyone. More towels and handkerchiefs here. Donguri Kyowakoku is definitely a must-visit shop for any Studio Ghibli fan. Make sure to take some photos inside, or at least bring home a small souvenir as a memory of your trip! The tour of this store may be over, but if you’re in this area, there’s still so much more to do. I’m currently working on another video showing our full tour of Kyoto, so make sure to check it out. Let me show you one of the cafés we visited after leaving Donguri Kyowakoku. Maccha House is very popular in Kyoto. It’s located along the narrow street of Sannen-zaka. Trying their Uji Matcha Tiramisu was high on our must-eat list. Tadaaaa~~~ Of course, we also had to order a Matcha Latte. The Uji Matcha Tiramisu. The Uji Matcha Tiramisu is rich, creamy, and absolutely delicious. The slight bitterness of the matcha combined with the sweetness of the mascarpone makes it taste just perfect. Don’t forget to subscribe and like if you enjoyed this video! More Kyoto videos are coming soon.
I have been a big fan of Studio Ghibli, and visiting Donguri Kyowakoku or Donguri Republic was one of the highlights of my Kyoto Trip.
Let’s check out all the merchandise offered inside this shop.
My favorite has always been Kiki Delivery Service, what’s yours?
Hope you enjoy it!
AloJapan.com