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If you are planning a trip to Japan between late 2026 and early 2027, and you consider yourself a fan of romantic comedy manga, you are arriving at the perfect time. Celebrating a massive milestone, the Horimiya franchise—originally created by HERO and adapted into a wildly popular manga by Daisuke Hagiwara—is hosting a massive 15th Anniversary celebration across Japan.
Spanning from October 2026 through April 2027, the festivities are split into two incredible, concurrent promotions: the Horimiya 15th POP UP SHOP (a four-city retail tour hitting Tokyo, Fukuoka, Nagoya, and Osaka) and the Horimiya CAFE "Kiritaka High School Culture Festival" (a themed dining experience hosted at motto cafe locations in Tokyo and Osaka).
Whether you are looking to purchase exclusive 15th-anniversary merchandise featuring brand-new illustrations or want to immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of a Japanese high school culture festival, this guide will provide you with every exhaustive detail you need. From exact dates and plain-text station access to tips on navigating Japanese web lotteries and local neighborhood guides, here is your ultimate travel manual for the Horimiya 15th Anniversary events in Japan.
The Horimiya 15th Anniversary Celebration: An Overview
Before diving into the logistics of your itinerary, it is essential to understand exactly what is happening and how the events interconnect.
The 15th anniversary celebrates the enduring legacy of Horimiya, a franchise that began as HERO's webcomic Hori-san to Miyamura-kun before evolving into the smash-hit Shueisha manga series illustrated by Daisuke Hagiwara, and eventually a globally beloved anime.
(Important IP Note: You will notice that the official website for the pop-up shop uses the URL sqex.to/horimiyashop. Do not be confused by the "sqex" domain shortener; Horimiya is strictly a Shueisha property created by HERO and Daisuke Hagiwara, not a Square Enix franchise. The shortlink is simply hosted under an existing corporate URL shortener infrastructure).
To honor this milestone, the organizers have launched a two-pronged campaign:
- The Pop-Up Shop Tour: A traveling retail space hosted at major department stores (Marui and PARCO) in Tokyo, Fukuoka, Nagoya, and Osaka. This shop focuses on high-quality, exclusive anniversary merchandise.
- The motto cafe Experience: A themed cafe running in Ikebukuro (Tokyo) and Osaka, styled after the "Kiritaka High School Culture Festival" (片桐高校文化祭).
Crucially, these are separate promotions, but they cross-pollinate. The official press release confirms that some cafe-exclusive items will also be sold at the Pop-Up Shop locations. If your travel dates align, visiting both will give you the ultimate fan experience.
Part 1: Horimiya 15th POP UP SHOP (The 4-City Tour Guide)
The Pop-Up Shop is a dedicated retail event that will travel across Japan over five months. Each leg of the tour is hosted inside a major, tourist-friendly shopping complex. Hours for the pop-up shop will vary by venue and strictly follow the host facility's own business hours and closed days.
Below is the exhaustive guide to all four locations, including dates, access instructions, and what you can do in the surrounding neighborhoods.
1. Tokyo Venue: Yurakucho Marui
Dates: December 4, 2026 (Friday) – December 20, 2026 (Sunday) Location: Yurakucho Marui (有楽町マルイ)
The tour kicks off right in the heart of Tokyo during the beautiful winter illumination season. Yurakucho Marui is a premier department store located just steps away from the upscale Ginza district.
How to Get There (Access): Yurakucho Marui is incredibly easy to access.
- By Train: Take the JR Yamanote Line or JR Keihin-Tohoku Line to JR Yurakucho Station. Take the Central Exit (Chuo Guchi), and the Marui building is approximately a 1-minute walk right across the station plaza.
- By Subway: You can also take the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line to Yurakucho Station (Exit D7-b is directly connected to the surrounding plaza), or walk about 5 minutes from Tokyo Metro Ginza Station (accessible via the Ginza, Marunouchi, and Hibiya lines).
Neighborhood Tips for Tourists: Yurakucho is an excellent hub for tourists. Because you are right on the Yamanote line, you are only a 5-minute train ride away from Tokyo Station and about 10 minutes from Akihabara. If you finish buying your Horimiya merchandise and want to continue your anime shopping, you can easily transition to Akihabara. For those looking to optimize their Tokyo stay, check out our guide to the Best Hotels Near Akihabara 2026 | Value Location Convenience. Additionally, the area beneath the train tracks at Yurakucho is famous for its retro izakaya (Japanese pubs) known as Gado-shita, offering a fantastic place to grab dinner after the pop-up.
2. Fukuoka Venue: Hakata Marui
Dates: January 16, 2027 (Saturday) – January 24, 2027 (Sunday) Location: Hakata Marui (博多マルイ)
The second stop brings the 15th-anniversary celebration to the southern island of Kyushu. Hakata Marui is located inside the KITTE Hakata building, making it one of the most accessible venues on the tour for travelers utilizing the Shinkansen (bullet train).
How to Get There (Access):
- By Train/Shinkansen: Hakata Marui is directly connected to JR Hakata Station. Take the Hakata Exit (Hakata Guchi) of the station, and you will see the KITTE Hakata building immediately to your left. It takes about 2 to 3 minutes to walk from the ticket gates to the department store entrance.
- By Subway: Take the Fukuoka City Subway Airport Line to Hakata Station. It is just a 5-minute subway ride from Fukuoka Airport, making this incredibly easy for inbound international tourists flying directly into Kyushu.
Neighborhood Tips for Tourists: Hakata is the bustling heart of Fukuoka. After securing your 15th-anniversary clear cards and tote bags, take a 15-minute subway ride or a short bus trip to the Nakasu or Tenjin areas to experience Fukuoka’s famous yatai (open-air food stalls). Enjoy authentic Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen as a post-shopping reward. Fukuoka is highly walkable and tourist-friendly, offering a slightly more relaxed pace compared to Tokyo.
3. Nagoya Venue: Nagoya PARCO
Dates: February 11, 2027 (Thursday, National Holiday) – February 28, 2027 (Sunday) Location: Nagoya PARCO (名古屋PARCO)
For the third leg, the shop moves to central Japan (the Chubu region). PARCO is a staple of Japanese youth culture and fashion, often hosting high-profile anime and pop-culture events in its event spaces.
How to Get There (Access): Nagoya PARCO is located in the vibrant Sakae shopping district, specifically in the Yabacho area.
- By Subway: Take the Nagoya Municipal Subway Meijo Line to Yabacho Station. The station is directly connected to the East Building (Higashi-kan) of Nagoya PARCO via an underground passage, meaning you will not even have to step outside if it is raining.
- From Nagoya Station: Take the Higashiyama Line from Nagoya Station to Sakae Station, then transfer to the Meijo Line for one stop to Yabacho (total travel time is about 10-15 minutes). Alternatively, you can walk from Sakae Station to PARCO in about 10 minutes, walking south down the massive Hisaya Odori Park.
Neighborhood Tips for Tourists: Sakae is Nagoya's main downtown area. After visiting the pop-up shop, you can easily walk to the iconic Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER (formerly Nagoya TV Tower) or visit the futuristic Oasis 21 complex. If you are deeply interested in anime tourism, Nagoya also serves as a great launchpad for deeper explorations into central Japan. For those wanting a broader view of anime-related travel across the country, refer to our comprehensive Anime Pilgrimage in Japan: A Beginner guide.
4. Osaka Venue: Namba Marui
Dates: March 27, 2027 (Saturday) – April 11, 2027 (Sunday) Location: Namba Marui (なんばマルイ)
The final stop perfectly aligns with Japan's famous cherry blossom season. Namba Marui is located in the absolute epicenter of Osaka's southern downtown area (Minami), ensuring a high-energy finale for the tour.
How to Get There (Access):
- By Subway: Take the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line to Namba Station. The station connects via an underground mall right to Namba Marui (Look for Exit 1, which puts you right at the building).
- By Train: It is a 3-minute walk from Nankai Namba Station (which provides direct airport express trains from Kansai International Airport) and about a 5-minute walk from JR Namba Station or Kintetsu Osaka Namba Station.
Neighborhood Tips for Tourists: Namba is a sensory overload in the best way possible. The pop-up shop is mere minutes away from the famous Dotonbori canal, where you can take photos with the Glico Running Man sign. More importantly for anime fans, Namba Marui is only a 10-15 minute walk from Nippombashi (Den Den Town), Osaka's equivalent to Tokyo's Akihabara. You can spend the morning at the Horimiya pop-up and the afternoon hunting for retro games, trading cards, and doujinshi in Den Den Town.
Part 2: Merchandise at the POP UP SHOP
As of the official press release published in October 2026, the organizers have teased a "second wave" of merchandise details for the shop. It is highly common for Japanese pop-up shops to reveal merchandise in waves to maintain hype.
Confirmed Merchandise Items
Here is what has been officially confirmed for the Horimiya 15th Anniversary Pop-Up Shop:
- 2-Piece Clear Card Set: This set features two newly-drawn 15th-anniversary illustrations. Clear cards (transparent plastic cards often sized like trading cards or postcards) are incredibly popular in modern Japanese anime fandom. Fans love to hold them up against scenic backgrounds or cafe food to take "Instagrammable" photos of their favorite characters in the real world.
- Tote Bags: High-quality tote bags featuring the anniversary motifs. These are perfect for everyday use or as a base for building an ita-bag (a bag covered in character badges and plushies).
- Multi-Cases: Versatile zippered or snap-closure cases used for holding tickets, receipts, masks, or makeup.
Other Exclusive Items: The official announcement explicitly states that other pop-up-exclusive items are currently "in production" and will be announced closer to the event dates. You can expect standard pop-up fare to be added, which typically includes acrylic stands, can badges, clear files, and possibly apparel.
Cross-Promotion Bonus: The press release also confirms that select merchandise originally exclusive to the motto cafe (detailed in Part 5) will also be available for purchase at these Pop-Up Shop locations.
How to Pay for Merchandise in Japan
When shopping at Marui and PARCO department stores, you have multiple payment options. Unlike smaller independent shops in Japan, these major retailers accept all major international credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex). However, it is always wise to carry some cash when traveling. For a detailed breakdown of how to manage your spending, read our guide on Cash vs Card in Japan 2026: How Much Cash Do You Need?.
Additionally, bring your passport! Since these pop-up shops are housed within Marui and PARCO, the purchases often qualify for Japan's 10% tourist tax exemption (Tax-Free shopping) if you spend over 5,500 yen (including tax) on eligible goods. Ask the staff "Tax-free OK?" and they will direct you to the tax-free counter within the department store.
Part 3: Entry Restrictions & Advance Reservations (CRITICAL)
Japanese anime events are notorious for strict crowd control, and the Horimiya 15th Anniversary Pop-Up Shop is no exception.
The official announcement clearly states:
"事前のWEB抽選やWEB予約・整理券などによる入場制限をさせて頂く場合がございます" (Translation: Entry may be restricted via advance web lottery, web reservation, or numbered tickets).
What This Means for Tourists: This is stated as a possibility, not a confirmed absolute requirement for every single day of the pop-up. However, based on how Japanese pop-up shops operate in 2026, you should expect entry restrictions during the first 3 to 4 days of each city's run, as well as on weekends.
Here is how the three mentioned systems typically work:
- Advance Web Lottery (WEB抽選): Applications open a few weeks before the pop-up begins. You apply for a specific time slot on a specific day. Winners are drawn at random.
- Web Reservation (WEB予約): First-come, first-served booking via a ticketing website (like LivePocket). These slots vanish in seconds, so you must be online exactly when they open.
- Numbered Tickets (整理券 - Seiriken): If physical crowds gather in the morning, staff will hand out paper tickets (or use a LINE app digital ticket system) with a specific return time (e.g., "Come back at 2:30 PM").
Your Action Plan:
Because the exact method and application windows were not announced at the time of the initial press release, you must check the official website (sqex.to/horimiyashop) and the official X (formerly Twitter) accounts of the specific venue (e.g., @marui_yurakucho) about two to three weeks before your visit. Do not show up on opening day assuming you can just walk in.
Part 4: Horimiya CAFE "Kiritaka High School Culture Festival"
Running concurrently with the pop-up shop is the official Horimiya CAFE. The theme for this 15th-anniversary dining experience is "片桐高校文化祭" (Kiritaka High School Culture Festival), referencing the school attended by Hori, Miyamura, and their friends.
This is a separate promotion hosted at motto cafe locations. Motto cafe is a renowned collaborator in the Japanese anime space, known for high-quality thematic decorations and creative menus.
The Cafe Schedule
- Tokyo Venue: motto cafe Ikebukuro
- Dates: October 14, 2026 – December 27, 2026
- Osaka Venue: motto cafe Osaka
- Dates: November 25, 2026 – February 7, 2027
Cafe Locations & Access
1. motto cafe Ikebukuro (Tokyo) Ikebukuro is one of Tokyo's top three anime districts (alongside Akihabara and Nakano). It is particularly famous as the hub for female fans of anime and manga, making it the perfect location for a Horimiya cafe.
- Access: motto cafe Ikebukuro is typically located on the east side of Ikebukuro. Take the JR Yamanote, Saikyo, or Shonan-Shinjuku line to JR Ikebukuro Station. Head to the East Exit (Higashi-guchi). The walk to the cafe venue usually takes about 5 to 7 minutes through the bustling anime-centric streets near Sunshine City.
- Nearby Attractions: While in Ikebukuro, you can visit the massive Animate flagship store, or head over to Sunshine City for various pop-culture exhibitions. In fact, if you are visiting in late 2026, Ikebukuro is hosting multiple events. Check out our guide to the BLACK LAGOON 25th Anniversary Art Exhibition Tokyo 2026 | Sunshine City Ikebukuro Tickets & Guide (Nov 13 - Dec 6) if your tastes bridge romantic comedy and hardcore action.
2. motto cafe Osaka
- Access: While motto cafe periodically utilizes different spaces in Osaka, they are almost always clustered around the Namba, Shinsaibashi, or Tennoji areas. Assuming standard placement, rely on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line to reach the Namba or Shinsaibashi stations. From there, it is usually a 5-to-10-minute walk in plain text. Always cross-reference the exact cafe address on the motto cafe booking site a month before your visit.
What to Expect at the Cafe
While the official menu and exact prices were not revealed in the initial October press release, standard Japanese anime cafes follow a very predictable and highly enjoyable formula.
- The Theme: The "Culture Festival" theme is a massive trope in Japanese high school life and anime. Expect the interior of the cafe to be decorated with banners, chalkboard art, and classroom aesthetics that make you feel like you are walking through the halls of Kiritaka High.
- The Food & Drink: The menu will feature themed food, desserts, and drinks inspired by the characters. For example, you might find a robust savory dish representing Miyamura, sweet baked goods representing Hori, or colorful drinks matching the hair colors of the supporting cast. Prices usually range from 800 to 1,000 yen for drinks, and 1,200 to 1,600 yen for main dishes and desserts.
- Bonus Items: The main draw of eating at an anime cafe is the free novelties. Typically, ordering a food item gets you a random paper luncheon mat, and ordering a drink gets you a random character coaster.
- Merchandise: As mentioned earlier, the cafe will have its own exclusive merchandise corner. Remember, some of these cafe-exclusive items will eventually make their way to the Pop-Up shops, but buying them at the cafe ensures you get them early.
Cafe Reservations & Etiquette
Unlike the Pop-Up Shop, which might require a lottery, themed cafes in Japan almost always require advance reservations to secure a table, though standard first-come-first-served booking norms apply rather than strict lotteries (unless demand is historically unprecedented).
- Booking a Table: You will need to visit the motto cafe reservation portal (links will be provided on the official Horimiya 15th anniversary site). Reservations typically open a few weeks before a specific "block" of dates. You select your party size and time slot.
- Table Charge: Be aware that anime cafes often require a non-refundable booking fee (e.g., 500 to 700 yen per person), which usually guarantees you an exclusive reservation bonus item upon arrival.
- Time Limits: Cafes operate on strict rotations. You will usually have exactly 60, 80, or 90 minutes from the start of your time slot. You must order your food promptly, eat, buy your merchandise, and vacate the table so staff can clean for the next block.
- Ordering Rules: Many cafes require you to place your entire food and drink order at the very beginning (often via a smartphone QR code system) to ensure the kitchen can handle the rush. You cannot order a drink, wait 30 minutes, and then order dessert.
