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If you were to ask the average tourist what they plan to do at the base of the iconic Tokyo Skytree, you would likely hear a familiar itinerary: take the elevator to the 450-meter observation deck, snap photos of the sprawling metropolis, perhaps grab a matcha soft serve, and buy a generic keychain. But for a specific breed of traveler—the pop-culture enthusiast, the hypebeast, the designer-toy aficionado—Tokyo Skytree Town’s massive Solamachi shopping complex holds a much more coveted prize.
Tucked away within this sprawling retail labyrinth is the MEDICOM TOY Tokyo Skytree Town Solamachi Store (MEDICOM TOY 東京スカイツリータウン・ソラマチ店).
This is not a temporary pop-up. It is not the special 30th-anniversary exhibition currently making waves over in Omotesando. This is a permanent, year-round retail sanctuary dedicated to the legendary Japanese designer toy brand. More importantly, it is the epicenter of some of the most sought-after, uniquely Japanese BE@RBRICK releases in the world.
If you are a collector traveling to Japan in 2026, bypassing this store is a massive missed opportunity. Known globally for its signature traditional Japanese motifs—most famously the maneki-neko (beckoning cat) and the daruma—this specific MEDICOM TOY location seamlessly blends ancient Japanese folklore with modern streetwear culture.
In this exhaustive, monumental guide, we will dive deep into everything you need to know about the MEDICOM TOY Solamachi store. From understanding the cultural significance of its exclusive drops and mastering the notoriously strict release-day queue systems, to seamlessly weaving this stop into a perfect day of Solamachi shopping, consider this your ultimate collector’s playbook.
1. The Legacy of MEDICOM TOY and the BE@RBRICK Phenomenon
Before delving into the specifics of the Solamachi store, it is crucial to understand the sheer gravity of the MEDICOM TOY brand in Japan and abroad.
The Birth of a Designer Toy Empire
Founded in Japan in 1996 by Tatsuhiko Akashi, MEDICOM TOY was born from a simple desire: to create the toys that Akashi himself wanted to own. The company initially gained traction in the late 1990s with its highly detailed action figures, including the Kubrick line (block-style figures heavily influenced by Lego and named in homage to filmmaker Stanley Kubrick). However, it was a specific creation in 2001 that would catapult MEDICOM TOY from a niche Japanese hobbyist brand into a global streetwear and contemporary art powerhouse.
Enter the BE@RBRICK
Created in 2001 as a promotional gift for attendees of the World Character Convention in Tokyo, the BE@RBRICK is essentially a bear-shaped variation of the Kubrick figure. Its genius lies in its simplicity. The figure consists of nine parts—head, torso, hips, arms, hands, and legs—and serves as a three-dimensional blank canvas.
Over the past two and a half decades, that blank canvas has been painted by the world’s most famous artists (KAWS, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring), fashion houses (Chanel, BAPE, Undercover), and intellectual properties (Star Wars, Marvel, Daft Punk).
Understanding BE@RBRICK Sizing
If you are new to the hobby or looking to buy a gift for a collector back home, you must understand MEDICOM TOY’s specific sizing terminology. BE@RBRICKs are categorized by percentages based on the original 7-centimeter figure:
- 100% (Approx. 7 cm / 2.7 inches): The standard, original size. These are often sold in blind boxes (where you don't know which design you will get) or as part of a set. They are incredibly popular as souvenirs due to their low price point and portability.
- 400% (Approx. 28 cm / 11 inches): The collector's sweet spot. This is the most popular size for serious display. They are large enough to showcase intricate artwork and textures but small enough to fit on a standard bookshelf. Most highly anticipated store exclusives at Solamachi drop in this size.
- 1000% (Approx. 70 cm / 27.5 inches): The statement piece. These massive figures are essentially works of modern art. They dominate a room and come in massive boxes. Buying one of these on your trip to Japan requires serious logistical planning for the flight home.
2. Why the Tokyo Solamachi Store is a Global Destination
MEDICOM TOY operates a handful of official retail locations in Japan, including Project 1/6 in Shibuya and MEDICOM TOY PLUS in Omotesando. So, what makes the Solamachi branch so special?
The answer is "Wa" (和)—the spirit of traditional Japan.
When Tokyo Skytree Town opened its doors in May 2012, MEDICOM TOY inaugurated this permanent store to coincide with the opening. Because Solamachi serves as a bridge between the hyper-modern architecture of the Skytree and the deeply historic, working-class shitamachi (downtown) culture of the surrounding Oshiage and Asakusa neighborhoods, the store’s concept was designed to reflect traditional Japanese aesthetics.
The Signature Motifs: Maneki-Neko and Daruma
The absolute defining characteristic of the MEDICOM TOY Solamachi store is its ongoing, highly coveted series of BE@RBRICKs featuring traditional Japanese motifs. According to official MEDICOM TOY announcements, these Japanese-motif figures are the recurring signature of this specific store.
While they occasionally release standard pop-culture collaborations, the lifeblood of this location—and the reason fans line up around the block—are two specific designs:
The Maneki-Neko (招き猫 - Beckoning Cat)
You have likely seen the maneki-neko at the entrance of Asian restaurants worldwide: a cat with one paw raised, believed to beckon good fortune, customers, and wealth. MEDICOM TOY has brilliantly adapted this centuries-old talisman onto the modern bear-shaped canvas of the BE@RBRICK.
The Solamachi store releases countless variations of the Maneki-Neko BE@RBRICK. These releases are famous for their incredibly diverse array of finishes and colors. Past iterations have included matte black, sparkling gold, translucent plastics, glowing phosphorescent variants, and traditional calico patterns.
One of the defining details on many of these exclusive figures is the traditional oval gold coin (koban) painted on the bear's belly. Often, this coin bears the characters 千万両 (Senman-ryo), which translates to "Ten Million Gold Pieces"—an ultimate wish for astronomical wealth.
A perfect example of this ongoing legacy is a confirmed drop for April 25, 2026. The Solamachi store announced a highly anticipated release of a pink-transparent "Senman-ryo Tokyo" maneki-neko color variant. Released in both 100% and 400% sizes, this pink translucent iteration (often associated with luck in love and modern Harajuku-esque aesthetics) exemplifies the store’s ability to merge Edo-period symbolism with cutting-edge streetwear sensibilities.
The Daruma (達磨)
The second pillar of the Solamachi store's exclusive lineup is the daruma. Modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen tradition of Buddhism, traditional daruma dolls are hollow, round, Japanese traditional dolls with blank white eyes. The owner fills in one eye when setting a goal, and the other when the goal is fulfilled.
While BE@RBRICK daruma figures come with the eyes pre-painted (often featuring fierce, stylized expressions), they capture the spirit of perseverance and good luck. Like the maneki-neko, the Solamachi daruma BE@RBRICKs come in a staggering variety of colors and finishes, from traditional auspicious red to metallic silver and flocked (fuzzy) textures.
The Ultimate Japanese Souvenir
For inbound tourists, these Solamachi exclusives solve a common travel dilemma: how to buy a souvenir that is authentically Japanese, yet cool and modern. A generic fan or kimono from a tourist trap might end up in a drawer, but a 400% Maneki-Neko BE@RBRICK is a high-end interior design piece.
Furthermore, the official MEDICOM TOY accounts specifically describe the Solamachi store as being stocked with "gift-appropriate items" in addition to its limited exclusives. This means that even if you miss a hyped drop day, the store is uniquely curated to offer smaller 100% figures, keychains, and traditional-motif goods that make perfect presents for friends back home.
Anniversary Commemoratives
Because the store opened alongside the Skytree complex in May 2012, May is historically a massive month for this location. The store celebrates its anniversaries (such as its milestone 9th anniversary, and now looking toward its 14th in 2026) with major commemorative exclusive BE@RBRICK releases. If your trip to Tokyo happens to fall in late April or May, you must keep a close eye on their release calendar.
3. The Exclusivity Factor: In-Store Drops and "Nyuten Seiri"
If you are a veteran of sneaker drops or streetwear releases, you know that acquiring hyped items requires effort. The MEDICOM TOY Solamachi store is no exception. In fact, its exclusivity is a major part of its appeal.
Historically In-Store Only
When a new Maneki-Neko or Daruma BE@RBRICK drops at Solamachi, the demand vastly outstrips supply. Historically, many of these store-exclusive releases have tended to be strictly in-store-only, with no online or mail-order options available upon initial release.
Author's Note for 2026: Retail policies in the designer toy space fluctuate rapidly to combat resellers and bots. While the Solamachi store is legendary for its physical-only drops, you must always check the official MEDICOM TOY website or their official Japanese social media accounts just before your visit to confirm if a specific release will be sold exclusively in-store, or if online lotteries have been introduced.
Surviving Release Day: What is "Nyuten Seiri"?
If you want to purchase a highly anticipated release (like the April 25, 2026 pink-transparent Senman-ryo Tokyo maneki-neko), you cannot simply stroll into Solamachi at noon and expect to find it sitting on the shelf.
You will encounter a system known in Japanese retail as 入店整理 (Nyuten Seiri), which translates to "Store Entry Management."
Because the store itself is relatively compact and located inside a busy family shopping mall, MEDICOM TOY cannot allow massive, chaotic crowds to form and block neighboring businesses. Therefore, they institute strict crowd control on release days. Here is how it generally works, and how you as a tourist can navigate it:
- The Announcement: Roughly one to two weeks before a drop, MEDICOM TOY will post the release details on their official blog (medicomtoy.tv/blog) and Instagram.
- The Web Lottery (Pre-Arrival): For major drops, the store often utilizes a web-based lottery system hosted on platforms like Yahoo! Japan PassMarket or via a dedicated LINE app integration. You enter this lottery days in advance. If you win, you do not win the toy; you win the right to line up at a specific time.
- The Physical Line-Up (Numbered Tickets): For smaller drops or secondary restocks, they may issue physical numbered tickets (整理券 - seiriken) on the morning of the release. The official blog will specify exactly where outside the Skytree complex to line up (often near specific entrances before the mall opens).
- ID Checks: Be prepared. High-end streetwear stores in Japan are notoriously strict about combating organized reseller groups. If you won a web lottery under your name, you MUST bring your physical passport to prove your identity. Digital copies are almost never accepted.
- The Purchase: When your time slot arrives, you enter the store. Usually, purchases are strictly limited (e.g., "One 400% figure per person").
If you are just a casual fan visiting on a random Tuesday with no scheduled drops, you can walk right in without any entry management and browse their general stock and whatever secondary exclusives might still be on the shelves!
4. Store Details, Access, and Tax-Free Shopping
If you are ready to make the pilgrimage, you need to know exactly how to find the store. Tokyo Solamachi is gargantuan. It spans over 300 stores across multiple distinct "Yards" (East Yard, Tower Yard, West Yard) and floors. It is very easy to get lost.
Essential Store Information
- Official Name: MEDICOM TOY Tokyo Skytree Town Solamachi Store (MEDICOM TOY 東京スカイツリータウン・ソラマチ店)
- Address: 1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 131-0045 (Inside Tokyo Skytree Town Solamachi)
- Location within the Mall: East Yard, 4th Floor, Block 9. (Pro Tip: When you get to the 4th floor, look for the area dedicated to Japanese souvenirs and character goods).
- Operating Hours: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM (21:00). Note: Hours are subject to change during national holidays or specific mall events. Always verify before your trip.
How to Get There (No Maps Required)
Tokyo Skytree Town is exceptionally well-connected to Tokyo’s sprawling transit network. You have two primary station options depending on where you are traveling from:
Option 1: Oshiage 'SKYTREE' Station This is the most convenient station, as it sits directly beneath the East Yard where MEDICOM TOY is located.
- Served by: Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, Toei Asakusa Line, Keisei Oshiage Line.
- From Asakusa: Just a 3-minute ride on the Toei Asakusa Line.
- From Shibuya: Take the Hanzomon Line direct (about 30 minutes). You don't even need to transfer.
- Directions from train: Follow the ample signs for "Tokyo Skytree Town / Solamachi." Once you enter the complex from the station, you are already in the East Yard. Take the escalators directly up to the 4th floor.
Option 2: Tokyo Skytree Station Located at the opposite end of the complex (the West Yard).
- Served by: Tobu Skytree Line.
- From Asakusa: A 3-minute ride on the Tobu line.
- Directions from train: Enter the West Yard, and you will need to walk all the way across the complex through the Tower Yard and into the East Yard, then ascend to the 4th floor.
Navigating the train systems smoothly requires a good transit card. If you are unsure which card to get upon arriving in Japan, be sure to check our comprehensive breakdown: What is the Best IC Card for Tourists in Japan 2026? | Suica vs Pasmo vs ICOCA.
Tax-Free Shopping at Solamachi
Japan offers a phenomenal 10% consumption tax exemption for short-term foreign visitors, and you absolutely want to take advantage of this when buying expensive BE@RBRICKs.
Tokyo Solamachi operates a centralized Tax-Free system, though some stores handle it at the register. For MEDICOM TOY and most retail shops in the complex:
- The Threshold: You must spend a minimum of ¥5,000 (excluding tax) on eligible goods on the same day within the mall. A single 400% BE@RBRICK will easily clear this threshold.
- How to Claim: Historically, you pay the full price (including tax) at the MEDICOM TOY register. You then take your physical passport (with your tourist visa stamp or sticker—trusted traveler QR codes are sometimes accepted, but the physical book is safest), your receipt, and the unopened goods to the Tax-Free Counter located in the mall (often on the 1st floor, but check the mall directory as counter locations can shift).
- The Refund: The staff will process your paperwork and hand you the 10% tax back in cash (or refund it to your credit card).
- Important Rule: Do not open the sealed tax-free bag while in Japan. You are technically required to export the goods in their original condition.
5. Crafting the Perfect Solamachi Itinerary
Because MEDICOM TOY is located on the 4th floor of the East Yard, you are perfectly positioned to turn a quick toy run into a massive, fulfilling day trip. Tokyo Solamachi is heavily curated to appeal to pop culture fans, families, and souvenir hunters. For the full breakdown of the complex's layout, dining, crowd-timing tricks, and every other shop worth visiting, see our complete Tokyo Solamachi guide.
Here is how you should stack your itinerary to maximize your time.
Stop 1: The Pokemon Center Skytree Town (East Yard 4th Floor)
You barely have to walk to get to your next destination. Sharing the exact same floor and yard as MEDICOM TOY is the incredible Pokemon Center Skytree Town. This massive retail space is an absolute must-visit. Much like MEDICOM TOY, this specific Pokemon Center has location-exclusive merchandise. You will find plushies and pins featuring Pikachu riding the legendary Rayquaza, hugging the Skytree itself.
After you secure your traditional Japanese BE@RBRICKs, head straight over to grab your exclusive Nintendo loot. For a deep dive into exactly what to buy here and at other locations, read our full guide to Pokemon Center.
Stop 2: Sumida Aquarium (West Yard 5th/6th Floor)
Once you have finished your shopping on the 4th floor, drop your bags in a coin locker (Solamachi has hundreds of them scattered across various floors) and head over to the West Yard to visit the Sumida Aquarium.
This is not just any aquarium; it is an incredible, modern facility known for its stunning aesthetic design, which pairs perfectly with the artistic vibe of your MEDICOM TOY purchases. The aquarium features an immense, open-air penguin pool where you can watch the animals from multiple angles with no glass in the way. It also boasts breathtaking, illuminated jellyfish displays and an expansive exhibit dedicated to goldfish (another traditional Japanese motif!) curated with Edo-period aesthetics.
It is the perfect place to decompress after the stress of a morning BE@RBRICK drop. Plan your visit thoroughly by checking out our complete Sumida Aquarium guide.
Stop 3: Dining on the High Floors (East Yard 30th/31st Floor)
You don't necessarily have to pay the steep entry fee to go up the actual Skytree tower to get a great view. The Solamachi East Yard features special elevator banks that whisk you up to the "Solamachi Dining Skytree View" on the 30th and 31st floors. Here, you can enjoy incredibly high-quality meals—ranging from high-end sushi and teppanyaki to Italian cuisine—while looking out over the sprawling Tokyo skyline. It’s a fantastic spot for a sunset dinner.
Stop 4: The Skytree Observation Deck
If it is your first time in Tokyo, going up the actual Skytree (the tallest structure in Japan at 634 meters) is practically mandatory. The entrance is located on the 4th floor, right in the center of the complex. Try to time your ascent for late afternoon so you can watch the city transition from daylight, to sunset, to a glittering sea of neon.
