Tamashii Nation 2026 – Tokyo, Japan

What to expect

Event identity: TAMASHII NATION 2026 is an annual figure festival hosted by BANDAI SPIRITS, which handles adult-oriented products from popular toy manufacturer BANDAI, and is held at three venues in Akihabara. It is Japan’s premier annual figure festival and an annual festival that has been held since 2008, gathering the latest figures for adults. The brand TAMASHII NATIONS is a unified product brand for adult collectors, featuring figures that the company puts its heart and soul into.

Since its inaugural event in 2008, this celebration has continued to captivate anime and special effects fans worldwide through exclusive figure premieres, limited merchandise sales, and immersive experiential exhibitions. The event is a gathering of almost one thousand figures and robots including Kamen Rider, Ultraman, Dragon Ball, Gundam and Demon Slayer and other major franchises.

Scale and atmosphere: The event takes up multiple floors of its main venues, with recent editions occupying the entire three floors of Bellesalle Akihabara from B1 to 2F, with over 850 items on display. The atmosphere combines a museum-like exhibition with a high-energy fan festival, where visitors can see prototypes, development drafts, and final production samples side by side.

Expect large dioramas, interactive photo spots, and special lighting that showcases the articulation and detailing of S.H.Figuarts, ROBOT Spirits, METAL BUILD, METAL STRUCTURE, Saint Cloth Myth, and other collector lines. The event also includes sales corners where event-exclusive items are offered.

Event dates

Main edition: November 13–15, 2026, TAMASHII NATION 2026.

Venue schedule: Friday, November 13, 2026 – Sunday, November 15, 2026 at Bellesalle Akihabara 1F/B1F Event Hall, Akihabara UDX 2F AKIBA_SQUARE, and TAMASHII NATIONS STORE TOKYO.

Daily hours: Typically last entry around 4:30 PM with final admission times may end earlier depending on conditions. Opening hours are generally 10:00 AM to early evening.

Advance information: Entry times may change depending on conditions, and the official website https://tamashii-nation.tamashiiweb.com/ provides final timetable closer to the event.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Venue & exhibition site

Main venues: The event is held at three venues in Akihabara. Bellesalle Akihabara 1F/B1F Event Hall serves as the main exhibition hall, Akihabara UDX 2F AKIBA_SQUARE hosts large-scale displays and stage events, and TAMASHII NATIONS STORE TOKYO at 1-1 Kanda Hanaoka-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo functions as flagship shop and satellite exhibition space.

Bellesalle Akihabara: Located in the heart of Akihabara, Bellesalle offers three floors from B1 to 2F dedicated to figure displays, with controlled lighting and glass cases protecting prototypes. The venue is known for its spacious layout that allows for over 850 items on display and immersive experiential exhibitions.

Akihabara UDX: AKIBA_SQUARE on the second floor provides a large open square suitable for life-size displays, stage presentations, and photo opportunities. It connects directly to JR Akihabara Station via pedestrian deck, making access convenient.

TAMASHII NATIONS STORE TOKYO: The flagship store showcases and sells popular Japanese anime figures that are a hit among foreign visitors. The displayed content is changed approximately every season, and it includes both shopping area and exhibition area. During TAMASHII NATION, the store sells some products exclusive to the event period.

Full exhibition programme

Flagship figure exhibition: The full exhibition programme features almost one thousand figures and robots that TAMASHII NATIONS put its heart and soul into. Major franchises include Kamen Rider, Ultraman, Dragon Ball, Gundam, Demon Slayer, Saint Seiya, One Piece, and Marvel and Star Wars licensed lines.

Brand zones: Exhibition is divided into brand zones such as S.H.Figuarts for highly posable character figures, ROBOT Spirits and METAL BUILD for mecha, Saint Cloth Myth for Saint Seiya, METAL STRUCTURE KAITAI-SHOU-KI for large-scale deconstruction displays, and HI-METAL R for vintage mecha.

Prototype and development displays: The programme includes prototype unveilings, development drafts for upcoming items, and comparisons between sculpt stages. For example, recent editions have featured METAL BUILD God Gundam prototype and development drafts, Zaft models from Gundam SEED, and new Ultraman and monsters from past generations including Shin Ultraman and Ultraman Decker.

Interactive and photo experiences: Immersive dioramas allow visitors to pose figures in dynamic scenes, with large backdrops replicating iconic anime scenes. Some areas include augmented reality photo spots where visitors can capture figures with special effects.

Featured artists & designers

Bandai Spirits development teams: Featured designers include sculptors, engineers, and paint masters from BANDAI SPIRITS Collectors Division who design S.H.Figuarts, ROBOT Spirits, and METAL BUILD lines. Their work focuses on articulation, realistic and detailed figurines, and faithful recreation of on-screen appearances.

Guest creators: Guest appearances often include suit actors, voice actors, and mecha designers from Kamen Rider, Ultraman, and Gundam series who discuss collaboration with figure development.

Prototype artists: Special exhibitions highlight the work of prototype sculptors who create hand-sculpted masters before digital molding, showcasing traditional craftsmanship combined with modern technology.

Collaboration brands: Collaboration with other companies such as Prime 1 Studio for BUILD ART MASTERLINE and other high-end statue lines is sometimes featured.

Galleries & exhibitors

Official galleries: The main exhibitor is BANDAI SPIRITS under the TAMASHII NATIONS brand. Galleries include S.H.Figuarts, S.H.Figuarts Ultraman, S.H.Figuarts Kamen Rider, S.H.Figuarts Dragon Ball, ROBOT Spirits, METAL ROBOT Spirits, METAL BUILD, METAL STRUCTURE, Saint Cloth Myth, Saint Cloth Myth EX, HI-METAL R, and NXEDGE STYLE.

Franchise galleries: Dedicated galleries for Gundam, featuring Gunpla crossover displays, for Dragon Ball with large battle dioramas, for Kamen Rider with chronological Rider displays, and for Ultraman with monsters and heroes from multiple generations.

Store gallery: TAMASHII NATIONS STORE TOKYO gallery showcases limited merchandise and event-exclusive sales, with rotating exhibitions that change approximately every month.

Interactive galleries: Some galleries include hands-on corners where visitors can handle sample figures to test articulation, though most high-value prototypes are behind glass.

Exhibition halls & sections

Bellesalle 1F: Entrance hall with reception, queue management, and initial display of flagship new items. Includes information counter and merchandise sales reservation desk.

Bellesalle B1F: Main exhibition floor with brand zones spread across the basement level, featuring over 850 items on display and immersive lighting. This floor often houses the largest dioramas and METAL STRUCTURE exhibits.

Akihabara UDX AKIBA_SQUARE: Open square exhibition for large-scale displays, stage events, and life-size busts or statues. Suitable for photography and rest areas.

TAMASHII NATIONS STORE TOKYO: Flagship shop exhibition with both shopping area and exhibition area, located a short walk from the main venues. The store has exhibition cases showing production process and upcoming releases.

Special sections: Sections include development draft walls, prototype comparison tables, and limited merchandise sales corner with timed entry.

Talks, workshops & special events

Stage talks: The programme includes stage talks at Akihabara UDX where developers explain upcoming products, show development drafts, and discuss articulation engineering. Recent editions have featured Gundam SEED ROBOT Spirits and S.H.Figuarts special edition talks.

Live demonstrations: Live demonstrations of figure posing, effect parts usage, and display base customization are held by staff. These workshops teach collectors how to create dynamic action poses.

Special editions: The event is branded as TAMASHII NATION 2026 Special Edition for certain franchise focuses, such as Saint Seiya, Ultraman, and Gundam, with dedicated corners and exclusive reveals.

Fan interaction: Visitors can participate in photo contests by posting their collection displays, with winners featured on official social media.

Virtual extension: In previous years, a virtual festival was also hosted online, allowing global fans to view figures when physical attendance was limited.

Ticket types

Admission policy: Admission is free for all three venues, as listed for recent editions. Free admission allows visitors to explore multiple times during the event period.

Timed entry: Depending on crowd conditions, timed entry tickets or numbered tickets may be distributed to control capacity, especially for Bellesalle B1F main hall.

Merchandise sales lottery: Event-exclusive merchandise often requires advance lottery application via TAMASHII WEB. Winners receive purchase tickets for specific time slots.

Store access: TAMASHII NATIONS STORE TOKYO is free to enter, but special sales during the event may require queue tickets.

Press and VIP: Media and industry guests receive separate badges for early access to photography before general opening.

VIP & collector access

Collector preview: Early morning slots are sometimes reserved for TAMASHII WEB members who win lottery for first entry, providing less crowded viewing for photography.

Event-exclusive items: Limited merchandise includes event-exclusive recolors, effect sets, and display stands. These items are highly sought after by collectors and often require lottery purchase.

Store VIP: TAMASHII NATIONS STORE TOKYO offers premium display cases and early access to new releases during the event period.

Display techniques: VIP collector access includes workshops on advanced display techniques, such as using LED lighting, acrylic risers, and custom backdrops to enhance collections.

Networking: The event gathers adult collectors from around the world, providing networking opportunities for customizers and diorama builders.

Event rules

Entry rules: Free admission does not guarantee immediate entry; queues form early and staff manage entry by numbered tickets when capacity is reached. Last entry is typically mid-afternoon.

Photography rules: Photography is generally allowed for personal use, but flash, tripods, and video may be restricted in certain areas. Follow signage for no-photography zones around unannounced prototypes.

Touching exhibits: Do not touch figures on display unless explicitly allowed in hands-on corners. Prototypes are fragile and irreplaceable.

Merchandise rules: Event-exclusive merchandise purchase is limited to one per person per item. Resale for commercial purposes is prohibited.

Behavior: No running, no sitting on display cases, and no large baggage blocking aisles. Coin lockers are available at nearby stations.

Age policy: Some areas may have age recommendations for handling sharp effect parts, but the event is generally open to all ages.

How to get there

Main access hub: Akihabara Station is the central hub, served by JR Yamanote Line, JR Sobu Line, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, and Tsukuba Express.

Bellesalle Akihabara: Located a few minutes walk from Akihabara Station Electric Town Exit. The venue is at 1F/B1F of Bellesalle building, with signage directing visitors during event period.

Akihabara UDX: Connected to JR Akihabara Station via pedestrian deck, 2F AKIBA_SQUARE is directly accessible from the station’s Electric Town side without crossing streets.

TAMASHII NATIONS STORE TOKYO: Located at 1-1 Kanda Hanaoka-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, about 2 minutes walk from Akihabara Station Showa-dori Exit. The store is on the ground floor with distinctive TAMASHII NATIONS signage.

Airport access: From Haneda Airport, take Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho then JR Yamanote Line to Akihabara. From Narita Airport, take Narita Express to Tokyo then Yamanote Line to Akihabara.

Public transport & parking

Public transport strongly recommended: Akihabara is one of Tokyo’s densest areas with extremely limited parking. Use JR and Metro lines for access.

Parking: No dedicated event parking is provided. Nearby coin parking is expensive and fills quickly. Use of car is not recommended.

Station lockers: Coin lockers at Akihabara Station and nearby buildings allow storage of large bags before entering exhibition halls.

Crowd management: During TAMASHII NATION, queues extend outside Bellesalle and UDX. Staff manage queues with barriers and numbered tickets. Arrive early to secure timed entry.

Accessibility of transport: Akihabara Station has elevators and escalators, but crowds can be heavy. Use Showa-dori Exit for less crowded access to TAMASHII NATIONS STORE TOKYO.

Accommodation areas

Akihabara immediate: Hotels such as Remm Akihabara, Washington Hotel Akihabara, and APA Hotel Akihabara Ekimae offer walking distance to all three venues.

Kanda and Ochanomizu: Business hotels within one station of Akihabara provide quieter surroundings with quick access via JR Chuo and Sobu lines.

Ueno and Asakusa: Tourist areas with wide hotel selection and direct access to Akihabara via Ginza Line and Yamanote Line, suitable for combining figure festival with sightseeing.

Tokyo Station and Nihonbashi: Upscale hotels with direct train access to Akihabara in under 5 minutes, ideal for collectors wanting to store purchases securely.

Booking advice: Book early, as Akihabara hotels fill quickly during autumn event season, especially when multiple anime events coincide.

Food & refreshments

Inside Akihabara: The area around Bellesalle and UDX offers numerous restaurants, ranging from ramen and curry to maid cafes and themed cafes.

Food courts: Akihabara UDX building has restaurants on upper floors with views of the city, suitable for lunch breaks between venue visits.

Convenience: Convenience stores and vending machines are abundant around Akihabara Station, providing quick snacks and drinks.

Themed cafes: During TAMASHII NATION, collaboration cafes sometimes offer Gundam, Dragon Ball, or Ultraman themed menus and exclusive coasters.

For collectors: Bring water and light snacks, as queues can be long and exhibition halls can be warm due to lighting.

Accessibility

Barrier-free venues: Bellesalle Akihabara and Akihabara UDX are modern buildings with elevators, escalators, and accessible restrooms. Both venues are fully accessible for wheelchairs.

Elevator access: Bellesalle 1F/B1F has elevator access between floors, though crowds may cause waits. Staff can assist with alternative routes.

Rest areas: Benches and rest areas are available in UDX square, providing space for visitors needing breaks.

Support services: General information counters provide maps indicating accessible routes, elevators, and first aid locations.

Crowd considerations: Public days can be crowded, especially midday. Visitors needing extra space are advised to enter early morning or late afternoon when crowds thin slightly.

Must-see exhibitions

METAL STRUCTURE showcase: The METAL STRUCTURE KAITAI-SHOU-KI Sazabi and other large-scale deconstruction models are centerpiece displays, showing internal frame details and LED lighting.

Gundam SEED and Gundam UC zones: Zones featuring ROBOT Spirits and METAL BUILD for Gundam SEED and Gundam Unicorn, including Zaft models and Kshatriya displays, are highlights for mecha fans.

Saint Seiya Myth Cloth: Saint Seiya galleries featuring Pegasus Holy Robe, original early saints’ robes, silver saints, and gold saints, with detailed cloth and effect parts.

Ultraman and Kamen Rider: Ultraman and monsters from past generations including Shin Ultraman and Ultraman Decker, plus Kamen Rider chronological displays with new S.H.Figuarts reveals.

Dragon Ball and Demon Slayer: Dragon Ball galleries with dynamic battle poses and Demon Slayer water and flame effect displays that showcase new articulation technology.

Previous year’s highlights

Scale growth: Recent editions have been held on the largest scale ever, taking up entire floors of Bellesalle Akihabara with over 850 items on display and additional venues at UDX and flagship store.

Free admission tradition: Free admission has been maintained, allowing broad access for domestic and international fans.

Prototype reveals: Highlights included METAL BUILD God Gundam prototype and development drafts, new Servine, Lancelot Albion, and True Getter releases, and extensive Saint Seiya lineup.

Global engagement: Virtual festival components in earlier years allowed global fans to participate online, while recent in-person editions have seen increased international attendance.

Sales innovation: Event-exclusive merchandise lottery system has improved crowd management and provided fair access to limited items.

Official tickets

Official website: https://tamashii-nation.tamashiiweb.com/ is the official source for dates, venue maps, and merchandise lottery information.

Admission: Free admission for all venues, with timed entry tickets distributed when capacity is reached. Check official site for lottery application periods for exclusive merchandise.

Merchandise lottery: Event-exclusive items require advance lottery application via TAMASHII WEB. Winners receive purchase tickets valid for specific time slots at Bellesalle or store.

Store sales: TAMASHII NATIONS STORE TOKYO sells some products during the event period with queue tickets distributed on-site.

Re-entry: Re-entry is generally allowed with hand stamp or wristband, but may be restricted during peak hours.

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