Toy Shopping in Fukuoka: A Parent’s Guide to Finding the Best Kids’ Stores (Without the Stress)

Since moving our family from the frantic pace of Tokyo to the more breathable streets of Fukuoka, our approach to “stuff”—specifically the mountain of plastic and plush that accumulates when you have two kids—has shifted. In Tokyo, a trip to buy a birthday present often felt like a tactical military operation involving crowded trains and sensory overload. Here in Kyushu, it feels a little more manageable, a little more human.

But let’s be real: kids need toys. Whether it’s a bribe for a long Shinkansen ride, a birthday treat, or just a rainy day rescue, knowing where to go in Fukuoka can save your sanity.

As a father of two very different girls—my eldest (elementary age) who treats every purchase like a serious investment, and my youngest (kindergarten) who is essentially a chaotic magpie attracted to anything shiny—I’ve scoured the city’s toy aisles. Here is our family’s guide to the best places to buy toys in Fukuoka, from the massive electronics stores to the charming boutique shops.

The Big Players: Where to Find Everything

When you need variety, or when you simply don’t know what you’re looking for, the big commercial hubs are your best friends. In Fukuoka, the “toy store” is often hidden inside massive electronics retailers or shopping malls.

1. Yodobashi Camera (Hakata)

If you are staying near Hakata Station, this is the mothership. The toy section at Yodobashi Camera Multimedia Hakata is vast.

The Experience: It is loud. It is bright. It is the definition of sensory overload. Coming from the US/Japan mix in my background, I find Yodobashi to be uniquely Japanese in its density. You will find aisles of Gundam models (Gunpla) next to towering shelves of Licca-chan dolls and Plarail trains.

  • The Sister Dynamic: My eldest daughter finds this place overwhelming. She tends to stick close to the Lego aisle, carefully reading the box descriptions. My youngest? She is gone. Usually, I find her at the demo stations, aggressively sampling the Anpanman keyboards.
  • Why go here: The prices are competitive (often cheaper than boutique stores), and the selection of Japanese specific toys (Tomica, Plarail) is unbeatable. Plus, they have a massive Gachapon (capsule toy) wall that can kill 30 minutes for just a few hundred yen.

2. Toys “R” Us / Babies “R” Us (Marina Town or Mark Is)

For international families, seeing the backwards “R” is a comfort. In Fukuoka, these stores are often located in larger malls like Mark Is (Momochi) or Marina Town.

The Vibe: It feels wider and more “American” in layout compared to Yodobashi. There is room to push a stroller without knocking over a display of Godzilla figures. If you need baby supplies alongside toys, this is the practical choice.

Note: If you are shopping here, you might be near other attractions. For example, if you are at Mark Is, you are right next to the baseball stadium and entertainment complex. You can easily combine a shopping trip with a visit to A Family Guide to TeamLab Forest Fukuoka: Digital Art Fun for Kids, which is just next door.

The Character Specialists: For the Obsessed Fan

If your child is currently in a “phase”—be it Pokemon, Ghibli, or Anpanman—don’t waste time at general stores. Go to the source. Fukuoka has excellent dedicated character shops, mostly concentrated in Hakata and Canal City.

We actually wrote a deep dive on this because it’s such a huge part of visiting Japan with kids. For the full breakdown of where to find the Pokemon Center and others, check out our guide: Pokemon, Anpanman & More: The Ultimate Guide to Character Shops in Fukuoka.

Our Personal Favorites:

  • The Pokemon Center (Hakata Station): It’s always crowded, but the exclusive birthday merchandise is a great souvenir. My eldest saves her allowance for months just to buy one plushie here.
  • Sanrio Gallery (Hakata): If your kids love Hello Kitty or Cinnamoroll. It’s smaller than the Tokyo flagship but packed with cute stationery that makes great gifts for classmates back home.

Quality Over Quantity: Educational & Wooden Toys

Sometimes, you don’t want plastic that makes noise. You want something that looks nice on a shelf and supposedly makes your kid smarter.

Bornelund (Iwataya & Hankyu Department Stores)

Bornelund is the gold standard for imported educational toys in Japan. You’ll usually find them in the children’s sections of high-end department stores like Iwataya in Tenjin or Hankyu in Hakata.

The Experience: It is quiet. The staff are incredibly polite and will actually demonstrate how the toys work. They sell high-quality puzzles, magnetic building blocks (Magformers), and wooden instruments.

  • The Price Tag: It’s expensive. But, the quality is high. We usually buy birthday presents here when we want something that will last longer than a week.
  • The Play Area: They often have small sample areas where kids can try the toys. It’s a nice “calm down” spot if the bustle of Tenjin gets too much for the kids.

Cheap Thrills: Travel Entertainment

If you just need something to keep a toddler occupied on a flight or a long train ride to Kagoshima, do not spend big money.

Seria, Daiso, and Can Do (100 Yen Shops)

Do not underestimate the toy aisle of a Japanese 100-yen shop.

  • What to buy: Sticker books, coloring books, weird squishy fidget toys, and surprisingly decent craft kits.
  • The Strategy: I usually give each girl 300 yen (approx $2 USD) and let them go wild. My youngest usually comes back with a plastic sword and some slime. My eldest buys a notebook and fancy erasable pens. It keeps them happy for hours.

Tip: If you are stocking up on supplies for a trip, you might also need snacks or baby essentials. Drugstores are great for this. We have a guide on Where to Buy Baby Food in Fukuoka: A Guide for Traveling Families which also highlights stores that carry small toys and hygiene products.

Souvenirs That Double as Toys

One thing I love about living in Kyushu is the connection to tradition. Toys don’t always have to be from a cartoon.

Traditional Crafts

Fukuoka has a history of spinning tops (koma) and wooden whistles. You can often find these in souvenir shops near shrines or in Kawabata Shopping Arcade.

  • Hakata Dolls (Hakata Ningyo): While mostly for display, you can find painting experiences where kids can paint their own unglazed doll. It becomes a toy they made themselves.
  • The Spinning Top: We bought a simple wooden top at a festival two years ago, and surprisingly, it is still in our toy rotation. There is something satisfying about the physics of it that screens can’t replicate.

For more ideas on what to bring home, take a look at our article on 10 Best Fukuoka Souvenirs to Buy: Kid-Friendly Snacks & Traditional Crafts.

Practical Tips for Parents

  • Tax-Free: If you are a tourist (on a temporary visitor visa), bring your passport. Most major stores (Yodobashi, Toys R Us, Department stores) offer tax-free shopping if you spend over 5,500 yen.
  • Wrapping: Japanese stores excel at wrapping. Even if you buy a $5 item, they will often wrap it beautifully for free or a nominal fee. It makes the gift feel much more special.
  • Crowds: Avoid Yodobashi or the Pokemon Center on Saturday afternoons if you have a sensory-sensitive child. Tuesday mornings are a dream.

More Kyushu Stories

Shopping is just one part of the adventure. If you are looking for places to let the kids burn off the energy they got from their new toys, or if you need to plan the rest of your itinerary, check out these guides: