Japan’s notorious “lazy egg” is certainly one of my favourite characters on this planet, however planning a Gudetama Japan journey can show surprisingly tough. Actually, this has been my expertise.
I assumed, for instance, that when the BTS SkyTrain in my former residence metropolis of Bangkok ran an enormous Gudetama marketing campaign throughout one of many years I dwell there, it could pale compared to Gudetama’s visibility in Japan. Not so, sadly, a minimum of not as of just about a decade later.
Proceed studying to be taught extra, whether or not you’re asking your self basic questions corresponding to “what’s Gudetama?” or how one can discover the Gudetama retailer Tokyo. Or if, like me, you need to know the place in Japan you really can discover Gudetama in your subsequent journey.
What’s Gudetama?
On a baseline degree, the only method to deal with this query is to discover the difficulty of what “Gudetama” means. Gude is an adjective meaning “lazy,” whereas tama is brief for tamago or “egg.” Gudetama is the “lazy egg,” fairly actually talking. It’s sometimes represented as hiragana, both as ぐでたま (Gude-tama) or, much more colloquially, as ぐでぐで (Gude-gude).
So far as what Gudetama is, in a figurative sense? It’s a cultural phenomenon! From the Gudetama Japan points of interest I’m about to highlight beneath, to the character’s giant social media following and the number of memes, merchandise and intangible ubiquity it’s generated, Gudetama appears destined for a degree of fame not seen since Howdy Kitty. Nicely, if “it” (sure, Gudetama makes use of the pronouns it/itself) can rise up off its lazy bum lengthy sufficient to face within the highlight!
The place to Discover Gudetama in Japan
Gudetama Cafe Tokyo
Wish to have a espresso with Gudetama in Tokyo? Whereas this poor egg would scramble in seconds when really positioned close to a cup of any steaming liquid, the Sanrio Cafe in Ikebukuro is an ideal spot to get pleasure from a lazy afternoon, though the opposite Gudetama Tokyo tourism possibility close by is decidedly extra motile in nature.
NOTE: This isn’t a devoted Gudetama Cafe. One used to function in the same location, however has sadly been closed for a number of years.
Gudetama prepare
The Howdy Kitty prepare that after operated westbound Shinkansen routes from Osaka historically took up a lot of the oxygen surrounding character-themed transport in Japan, however there was additionally a Gudetama prepare. Particularly, choose providers from Ikebukuro Station on the non-public Seibu Railway featured Gudetama theming. Sadly, this service has since been discontinued.
Gudetama Cafe Osaka
Tokyo’s now-defunct Gudetama Cafe was not the one Gudetama cafe in Japan. Within the late 2010s, you could possibly additionally discover a Gudetama Café in Osaka, positioned solely a brief stroll from Umeda Station. Sadly, as was the destiny of its counterpart in Ikebukuro, the one in Osaka closed; there are not any plans to open it.
Gudetama at McDonald’s
Whereas Gudetama McDonald’s choices are seasonal and fleeting (which is considerably ironic, given how gradual the lazy egg itself tends to be to maneuver), you’ll be able to generally discover Gudetama toys in Japanese Blissful Meals, and pictures of Gudetama in ads at eating places, on-line and in print. No phrase whether or not lazy eggs are literally utilized in McDonald’s meals in Japan!
Gudetama at Sanrio Puroland
Most individuals go to Sanrio Puroland in Tama (humorous coincidence, proper?), Tokyo for the Howdy Kitty expertise, however up to now, you could possibly additionally discover a part of the park referred to as Gudetama Land. Right here, you had been ready not solely to pose for footage together with your favourite lazy egg, however may discover Gudetama video games and the “Gudesushi” restaurant. Sadly, like lots of the different Gudetama Japan points of interest on this listing, it has since closed.
Sanrio retailers that includes Gudetama
Gudetama shouldn’t be as universally well-known as Howdy Kitty, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a money cow for Sanrio. That is evident by the truth that Gudetama options prominently at Sanrio retailers in Japan. Most notably, there’s a complete exhibit dedicated to Gudetama at Sanrio Nishiginza, to say nothing of lazy egg merchandise at Sanrio retailers in Omotesando, Tokyo and different Japanese cities like Kobe and Fukuoka.
Gudetama Pop-ups
You must at all times be looking out for a Gudetama retailer Japan, even on the subject of objects that aren’t on this listing. And why, would possibly you ask? Though Gudetama is notorious for a way lazy it’s, there are a rising variety of pop-up Gudetama retailers, cafés and different appearances that would shock you on the following journey to Japan. Hold your eyes peeled, or your shell cracked because it had been.
Why Have So Many Gudetama Japan Points of interest Closed?
It’s not misplaced on me that so lots of the Gudetama-related points of interest I first wrote about virtually a decade in the past are actually closed. In reality, the overwhelming majority of them have ceased working! It isn’t an exaggeration to say that Gudetama could be very tough to seek out in Japan, if not inconceivable. Actually, you aren’t going to see any devoted Gudetama cafes or trains, as would possibly’ve been the case within the mid-to-late 2010s.
The logical rationalization for that is that Gudetama is just not as standard because it as soon as was—and albeit, has not endured as a lot as I hoped it could. Even for me, a Gudetama mega-fan, I discover that I don’t actually take into consideration the character very a lot. I don’t use GIFs associated to its in messages; I can’t keep in mind the final time I purchased a Gudetama-related memento. That is unhappy, nevertheless it’s higher to concentrate on this earlier than you arrive in Japan.
Different FAQ About Gudetama in Japan
Is Gudetama standard in Japan?
Gudetama was as soon as extraordinarily standard in Japan, however that has pale considerably as of the late 2020s. It was widespread to see Gudetama toys and different paraphernalia being offered in comfort shops and department shops, on folks’s clothings and luggage and naturally, in specialty retailers and cafés all through Japan. Now, nevertheless, Gudetama is a uncommon sight exterior of Sanrio specialty retailers.
Is Gudetama from Japan?
Gudetama was developed by Sanrio, an organization that originated in Yamanashi prefecture, Japan. Observe that despite this, Gudetama has skilled recognition all around the world. It doesn’t belong to anybody nation, a minimum of not by way of its lazy spirit.
The place is Gudetama cafe in Japan?
There have been as soon as two Gudetama cafes in Japan: One close to Tokyo’s Ikebukuro Station and the opposite in Osaka’s Umeda district. Observe that these are each closed as of the late 2020s, with no plans to reopen them. Despite this, you’ll be able to sometimes see Gudetama particular or pop-up menus at branded and unofficial Sanrio cafes all through Japan.
The Backside Line
When you’re planning your individual Gudetama Japan journey, there’s excellent news and there’s unhealthy information. The excellent news is that bodily areas bearing Gudetama’s likeness do exist, even when they’re much much less widespread than they was. The unhealthy information, holding with this, is that Gudetama stays a lot much less seen in Japan than different Sanrio characters like Howdy Kitty, a minimum of in the mean time. Which is sensible, when you consider it—Gudetama is lazy above all else. Want customized assist placing your subsequent Japan journey collectively? Fee a customized Japan itinerary at the moment—and let me sweat the main points!