The Grand Tamagotchi Exhibition

The 30th Anniversary Tamagotchi Exhibition is heading to Hokkaido, with a run at Sapporo Factory. The Sapporo stop follows the exhibition's opening run in Tokyo earlier in the year and forms part of a national tour marking three decades since the launch of Bandai's iconic digital pet.

First released in 1996, the Tamagotchi became a defining toy of the late 1990s, sparking a craze that began with Japanese high school girls and quickly spread internationally. In the years since, the device has evolved alongside the technology of each era - gaining infrared communication in 2004, a touch screen in 2021, and Wi-Fi connectivity in 2023 - across a total of 38 models, now sold in more than 50 regions worldwide. Cumulative global shipments passed 100 million units in July 2025.

The exhibition is designed as more than a straightforward retrospective. Alongside displays tracing the brand's 30-year history, it features immersive installations that aim to place visitors inside the world of the Tamagotchi.

Tickets are sold via Lawson Ticket. Advance sales close at 23:59 on 5 June. All ticket holders receive one randomly selected acrylic card from a set of 14 designs, distributed at the entrance. The first half of the run (6-17 June) features seven designs, with the remaining seven appearing in the second half. Visitors who spend ¥6,000 or more at the merchandise corner in a single transaction also receive an original event shopper bag, while supplies last.

The goods-included ticket comes with a Lawson Ticket original "Tamagotchi shaka-shaka drawstring pouch".