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".