When you ascend to the 6th floor of PARCO Department Store in Osaka’s Shinsaibashi shopping street, you’ll discover various character shops. One prominently catching the eye is the Ghibli merchandise store, selling products related to the character “Totoro,” now considered a representative character of Japan.
Known in Japanese as “Donguri Kyowakoku,” which can be roughly translated to “Acorn Republic” in English. Understanding this name becomes more apparent when we see that the Ghibli merchandise store in Korea is called “Dotori Sop,” meaning “Acorn Forest.”
“Osaka PARCO Department Store’s Ghibli Merchandise Store”
Ghibli merchandise stores can be found in several places in Osaka, but the most representative and easily accessible one is inside “PARCO Department Store.” Once you reach the 6th floor of PARCO, you’ll notice an array of character shops, and “Donguri Kyowakoku” is one of them.
“Store with Two Photo Spots”
As soon as you reach the 6th floor, you’ll find a bustling area always crowded with people. The store features two commemorative photo spots. The first one, right at the entrance, portrays a scene from “My Neighbor Totoro,” where Mei plants seeds, waters them with Totoro, and prays.
The second spot, as you go inside the store, is a “train” from “Spirited Away.” This spot recreates the train that appeared in the film, and like the first one, it’s a popular place for taking commemorative photos.
“Store Offering Various Ghibli Merchandise”
This store offers memorabilia related to various Studio Ghibli animations, including Totoro. Of course, characters from the “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Spirited Away” series are particularly popular, and you’ll find a wide array of related products.
However, apart from these, there’s a diverse range of other memorabilia to explore. It’s an excellent place for those who have enjoyed Ghibli films to visit and purchase souvenirs. Keep in mind that Ghibli merchandise stores tend to have slightly higher prices than other souvenir shops, so be prepared for that when planning your visit.
“Osaka Shinsaibashi, PARCO Department Store, Donguri Kyowakoku (Acorn Republic)”
- Address: 1 Chome-8-3 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0085, Japan
- Phone Number: +81662438510
- Website: https://benelic.com/donguri/
- Business Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM