Sure, the toys are cool, but it turns out their cases can be pretty useful too.
Near just about any moderately large toy shop or electronics store in Japan, you’ll find a row of gachapon, or capsule toy, vending machines. Toss in a few coins, turn the crank, and out drops a clear plastic sphere containing a sushi cat figure, Sailor Moon compact, or some other tiny trinket.
Most of the time, there’s a basket located next to the machine where you can leave the capsule after removing the toy. If you want to keep your prize nice and safe on your train ride or flight home, though, you might choose to leave the item inside the capsule. Of course, that means once you are back home, you’ve got am empty gachapon container lying around uselessly.
Unless, that is, you take the advice of Japanese Twitter user @moeKLX125.
https://twitter.com/moeKLX125/status/808810039607574528@moeKLX125’s clever idea is to use the gachapon capsule as a case for a mikan, or mandarin orange, so that you can enjoy fruit on the go. Aside from keeping the mikan from getting crushed or squashed inside your bag, you’ll also have a resealable container to place the peel in if there doesn’t happen to be a trash can around when you’re done eating your snack.
Not only does this alternate use for gachapon cases encourage healthy eating, it’s also a much more eco-friendly choice than just throwing the container into the trash, making this a plan that’s good for your body and our earth, all in one handy package.
Source: Hamusoku, Twitter/@moeKLX125

It’s a trap (Japanese capsule toy)!
Japanese company has employees-only capsule toy machine in its office for an awesome reason
Father and son dissect a gachapon capsule toy machine to show us its magical insides【Video】
Japanese drink vending machine capsule toys: A must-have for recreating Japan in miniature
The top 7 weirdest Japanese capsule toys of January 2016
The top 10 graduation songs in Japan as chosen by current Japanese high school students
Giant pipe mysteriously rises up through street in downtown Osaka
Man in Japan falls into hole with a bear in it
Every Japanese pro baseball team to play with Mario question block bases once this year
As rumors swirl of 7-Eleven shorting customers on rice ball fillings, we check on their sujiko
Take a trip back in time with an Edo Period-style hanami at the Oedo Fukagawa Sakura Festival
Haunted hospital near Mt Fuji re-opens after renovation at Fuji-Q Highland, and it’s terrifying
Starbucks Japan offers special sakura picnics at Reserve Roastery Tokyo beside Meguro River
New iPhone XS commercial features a tricked-out “dekotora” truck with a tear-jerking story
7-Eleven Japan’s “Paper Tiger” sandwich sparks online controversy over deceptive packaging
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan releases a new Cream Puff Frappuccino for a limited time
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Silicone testicle covers banned from Japanese sauna following cups being left behind and on shelves
Starbucks Japan opens new cafe and art gallery in top Tokyo tourist neighbourhood
Japanese government planning higher ticket prices for foreign tourists at Tokyo National Museum
Is Japan’s Crab-shaped Cup Ramen Timer worth the hype?
Studio Ghibli now sells Ursula’s backpack from Kiki’s Delivery Service at its anime shop in Japan
Pizza Hut Japan teams up with creator of one of the country’s best kinds of ramen for ramen pizza
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Super-expensive capsule toys – Trying out Japan’s Premium Gachapon machine【Photos】
Tempura yokai are here to terrorize and tantalize capsule toy fans【Photos】
Mysterious hand figures turn out to be our new favourite Japanese capsule toys
Beat your phone into submission with these Street Fighter 2 capsule toy stands
Japanese capsule toy vending machines now selling working capsule toy vending machines
Wild gacha capsule toy machine is one of the most unusual finds in Japan
Defibrillator toys from Japanese capsule machines are so realistic they might save a life
Mini rice cooker cases: The newest Japanese capsule toys we never knew we needed until just now
Tokyo travel tip: Use all of your leftover yen coins at Narita Airport’s huge capsule toy area
Christmas cat capsule toy hats from Japan will make your holiday feline festivities jolly
Japan’s Flat Gasha Pon takes gacha capsule toy machines to a whole new level
Bandai releases a retro item with zodiac signs in gachapon capsule toy form…but what is it?
Gacha capsule toy machine sells…Japanese rice bags?!
Mini karate-chop roof tiles you can actually destroy are Japan’s newest capsule toy【Videos】
New gachapon vending machine capsule toy range features miniature sweaters for water bottles
Cool capsule toys recreate how Japan navigated trains in pre-smartphone days【Photos】
Japan’s newest capsule toys: Capsules that Absolutely Won’t Open【Photos】