
If you can’t eat ’em, wear ’em.
Remember the ultra-popular hamster-shaped monaka snacks being sold by the 120-year old Kyoto confectionary Aoki Kouetsudo? Even over a year after its initial release, it’s still constantly sold out. Now there’s a version of it with no expiration date! Japanese capsule toy company Tamakyu teamed up with Aoki Kouetsudo to create non-edible capsule toys shaped like the shop’s hamster-shaped snacks.
▼ Just in time for autumn, when hamsters will be stocking up on nuts for the winter!
These Hamster Monaka capsule toys, priced at 300 yen (US$2) each, went on sale October 28 and can be found in capsule toy machines across Japan. Each one comes with a nut-shaped brooch inside so that you can match your little buddy.
▼ Which style would you choose?
There are six varieties of the toy split into two styles: plain and chocolate. The only difference in the hamster’s appearance between the two styles are that the eyes and ears have been filled in with a “chocolate pen”–not edible, of course. The plain one, however, is the hamster that most closely resembles the edible hamster monaka.
▼ Are you more of an almond hamster or a cashew hamster?
Besides that, each hamster is holding either a walnut, a cashew, or an almond. You can pop open the hamster like an actual monaka, and inside there will be the included brooch. Use it to store other things as well–like some edible snacks, perhaps?
Tamakyu is holding a Twitter campaign, too! By following Tamakyu’s Twitter account retweeting the campaign Tweet linked below, you can be entered for a chance to win a complete set of the Monaka Hamster capsule toys. Entries will be accepted until November 4 at 5 p.m. (JST).
Sources: PR Times, Twitter/@TAMAKYU_CP
Images: PR Times



These adorable hamster-shaped monaka will make a great gift, or maybe just a snack for yourself
Mini karate-chop roof tiles you can actually destroy are Japan’s newest capsule toy【Videos】
Japan’s new Coins of Destiny capsule toys want to help you answer life’s most important questions
Cute cat-shaped food and kitchen appliances hit the gachapon capsule toy market
Japan’s newest capsule toys: Capsules that Absolutely Won’t Open【Photos】
Nine amazing off-the-beaten-path cherry blossom spots in Japan for yaezakura and shidarezakura
Stunning central Japan wisteria festival is like a purple fantasy straight out of a Ghibli movie
Godiva now makes tofu in Japan, and sakura chocolate tofu too![Taste test]
This Japanese vending machine doesn’t sell drinks, but you can buy drinks through it
Mister Donut wows matcha lovers in Japan with new Dora Matcha doughnuts
10 awesome Tokyo cherry blossom festivals and experiences for this year’s sakura season
One Piece creator has hidden secret of anime treasure’s identity in chest at bottom of real-world ocean
Six ice creams you should try at Baskin-Robbins Japan, according to staff who work there
Studio Ghibli unveils new Rollbahn notebook in honour of Howl’s Moving Castle
16 Things I Learned From Dressing in Drag: Confessions of a One-night Crossdresser
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
When will the cherry blossoms reach full bloom in Japan this year?[Forecast]
7-Eleven Japan’s giant fried chicken skewer would be too big to eat, so it’s really for cuddling
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
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)
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
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
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
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】
Japan’s newest weird capsule toys are…super realistic capsule rocks?!?【Photos】
Bandai releases a retro item with zodiac signs in gachapon capsule toy form…but what is it?
Christmas cat capsule toy hats from Japan will make your holiday feline festivities jolly
Japan’s newest capsule toys: Buff shirtless dude torso cushions, sometimes with very pink nipples
Akihabara capsule toy lucky bag is filled with cute characters and cool crap (literally)【Photos】
Squeezable tanuki testicle capsule toys, with choking warning for kids, appear in Japan, but why?
Peeing Shiba Inu figures are Japan’s latest quirky, maybe-cute capsule toy offerings【Photos】
Low-quality paper cranes folded by young gyaru – Japan’s newest weird capsule toys
Gacha capsule toy machine sells Casio watch rings in Japan, and we try to get all of them
Animals weighing themselves are Japan’s newest line of strangely relatable capsule toys figures
Celebrate famous works of art AND cats with these adorably clever “Cats in Art” capsule toys
Japan’s mini VHS anime home video replicas are the newest blast of capsule toy nostalgia【Pics】
Real-kitty-litter snow globes coming soon to Japan’s capsule toy vending machines【Photos】
New capsule toys from Japan let you carry plush fried food wherever you go