Huge assortment of goodies and a bunch of things that are imported. It's a great place to look for…read moregifts.

Don't get me wrong! It's a great place for merch and has had a lot of great pop ups recently! The…read morestaff is usually amazing and super efficient. The reason why I'm giving it a 3 out of 5 is because of a bad experience today with the door person. We came in today, July 19th around the afternoon, about 3-4 PM. I understand their bag policy, it sucks but what can you do. We were very compliant with the doorman, but he seemed to have an attitude. Listen man, I get that it's hot and you may be having a day, but that doesn't mean you get to be rude. We went in, and immediately he needed to take our bags. We complied cause it's policy, and I politely told him "oh I have a small bag!" As in to tell him we have another bag to give him. He took it the wrong way and said "trust me I don't want to take it more than you do" under his breath. Buddy, I can hear you. I didn't even say it in a rude way, I'm just informing you that there was another bag. Whatever, we handed all our bags over, one of which was a bag carrying some merchandise (mainly some posters we purchased from another event we came from) mind you, there was 4 posters from a limited time event in there, worth $65. He asked "what's in the bag" all judgmental, like buddy, I get you need to know so you know where to place it on the shelf, but there is such a thing as asking in a nicer way like "is there anything delicate in here" or such. I told him it was some posters I had got. So. TELL ME WHY THIS GUY PUT THE BAG WITH THE POSTERS LAYING FLAT DOWN FIRST AND THEN PROCEEDED TO PUT OUR HEAVY BACKPACK AND OUR SMALLER BAG ON TOP OF IT. BUDDY. YOU ARE USING A METAL RACK SHELF, AND PUTTING HEAVY ITEMS ON TOP OF PAPER. SOME OF IT WAS EVEN ON THE EDGE SO YOU'RE ACTIVELY CREASING AND BENDING MY BELONGINGS. Anyone should know if you have anything fragile like posters, you would put it on top of the other bags so they do not get folded or creased or get and indents. I quickly told him if he can put the bag with the posters on top because I don't want them to get creased or bent. He doesn't say anything and just quickly does it, but he made a face. Buddy, if you don't like your job or can't do it well enough to know common sense like not putting delicates under heavy items, quit and go find something else, and leave your attitude at the OUTSIDE the door. I went home after this, and saw that all of four of my posters were creased in the same spot, coincidentally the same spot that was bent over the edge of the shelf. I don't care if they're posters and they can be replaced, not everyone has the luxury to replace broke items, especially not limited ones, I spent my hard earned money on it for it to be permanently ruined by some boy who doesn't care about other people's belongings despite being entrusted to handle them. Anyways, come for the merch! But maybe leave your valuables someplace where you know they'll be safe from damage.

Steve the owner is very friendly and helpful. He showed us a few tricks to the claw machine. What's…read moregreat is that you get a reasonable amount of tokens for what you pay for, you get a chance to upgrade your prizes, the area is clean, and unlike other claw machine arcades-- you actually win things! Thanks for making it a fun time for us!

This is a great business! I stopped in for my Birthday and it was such a treat. The person who was…read morehelping us, let us sign up for the birthday deal on the spot, which was a nice surprise. Price per play was a little bit on the higher side but not for how purely skill based this claw machine is. I walked away with 3-4 small plushies straight from the machine as well as one that cost 5 plushies to upgrade for - in total, spent around $45 so made for a well rewarded Birthday activity. Much enjoyed and will return again!

Did not know this even existed! So happy I came in here! Staff were all so sweet and welcoming! Had…read moreno problems here, it was filled with happiness and sanrio! After playing Hello Kitty Adventure Island and then coming here, it definitely made me happy cause I knew all the Sanrio characters. This location does carry limited/exclusive items here that normal Build a Bears don't have. I ended up buying My Sweet Piano. My Sweet Piano is very limited now and staff told me that now is the time to get her because she may not come back in stock! Normal sized bears are around $30-$40 (Depends which you buy). Great place to come with kids and friends who are fans of Sanrio!

Honestly I didn't even know there was a Hello Kitty themed Build-A-Bear Workshop until one of my…read moreclose friends told me about it. The workshop is located on the 2nd floor of Westfield Century City. This is the very first Build-A-Bear & Hello Kitty and Friends Workshop with new locations at American Dream in New Jersey (opened in February 2026) and Mall of America in Minnesota (plan to open in early 2026). [Parking]: Parking rates at Westfield Century City = 1 hour free, 1 hour and 20 minutes = $4, and additional 20 minutes = $2. $32 daily max. Unfortunately the workshop doesn't offer parking validation. [Experience]: The shop has all of popular Sanrio characters and visitors can also find other hard-to-find characters like Badtz-Maru, Keroppi, U*SA*HA*NA, Pekkle, Tuxedo Sam, Aggretsuko, etc. They also sell various accessories including some of LA shop exclusive items. [Process]: There was no waiting line on Saturday at 4 PM. First select an unstuffed character from the bins (Choose Me) and follow by picking accessories. Next walk up to a staff member and decide whether to add scents & sound. Once a final decision has been made, then a staff member will assist customers on using a foot-pedal machine to fill up the character with cotton with desired fluffiness. Before the character is stitched closed, customers will go through the Heart Ceremony (make a wish and kiss a heart before it's stuffed into the character). Customers will ultimately pay at the cashier counter and can also get a cardboard carrying case for an extra charge. The whole process also comes with a birth certificate to take home. [Price]: Each plush = $38 to start, but my plush was approximately $100 when I also include other accessories like clothing (had multiple outfits), handheld items, scent, etc. [Conclusion]: This is definitely the place to visit for an unique and customized Hello Kitty plushies.

I'm not sure how long this arcade has been around. But I remember playing games here as a kid when…read morewe had family trips to California. I was a big arcade junkie in my youth and happy that arcades have been making a comeback. Playland Arcade is located on the historic Santa Monica Pier right next to Pacific Park. There are more than 200 games here at this arcade. Playland Arcade also hosts a variety of events throughout the year from movies to holiday events. It is family owned and has been featured in many movies over the years. I am a big fan of classic video games and they have many of them here at Playland. I also like many of the interactive ones too. There are so many different type of games here at Playland Arcade. Skee-ball and air hockey are a couple of my longtime favorite games. I am also a fan of basketball and any arcade games with a steering wheel. There is also a Zoltar machine out front if you want your fortune told.

I enjoy a great arcade. About 15 years ago, I saw a man dance on the dance beat game for well over…read morean hour. Finally, 15 years or so years later I was back. And I soon realized I was better at Mario Bros and Pac-Man than I was at the dance game. That guy will forever be a missed connection. Looking back, if I knew then what I know now, I would have applauded him. What a skill! Playland Arcade will always be one of my favorites. Dance dude, I hope you're dancing somewhere pro and living your best life!

I love this place! So many new manga and artbooks. Everyone's always been nice and the place is…read morepacked. It's pretty pricey though - you can get things you might not see anywhere else but you'll definitely be paying extra for them. They have figurines and some blind boxes and other stuff too! Have been here a few times and will absolutely be back.

Animate LA is the North American outpost of the Japanese Animate chain, and for anime and manga…read morefans in the US it occupies a category largely by itself. I walked into a store that carries merchandise that simply does not surface at most American retailers, and that distinction was the main reason I made the trip. The selection covers a wide range. I saw rows of pins, acrylic stands, stickers, keychains, figurines, manga, and stationery filling the floor, and the depth in certain titles went well beyond what I have found at convention vendor tables or general pop culture stores. The Project Sekai section was one of the more notable dedicated areas and is genuinely rare to encounter outside of Japan. VTuber merchandise and more niche title selections appeared here in a way that reflects the store's connection to the Japanese market rather than just catering to the most mainstream Western anime fanbase. There is also a gashapon section where you can exchange cash for tokens and try your luck at the machines, which tends to draw its own crowd. Prices run higher than what I would pay in Japan directly, which is expected given the import overhead, but for collectors who cannot make the trip the markup is the cost of access. The store is worth visiting for any serious fan of the medium, and even a casual browse tends to surface something unexpected.

Absolutely love this popup shop they've been having the last few years now. Twice a year so far but…read morelove that there's always something new to see! If you're a fan of franchises like Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy, this shop is for you! The prices are great and don't have to worry about paying for shipping like their online store. They repeat some items but always great to see some sold out items! The staff are super friendly as well. This shop is located in Little Tokyo in the "underground" part by the Jungle shops. Overall worth visiting even if you're not a huge fan. Maybe you'll find some gifts for friends and family! IG: @ammysalamii

I grew up on Enix, since Dragon Warrior/Dragon Quest 1. And I also grew up on Squaresoft. Rad…read moreRacer. 3-D World Runner. King's Knight. And of course.... Fuainaru Fuantashiiiiiiiii. Final Fantasy. To say the least of both company's timeless collaboration that is Chrono Trigger (RIP Toriyama Akira sensei). To see a dedicated shop here in Little Tokyo, even if only seasonally, is like a dream come true. It really is a store for the most hardcore of fans. Merchandise that you can see in person - from all the figures, toys, stuffed animals. Soundtracks on vinyl and CD. My only heartbreak is that I wish I had bought the Final Fantasy IX Vivi action doll, the last time the shop popped up. There are a lot of cool figures, but the price is truly truly premium pricing. Nosebleed, like, really take advantage of your deep emotional connection to these characters, level of pricing. Like their prices even leveled-up to test the strength and HP of your wallet. And the shop keep is immune to any kind of pricing de-buffs. I would totally buy some of the metallic King Slimes, the posable FF VII Sephiroth, and 2B. But again, it's a tall ask to splurge. But I'm glad the wares are here in-person, so you can see everything for yourself, instead of just online photos.

I'm just a tall kid, so I gravitated to this shop at Terminal 5 of Los Angeles International…read moreAirport. I had quickly walked through Mattel Experience in the past, but this time, I looked closely and discovered more than just Mattel merchandise such as... Hello Kitty! I was so happy to see lunch boxes, a coloring book, plushies, headphones, and even a walkie talkie set! This store also has some Disney and Tokidoki items! I resisted the snacks; the shirts were too small for me; and I didn't need a neck pillow... Overall, this is a fun stop while you are waiting to board your plane. The service was helpful and friendly! Thanks for letting me play here a bit!

Superb store located at LAX terminal. Lots of toys and goodies to choose from and try out. I ended…read moreup buying toys for my little monsters and they were overjoyed! Their displays are always changing and very eye catching! Also miss seeing plush toys from FAO Schwartz so it's always a bonus to see Patrick and Penelope. They also have hot wheels mini cars here.

This is such a lovely store. If you love collectible figures this is the place for you. The place…read moreis very small so only 8 people are allowed at a time. The wait is not long so be patient. You can buy anything from a Monchhichi keychain, to socks, to art prints, shirts etc. I wish I had more money to spend there.

My husband and I came here today and we loved the unique artwork inside. Some really cool Godzilla…read moresculptures, along with art prints and wooden sculptures of all types of creatures. A really fun place. Some prints are around $25 while one Godzilla statue was around $1,000, so something for everyone. We parked at metered street parking about 2 blocks away.