Taipei City Mall is probably the best place in Taipei to buy model kits or anime merchandise. This article serves as a guide for anyone interested in exploring the model shops here and how to make the most of your visit.
Recycle (瑞瑟可)
Recycle is the anime merchandise store with the most branches in Taipei City Mall—if memory serves, there are at least four or five of them. You can find a wide range of mainstream model kits here, including brands like Bandai, Kotobukiya, Good Smile Company, and various character figures. While each branch offers similar selections, it's worth noting that Recycle’s pricing can fluctuate quite a bit. Popular items might be significantly marked up, but if you’re hunting for lesser-known or niche products, you might get lucky and find a bargain.
Outside of each Recycle branch, you’ll usually find a long row of capsule toy (gashapon) machines — one of the branches is even almost entirely dedicated to them. If you're a fan of capsule toys, it's definitely worth checking out.
Since the stock between branches seems to be shared or restocked in coordination, it's rare to find a situation where one branch is sold out but another still has the item. So if you're not in the mood to visit every store, just browsing one or two branches should be enough.
TOYeGO (玩具e哥)
TOYeGO is a nationwide chain store found throughout Taiwan, known for its consistent and relatively affordable pricing. In Taipei City Mall, it has three branches—one of which is located closer to Beimen Station, so you’ll need to walk a bit further to find it. Since the product selection is quite similar across all branches, there’s no need to visit every single one unless you want to.
TAMASHII SPOT TAIPEI
This is Bandai’s official display space in Taipei. Compared to the ones you might have seen in Japan, it’s relatively small, but it often features items from Tamashii Nations or unreleased display models. Even if you're not planning to make a purchase, it’s definitely worth a visit just to take a look.
Chuang Yi Long Gifts (創意龍禮品)
This one isn’t a chain store, and one of its quirks is that many of the model kits are displayed right on the floor, which gives it a unique vibe. Because Taipei City Mall has a steady flow of visitors, the inventory here tends to be fairly new, so it's not exactly a place for treasure hunting. Still, if you happen to walk by, it's definitely worth a quick look.
TOY PARK
TOY PARK is located toward the far end of Taipei City Mall and is one of the larger stores among the ones mentioned here. They carry a wider display of models, mostly from mainstream brands like Bandai. Since they often stock more units of the same item, there’s a chance you might come across older releases that haven’t sold out yet. If you're nearby, it's definitely worth stepping in for a look.
That wraps up this guide to model shops in Taipei City Mall—hope it helps you navigate your visit!