Discover Japanese Bath Bombs

Looking for the most reliable way to make bath time fun? Japan treasures its traditional bathing culture, so it’s no surprise that some of the best bath time products in the world come from the land of the rising sun! For hundreds of years, since the historic Edo period (1603-1868), Japan has been adding fragrant herbs and floating whole yuzu fruits in their baths to add a little extra excitement to the experience. But Bandai brought the modern entertainment-focused bath bomb trend to Japan in 2002, when the Bikkura Bath Bomb first arrived on the scene. These satisfyingly fizzy bath bombs have been made in hundreds of different varieties, in countless different scents and colors, and each and every one comes with a little surprise inside! Bikkura Bath Bomb regularly partners with Japan’s most popular media franchises and character creators, from kawaii icons to the season’s hottest action anime series, to offer themed bath bombs with popular characters inside. Of course, you never know exactly which character you’ll get until you let the colorful foam dissolve away to reveal the cute toy inside! Each bath bomb will have you holding your breath in excitement!

Just one look at the official list of Bikkura Bath Bombs made us want to catch ’em all, but we have a few more reasons why we think you might want to pick up a few Bikkura Bath Bombs in Japan, too!

A Great Japanese Gift for Kids (and Kids at Heart)

Looking for the perfect souvenir? For anyone who loves Japanese anime or kawaii characters, and especially kids who love a good bubble bath, Bikkura Bath Bombs make for a fun treat from Japan. With all the different character themes, they offer endless options for changing up your bath! If you’re shopping for someone with a passion for a certain anime series, a bath bomb with one of their favorite characters can be both easy to get your hands on and affordable (about 495 yen and up, depending on the series). If you have no idea what to bring home from your trip to Japan, particularly for kids or anyone difficult to shop for, it’s hard to go wrong with the novelty of a Bikkura Bath Bomb. Japan is fond of consumable souvenirs for a reason – whether your gift recipient loves the character or not, they can at least enjoy the fun of a Japanese bath bomb experience!

Bikkura Bath Bombs are widely available in the daily toiletries or toy sections of drug stores, variety shops, supermarkets, and convenience stores around Japan. On our recent trip to Osaka’s Minami area (the southern part of the city with Namba and Shinsaibashi), we kept spotting the bath bombs in shops as we walked through the busiest sightseeing areas, so we put together a map with just a few of the many options. It’s a Bikkura Bath Bomb hotspot!

These are some of the shops selling the bath bombs – you can find the most convenient one for you by checking this Google map!

Fun Family Relaxation in Japan: Bath Time the Japanese Way

In Japan, a hot bath is the way to relax and decompress, which is why you’ll find public bathhouses in every neighborhood and resorts clustered around every hot spring. But a nice bath doesn’t have to mean traveling far into the Japanese countryside to search for a tiny mountain onsen resort. Whether you’re staying in an economical “business hotel” or upscale accommodations, Japanese hotel rooms almost always come equipped with a nice bathtub, and we think it’s not really a trip to Japan if you don’t take a nice bath. So jazz things up with a bath bomb or two!

Bath time is often family time in Japanese homes, especially for families with young kids, which might be why bath bombs are so conveniently available in Japan. Bikkura Bath Bombs can usually be found in a nearby shop, making it easy to pick one on the way back to your hotel. Of course, a nice bath bomb makes a pretty good excuse for a relaxing soak in the tub without all the distractions of the outside world, whether you’re traveling with family or not. Once the bath bomb melts apart, you’ll have a cute character companion to join you in the bath, too!

You’ll Want to Collect Them All!

From goshuin at shrines and temples to Gashapon capsule toys, Japan is a country of amazing collectibles – and that even extends to bath bombs. Each Bikkura Bath Bomb comes with a surprise toy inside, from a selection of about 4~10 different possibilities, and once you spot your favorite characters it can be tempting to bring home an armful of bath bombs to try for the whole set. Since we love all things “kawaii,” the Japankuru team fell head over heels for one of the cutest varieties (the “Bikkura Bath Bomb Sanrio Characters Gyuttoshite Ribbon”), and we had to try a few of them out.

As soon as the bath bomb hit the hot water a wave of pink bubbles radiated across the tub, followed quickly by a waft of something sweet. Bikkura Bath Bombs come in all sorts of scents, from lavender to muscat grape, but these Sanrio ones smell like strawberry cake! The bright pink bath bomb sank into the water as it dissolved, and after a few moments of lively fizzling, a toy bobbed to the surface. The toys inside of a Bikkura Bath Bomb feel nice in your hands, and they float in the tub, and even the grown adults of the Japankuru team bickered over who would get to take which of the cute toys home. Some of us will be taking a lot of pink baths in the coming days to collect every character.

If you fall in love with Bikkura Bath Bombs during your time in Japan (like we did), but you can only fit so many of them in your suitcase when you leave, then you’ll be happy to hear that Bandai also sells their bath bombs overseas. Keep an eye out for them in other parts of Asia, or starting this year, even in the US!

For Your Shopping List in Japan, We Recommend Bath Bombs

Whether you’re a traveler seeking the perfect Japanese souvenir, a dedicated fan of Japanese anime and kawaii culture, or simply a tired soul in need of a relaxing soak, these fizzy delights promise fun for all ages. Bikkura Bath Bombs are a whimsical way to experience Japan’s cherished bathing tradition, with their vibrant colors, delightful scents, and surprise toys featuring beloved characters. Easy to find, affordable, and irresistibly collectible, they’re a small indulgence that will leave you and your favorite people back home smiling long after the bubbles fade. Bring a touch of Japan’s unique charm to bath time – dive into the magic of Bikkura Bath Bombs!

▶︎ Check out the official Bikkura Bath Bomb page for more information.

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