When is the 2018 Plarail Expo?

Super

Member Chrizzly brought up a great question in another Thread:

*Does anyone know when the Plarail 2018 Expo will be held?
*Does anyone have inside info on any Expo Exclusives?
*Will there be more than one Expo held?
*What about the 2018 Tokyo Toy Show, when will that be?

Off The Rails

Good question! Plarail Expo is a pretty big deal and has the backing or blessing of one of the largest Japanese toy companies. Yet it doesn’t seem to get the attention that the big toy and hobby shows or the twice yearly Tokyo WonFes receive.

And is it just me or is the trip to Japan some kind of Otaku pilgrimage? I have numerous friends both online and IRL who’ve made the trip and it seems to be a bucket list item for so many different hobbies and fandoms.

Off The Rails

The best I can come up with is that, in 2016 and 2017, Plarail in Tokyo was scheduled in early May at the Makuhari Messe Convention Complex. I don’t see it listed on the schedule for April or May 2018 at the moment.

Super

Is there more than one Expo like in Osaka too?

Off The Rails

There was one in Osaka as recently as 2014 and I see some references to an expo in Niigata (city) in 2012. I can’t quite figure out if it moves to different parts of the country or if they hold multiple events but it does seem to be held during the early May Golden Week holiday.

Tharazero1

The next Tokyo Toy fair is in early June of 2018 at the Tokyo Big Sight. I haven't found out if there is a plarail expo but the Makuhari Messe Convention complex only has events listed to January 2018 so an individual Plarail Expo cannot be ruled out.

Super

Hasn't it been the case that the Tokyo Toy Show takes place some time after the Plarail Expo?

Tharazero1

Super wrote
Hasn't it been the case that the Tokyo Toy Show takes place some time after the Plarail Expo?

I wouldn’t know. Judging by that off the Rails said the in the last two years the plarail expo happens in may and next years Tokyo toy fair happens in June, I think your correct super

NDI13

There will be a Plarail Expo 2018 in Osaka from January 1 - 8, 2018.

http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/event/eventlist2/pla2017-osaka.html

Based on the event details, it looks like the souvenir gifts are the same as those given out during the May 2017's Plarail Expo. If anyone is planning on going, I strongly recommend that you stock up on PATIENCE. If, like me, you have friends who want to have the souvenir gifts, simply purchase extra tickets and you can redeem them upon entry.

Super

Thanks ND113, it does say "Entry commemorative items may change immediately before due to circumstances of production etc." so fingers crossed that the collectors can get a clear blue Clarabel coach to go along with the Annie...after all, why not. Seems silly just to have one of a pair...like one sock.

NDI13

It will be awesome if they have something new but too bad that we will miss the expo since we are just coming back from Japan right after Christmas. Just as well because I don't think we want to be in a very long, snaking line in winter to enter the expo. It took us about 1.5 hrs to enter the expo back in May and that was just after opening!!!

Super

Those 1.5 hours in line can seem like days to a little one.

NDI13

Ours is 4 years old and it was a nightmare!!!

The beginning of the line. The expo is in the building in the background. Gives you the illusion that it's just there, hahaha

When we reached the building, we realized that the entrance is no where here...

We continued along and as we rounded the corner, hey, we have to continue downstairs. We had our first meltdown here!!!

From outdoor, we now have moved indoor into the basement of the building...

Finally!!! Inside the building but no where near the ticketing entrance...

Ticketing entrance in sight!!!

Super

I had no idea ND113 that it took so long just to get into the show. All the videos I watched on Youtube failed to show that part and because of that I always thought it to be a walk in the park as in the videos.

Does anyone know or think that at this time of year Plarail holds back on announcing some or all new items until closer to the start of the Plarail Expo?