Hana here: Gunpla (“Gundam plastic model”) are the robot model kits Bandai has made since the Gundam anime. They are one of the most popular things people order from Japan, but the grade names – HG, RG, MG, PG – confuse almost everyone at first. Here is what each grade means, which one to start with, and what changed in Tokyo in 2026. Checked against Bandai’s and THE GUNDAM BASE’s official sites on 18 October 2026.

An unbuilt robot model kit on a wooden desk: plastic parts on runners, side cutters and a half-built figure
Illustration generated with AI

Key points

  • Gunpla are Bandai's Gundam plastic model kits. The main grades are Entry Grade and HG (1/144), RG (1/144, finer detail), MG and RE/100 (1/100) and PG (1/60), according to Bandai's official hobby site.
  • For a first kit, choose Entry Grade or HG. Bandai's Entry Grade RX-78-2 (Light Package) has 67 parts that come off the runners by hand, needs no stickers or paint and costs ¥550 in Japan.
  • From HG upwards, buy a pair of hobby side cutters (nippers) to cut parts cleanly.
Show more
  • THE GUNDAM BASE TOKYO in Odaiba sometimes runs entry by advance online lottery; applications close five days before, and Gunpla purchases are limited to one of each kit and 10 items per person per day (official notice, October 2026).
  • The life-size Unicorn Gundam statue in Odaiba closed on 31 August 2026, so don't plan a trip around it.

A few facts show how big the hobby is: Gunpla have been on sale since July 1980, Bandai had shipped more than 700 million kits by May 2020, and its own four-colour injection moulding puts parts in four colours on a single runner (BANDAI SPIRITS press release, February 2021).

Gunpla grades at a glance

Grade Scale What Bandai says it is Good for
Entry Grade 1/144 Parts come off the runner by hand (no tools); the RX-78-2 Light Package has 67 parts, no stickers or paint, ¥550 in Japan Total beginners, kids
HG (High Grade) 1/144 The standard line with the most suits First real kit, collecting many suits
RG (Real Grade) 1/144 Realism first: fine parts and detail Experienced builders who want detail at small size
MG (Master Grade) 1/100 Built around an inner frame, with proportion and moving parts A bigger, more mechanical build
RE/100 1/100 MG size, simpler parts, easier to build MG size without MG difficulty
PG (Perfect Grade) 1/60 Bandai’s top line, no compromise inside or out Big display pieces, expert builders

There are also SD (super-deformed, small and cute) kits. 1/144 kits stand roughly 12–14 cm tall; 1/100 MG kits about 18 cm.

AdvertisingQuick pick: Entry Grade and HG Gunpla kits (search on Amazon) – Amazon.com

Mikan's note: First kit? Start with Entry Grade or HG. RG is the same size on the shelf but has tiny parts. And if you plan to visit Gundam Base Tokyo on a weekend, check five days before whether entry is by lottery.

Which one should you buy first?

Start with Entry Grade if you have never built a model: parts snap off by hand and it takes about an evening. Choose HG if you want a specific suit – it has the widest choice. From HG upwards, buy a pair of hobby nippers: cutting parts with scissors or twisting them off leaves white stress marks. Skip RG for your first kit; it is the same size as HG but much more fiddly.

Related guidesImabari Towels: How to Spot a Certified One and Where to Buy It

Visiting THE GUNDAM BASE TOKYO (Odaiba)

Bandai’s official Gunpla store sits in DiverCity Tokyo Plaza. Its official notice (October 2026) is worth reading before you go:

  • Hours: weekdays 11:00–20:00, weekends and holidays 10:00–21:00.
  • Lottery days: on busy dates, entry is by advance online lottery. Applications close five days before the first day, you need an Apple ID or Google account, and results come by email. Some dates also have an area anyone can enter.
  • Bring ID: staff may ask for official ID, and the name must match your lottery application exactly.
  • Buying limits: one checkout per person per day, one of each Gunpla kit, up to 10 items per checkout, no queuing again. No returns except for faulty items.

The Unicorn Gundam is gone. Many older guides still send you to the life-size Unicorn Gundam statue outside DiverCity. It ended its display on 31 August 2026 after almost nine years, so Gundam Base itself is now the reason to go. As of 18 October 2026 no new statue has been announced for the site; at its Gundam Conference in May 2026 the organisers instead announced a “Gundam Landmark” plan for a new facility in Japan ahead of the series’ 50th anniversary in 2029, with details to come. We will update this page when it is announced.

Planning a whole anime day in Tokyo? Our guide to Akihabara, Ikebukuro and Nakano compares the three anime districts and explains the maid cafe rules. Collecting Pokémon too? See where the Pokémon Centers in Japan are and how new Japanese card sets are sold by lottery.

Buying Gunpla from home

  • Regular kits (Entry Grade, HG, MG): your local Amazon or hobby shop usually has them at a fair price.
  • Japan-only and Gundam Base limited kits: sellers in Japan list them on eBay. Expect to pay more than the store price, and check the seller’s location and ratings. In the US, duty-free entry for parcels worth $800 or less (de minimis) has been suspended since 29 August 2025, so a kit shipped from Japan can owe import duty on arrival (U.S. Customs and Border Protection); elsewhere, check your own country’s import VAT and fees.
  • Avoid fakes: a price far below normal for a big kit (MG, PG) is a warning sign; buy from official stores or well-rated sellers.

Looking for more to order from Japan? See our guide to Japanese gifts you can buy online. In Tokyo for Gundam Base? Pair it with one of the Tokyo food tours.