This is the third roundup of my gashapon hunting, and the first of 2026! I have a few more adventures in store soon so fingers crossed I manage to pick up some new reptiles and amphibians. After my next adventure, I may announce a giveaway for any duplicates I get, so keep an eye out for that! As a quick reminder to the uninitiated, gashapon are toys dispensed in a vending machine in a capsule (usually a ball), that originated in Japan. It’s essentially a vending machine version of Pokémon. The term can however refer to both the vending machines or the collectible toys themselves. Hopefully it is obvious that I am referring to the toys here! Due to the randomised action of the machines, you never really know what figurines you’re going to get which makes the whole process more fun. Who doesn’t love a bit of chance when there are five or six figurines in each set to collect? As previously stated, I’m not necessarily setting out to collect every animal from every relevant set, I’m just trying to get as many diverse amphibians and reptiles as I can without bankrupting myself. With that said, let’s take a look at the third batch I was able to collect after a visit to a couple of different Bandai Namco stores.

Japanese toad

The Japanese toad (Bufo japonicus) is a large, robust amphibian native to Japan, where it inhabits forests, grasslands, farmlands, and even urban areas. It is easily recognized by its broad body, short limbs, and warty, brownish-grey skin that provides excellent camouflage against the ground. Like many toads, it has prominent parotoid glands behind its eyes, which secrete a mild toxin to deter predators. Japanese toads are mostly nocturnal and spend their days hidden under rocks, logs, or in burrows to avoid dehydration and extreme temperatures. During the breeding season in spring, Japanese toads migrate to ponds, rice paddies, and slow-moving streams to reproduce. Males attract females with low-pitched calls, and females lay long strings of eggs in the water, which later hatch into tadpoles. These toads play an important ecological role by controlling insect populations, feeding on beetles, ants, and other small invertebrates. Although they are common in many regions, habitat loss and road traffic during breeding migrations pose ongoing challenges to their populations.

This is one of those models which has a few different colour morphs available within the set. The first is a lighter red colour (photographed above) and below is a darker one. These are slightly less life-like than some of the other figurines available from different gashapon ranges, however, I do really enjoy the levels of articulation you can see on the rear limbs of these toads. Despite the somewhat caricature-esque anatomy of the toads, the level of detail matches is quite high and I like the way that the skin and eyes of the toads look wet, giving them a sense of realism.

Crested gecko

The crested gecko (Correlophus ciliatus), native to New Caledonia, is a distinctive and popular species known for the fringed crest that runs from its eyes down to its tail, giving it a unique and expressive appearance. Once thought to be extinct, it was rediscovered in 1994 and has since become a favourite in the pet trade due to its docile temperament, ease of care, and striking variety of colours and patterns. This nocturnal, arboreal lizard thrives in humid forest environments, where it uses its sticky toe pads and prehensile tail to climb and manoeuvre through vegetation. In the wild, it feeds on a mix of insects, fruit, and nectar. Crested geckos do not have eyelids; instead, they clean their large, lidless eyes with their tongues. While habitat loss threatens wild populations, widespread captive breeding has helped reduce pressure on wild specimens and ensured the species’ continued survival in captivity. One of the gashapon figurines available is the wild type individual below, which even includes details in the eye and has articulating joints. You may remember the axanthic figurine that I was able to get in a previous trip, so I am glad to have two of these amazing geckos in my collection.

Japanese tree frog (blue morph)

The Japanese tree frog (Dryophytes japonicus) is a small, agile amphibian native to Japan, where it inhabits forests, grasslands, rice paddies, and even urban areas. Typically bright green or brown, this frog can change colour to blend with its surroundings, providing effective camouflage against predators. It is well adapted for climbing, with sticky toe pads that allow it to grip leaves and branches easily. During the breeding season, which occurs in early summer, males gather near ponds and rice fields to produce distinctive, high-pitched calls to attract females. The species plays an important ecological role by controlling insect populations, particularly mosquitoes. Hardy and adaptable, the Japanese tree frog is common throughout its range and often seen as a symbol of good fortune and the changing seasons in Japanese culture. I’ve already collected the green and the yellow colour morphs of this frog, so I am glad to have the blue one in my collection too now. You may think that they look a little silly sitting on this log (which isn’t the most stable), however the figurines are also designed to be worn like rings (if you wish). Just another reason to try to track them all down!

Forest green tree frog

The forest green tree frog (Zhangixalus arboreus), is a vivid amphibian native to Japan. It inhabits wooded areas, forest edges, and wetlands, often living high in trees thanks to its strong limbs and large adhesive toe pads. Its bright green colouration provides excellent camouflage among leaves, while its smooth skin and relatively large size distinguish it from other tree frogs. Mostly nocturnal, this species feeds on a variety of insects and other small invertebrates, contributing to natural pest control within its habitat. Breeding occurs from late spring into early summer, when males produce loud, resonant calls near ponds and marshes to attract females. Females lay eggs in foamy masses attached to branches or vegetation above water, an adaptation that helps protect the developing embryos from aquatic predators. Once hatched, the tadpoles drop into the water below to continue their development. While the species is not currently considered endangered, habitat loss, deforestation, and wetland degradation pose ongoing threats, making conservation of forested wetland environments essential for its survival.

As with the Japanese toad above, this frog is available in multiple different colour morphs; a lighter one (above) and a darker one (below). Both of these are found in nature, although the lighter one is more common but this of course depends on which population you are looking at due to geographical variations in the occurrence of these two phenotypes. Like the toads, the rear legs are very articulate and I like the way the two different frogs here contrast each other nicely.

Japanese giant salamander

The Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus) is one of the largest amphibians in the world and is native to the cool, fast-flowing rivers and streams of Japan. It can grow to over 1.5 metres (5 feet) in length and has a broad, flattened head, small eyes, and wrinkled, mottled brown skin that helps it blend into rocky riverbeds. Mostly nocturnal, this salamander spends its days hiding under large stones or in submerged burrows, relying on its excellent sense of smell and sensitivity to vibrations to locate prey such as fish, insects, and crustaceans. This species has a slow metabolism and can live for several decades, making it especially vulnerable to environmental changes. Breeding occurs in late summer, when males guard nests containing hundreds of eggs laid by females, protecting them from predators and ensuring proper water flow. The Japanese giant salamander is considered a national natural monument in Japan and is legally protected, but it still faces threats from habitat destruction, river pollution, and climate change. Conservation efforts focus on preserving clean waterways and preventing hybridisation with introduced Chinese giant salamanders. This is the figurine from the amphibians set that I wanted most, even if it isn’t the rarest, it is certainly the coolest! Due to it’s size, it is hard to photograph and maintain the detail so apologies for the photos below.

Hopefully you enjoy all the figurines as much as I do, you can watch the video below where I go through all of them in more detail. I did struggle with opening some of the capsules but I am slowly getting better at it. I am going to have to up the ante for the next post, although it was a lot of fun. It is a shame there are less herpetological gashapon figurines available within the stores in Great Britain compared to Japan, so perhaps I need to make a trip there one day (or look at online marketplaces if I manage to fill the gaps within the next year). I am fond of all of these models and they have found a permanent home in my collection. Perfect for nature lovers, herpetology enthusiasts, or toy collectors, these tiny models have the power inspire curiosity and appreciation for these remarkable creatures. I look forward to sharing my next adventure with you all and I hope to get some better photos and footage of it all as well (watch this space).

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