Another Huge Line in Shibuya? sabukaru Covers the Ponta Pass Station Pop-up
Japan is notorious for its lines, and you can’t help but wonder what’s at the end of them, peeking your head around to see what everyone is obsessing over. At the beginning of this month, yet another long line formed, leading to the new pop-up store celebrating the release of the “Ponta Pass”. Here’s a run-down of the hype surrounding the opening of the limited-edition pop-up, “Ponta Pass Station”.
Right next to the Shibuya Scramble stands the ZeroBase building, the venue for the Ponta Pass Station. On October 3rd, it seemed like everyone in Tokyo was waiting in line just to step foot into the building, all decked out with vibrant orange and blue interiors. This event commemorates the renewal of the “au Smart Pass” into the “Ponta Pass”. The eye-catching Ponta logo and the line itself were enough to pique anyone’s curiosity about what lays behind those doors.
The pop-up features four floors of ultimate fun, each one offering you a unique experience. On the first floor, you can take part in the “Ponta Pass Coupon Challenge”, inspired by the “SHIBUYA Oto-coupon” [The “oto” is a play on the word “otoku”, meaning bargain]. This special coupon challenge lets you win numerous limited-edition and collaboration goods with popular artists, as well as items from one of the three top dog convenience store chains; LAWSON.
Another aspect of Tokyo we all love is the unique cafes. In Shibuya, you can hardly turn a corner without encountering a super kawaii cafe tempting you for a coffee. On the second floor of the Ponta Pass extravaganza, you’ll find the not-so-average version of the coffee specialty store, Sarutahiko Coffee. Here’s where it gets better; download the Ponta Pass app, and you can snag a free drink. A free coffee at the Ponta Pass Lounge? Yes, please!
The fun doesn’t stop there. On the third floor, there’s an event space hosting cool talks and performances by Tokyo’s brightest. Artists like MANON [@je_suis_manon2] and Ryohu [@ryohu_tokyo], along with rising talents such as Yutaro [@aaaoe__] and MIOCHIN [＠mionosekai], are just a few of the individuals making appearances. The Ponta Pass Stage will feature a variety of events until the end of the pop-up, so be sure to check out your favorite creatives!
Last but definitely not least, the basement is exclusively dedicated to KAWAII LAB, showcasing exhibitions of groups birthed by the idol project such as FRUITS ZIPPER and CUTIE STREET. Not only does this floor feature exhibitions, but group members also serve as store managers and hosts for talk shows. You can imagine the excitement this generates among loyal fans. Thousands made their way to the venue for a chance to meet their favorite member in person during the fan meet-and-greets. It’s an event that they couldn’t miss for the world.
What could have been just a simple renewal of the “au Smart Pass” shook the grounds of Shibuya, creating immense hype for an event where you can personally experience the perks of the Ponta Pass. Services from Ponta Pass began on October 2nd, and the event at ZeroBase runs until October 13th. Whether you already have the pass or not, make sure to check the pop-up out and enjoy those amazing perks!
Venue: ZeroBase Shibuya [2 Chome-5-8 Dogenzaka, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0043]
Dates: October 3rd (Thu.) until October 13th (Sun.)
