In 2026, all of Japan is swept up in a “sticker” craze! Among them, the popularity of 3D stickers—especially the plump and cute Bonbon Drop Stickers (commonly known as “Bon-doro”)—is absolutely explosive. People are so eager to get their hands on these stickers that searching for them in shops all over town has become known as “Shiru-katsu” (short for “sticker activities”) or “Shiru-pato” (“sticker patrol”), sparking a massive boom.
This article provides a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know right now, from a list of the latest trendy stickers that everyone is asking “Where can I buy them?” about, to the deep-rooted Japanese culture of “sticker books” and “sticker trading.” Whether you live in Japan or are looking for the perfect souvenir for a Japan-loving friend, this is your must-read 2026 sticker guide.
*If you purchase or reserve products introduced in this article, a portion of the sales may be returned to FUN! JAPAN.
[2026 Latest] List of Japan’s Trending Stickers
Stickers are causing a huge boom in Japan. Here’s a look at the types of stickers that are captivating so many people.
Most Popular｜Bonbon Drop Stickers (Q-Lia)
Bonbon Drop Stickers are 3D stickers with a plump, raised texture, and are said to have sparked the current sticker boom. Nicknamed “Bondoro,” they are characterized by their glossy, transparent look and rounded, puffy shapes. The designs feature a wide variety of motifs, including characters, animals, food, and letters, making them popular with everyone from children to adults. They’re perfect for decorating smartphones, nails, planners, and more.
4 Recommended Picks
1. Japanese Pattern Bonbon Drop Stickers
Japanese-style motifs are perfect as souvenirs from Japan. There are many variations, including sakura (cherry blossoms), Mount Fuji, and washoku (Japanese cuisine).
2. Fluffy Drop Stickers
When you think of Bonbon Drop Stickers, you might imagine glossy ones, but Fluffy Drop Stickers are unique for their flocked surface, giving them a soft, fuzzy feel.
3. Chiikawa Bonbon Drop Stickers (Sun-Star Stationery / Q-Lia)
Popular stickers featuring Chiikawa designs. There are designs of Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi.
4. Sanrio Bonbon Drop Stickers (Sun-Star Stationery / Q-Lia)
Popular Sanrio characters such as Hello Kitty, Kuromi, and Hangyodon are also available.
3D Stickers｜Uruchuru Stickers, Jewel Petit Drop Stickers, and More
In addition to Bonbon Drop Stickers, there are many other types of 3D stickers.
Uruchuru POP SEAL (Kamio Japan)
One of these, the "Uruchuru POP SEAL," is a sticker characterized by its plump, three-dimensional, and glossy appearance. As the name suggests, it has a moist and smooth texture. Compared to Bonbon Drop Stickers, they tend to be less rounded and thinner, so some people find them easier to use on planners or notebooks since they don't create as much unevenness.
Another feature is the wide variety of products featuring popular anime such as "Haikyu!!", "Detective Conan", and "Cardcaptor Sakura".
👉Purchase "Uruchuru POP SEAL" on Animate Online Shop
👉Search for "Uruchuru POP SEAL" on Yahoo! Shopping
Jewel Petit Drop Sticker (Kamio Japan)
"Jewel Petit Drop Stickers" are small-sized 3D stickers. They have a plump, three-dimensional feel, but since they're tiny, they're perfect for detailed decoration.
👉Search for "Jewel Petit Drop Sticker" on Yahoo! Shopping
Popular Among Adults｜Adult Encyclopedia Stickers (Kamio Japan)
The "Adult Encyclopedia Stickers" are stickers themed around a wide variety of motifs such as animals, plants, foods, local specialties from each prefecture, and popular characters, each accompanied by an encyclopedia-style explanation. Every motif is depicted in realistic detail, making them visually impressive. They are also characterized by their high-quality texture, using special paper and gold foil. Both 3D and flat versions are available.
👉Search for "Adult Encyclopedia Stickers" on Yahoo! Shopping
Tactile Revolution｜Oshiri Seal & Onaka Seal
The "Oshiri Seal" and "Onaka Seal" are three-dimensional stickers featuring the plump butts and bellies of animals and characters as motifs. The butt and belly parts are made of silicone and other materials, giving them a soft, squishy, and pleasant texture when touched. The chubby bellies and butts of animals like dogs, cats, and pandas are adorable, providing comfort both visually and to the touch.
👉Search for "Oshiri Seal" on Yahoo! Shopping
👉Search for "Onaka Seal" on Yahoo! Shopping
Retro Revival｜Water Stickers, Ohajiki-style Stickers, Tile Stickers
Sticker trends from the Heisei era are making a comeback.
Water Stickers
"Water Stickers" are stickers with a three-dimensional capsule filled with water. Some have colored water, such as pink or blue, and some contain not only water but also sparkling parts like sequins. You can enjoy watching the parts inside sway and move.
👉Search for "Water Stickers" on Yahoo! Shopping
Ohajiki-style Stickers (Sun-Star Stationery)
"Ohajiki-style Stickers" are small, round, thick stickers that resemble "ohajiki" (traditional Japanese glass game pieces). Each one is a separate flake sticker.
👉Search for "Ohajiki-style Stickers" on Yahoo! Shopping
Tile Stickers
"Tile Stickers" are shaped like square tiles. Since they are connected together like a chocolate bar, you cut them apart with scissors to use them.
👉Search for "Tile Stickers" on Yahoo! Shopping
👉What are "Heisei" and "Heisei Retro"? So much cuteness!
Where Can You Buy Popular Stickers? How to Purchase Explained
Trendy stickers such as Bonbon Drop Stickers can be purchased at a variety of stores, stationery shops, and official character shops.
Stationery and Sticker Sections at Variety Stores like Loft and Hands
Stickers are available in the stationery sections of stores like Loft and Hands. Large stores tend to have a wide selection, making it easier to find trendy stickers.
However, some stores have suspended sales of especially popular stickers to avoid crowding and potential safety issues at the sales floor.
Don Quijote (Donki)
Some branches of the discount store "Don Quijote" also carry stickers.
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Character Shops like KIDDY LAND
"KIDDY LAND," which sells character goods, also offers a variety of stickers. In particular, they have a wide selection of character stickers.
Electronics Retailers like Bic Camera
Large electronics retailers such as Bic Camera and Yodobashi Camera also sell stickers in their stationery sections.
👉Click here for great tax-free coupons at Bic Camera
Drugstores like Matsumoto Kiyoshi and Sugi Pharmacy
Some drugstores, such as Matsumoto Kiyoshi and Sugi Pharmacy, also carry stickers at certain locations. However, compared to variety stores, the selection is limited and availability is often irregular.
👉Click here for great tax-free coupons at Matsumoto Kiyoshi
Major Supermarkets like Ito-Yokado
Major supermarkets such as Ito-Yokado also sell stickers in their stationery sections.
Souvenir Shops for Foreign Tourists
Souvenir shops for foreign tourists in sightseeing areas like Asakusa, Kyoto, and Nara also sell stickers. Japanese-style designs and Japanese culture motifs are especially popular.
Other Places
Stickers can also be found at places like "TOKYO HOBBY CENTER," some convenience stores, bookstores, and variety stores such as "Village Vanguard."
Online
You can also find a wide variety of stickers at official online shops, as well as on e-commerce sites like Amazon, Rakuten, and Yahoo! Shopping.
To avoid confusion such as server crashes or reselling, official stores may sometimes use a lottery system for sales. Information about lottery dates and applicable products is usually announced in advance on official social media (in Japanese).
Attention! How to Spot Fake "Bonbon Drop Stickers"
Some stickers, including "Bonbon Drop Stickers," are so popular that they are very difficult to obtain. As a result, issues such as reselling at high prices and the distribution of counterfeit products that closely imitate the official designs have become a problem.
How to Identify Fakes
We interviewed the official manufacturer (Q-Lia Co., Ltd.) about how to distinguish genuine products from counterfeits, but they said, "There are so many different types of fakes that there is no single way to tell them apart." The methods used by counterfeiters are becoming increasingly sophisticated, so it is best to purchase from official websites or major retailers.
Tips for Identifying Genuine Products
We have gathered information from people who have compared real and fake products online*. However, since you need to carefully read the text on the back of the packaging, even native Japanese speakers may find it difficult to tell the difference.
- Is there any Chinese, Korean, or other foreign-language text on the back of the mount?
- On the back of the mount, is there any unnatural notation, such as the Japanese katakana "オ" being replaced with the kanji "才," or the use of kanji characters that are not commonly used in Japan?
*This is not an official statement from the manufacturer or distributor, but rather a summary of general opinions found on the internet and social media.
What Are Sticker Albums and Sticker Trading? A Part of Japan’s Kawaii Culture
Japan’s Unique “Sticker Albums” and “Trading Rules”
Recently in Japan, there has been a boom in “sticker albums” and “sticker swapping.”
A sticker album is a special notebook where you collect and display stickers on binder-style pages. “Sticker trading” is a game where friends show each other their sticker albums and swap their own stickers with one another.
Sticker albums and sticker trading were popular among “Heisei girls” in the 2000s, during the Heisei era. Elementary school students would use their pocket money to buy stickers and enjoy collecting them in their albums. In the current Reiwa-era boom, not only elementary school students but also adults who were once “Heisei girls” are now buying stickers in large quantities.
The “Trading Rate” Based on Rarity
Sticker trading follows the rule of “trading items of roughly equal value.” For example, one Bonbon Drop Sticker ⇔ three flat stickers, or two Petit Drop Stickers ⇔ one large sticker—there are “rates” based on rarity.
Since each sticker has a different rarity, it’s considered a bit unfair to trade a low-rate sticker that’s easy to get for a high-rate Bonbon Drop Sticker.
The Dark Side of the Overheated Boom: Trading Troubles and Reselling Issues
Bonbon Drop Stickers have become so popular that they are being resold at inflated prices. On restock days at physical stores, people have to line up for a long time to get them, and online, they sell out the moment stock information is shared. Because of resellers buying up all the stock, children sometimes can’t buy them at all. Some stores have even stopped selling Bonbon Drop Stickers to prevent dangerous behavior and overcrowding.
Among children, if you don’t have high-rate stickers, you might not be allowed to join in sticker trading, leading to bullying-like situations. As a result, parents are also getting caught up in buying stickers for their children’s trades.
Sticker trading is also greatly affected by personal relationships, and there are cases where someone is forced to trade for an unfair rate, essentially being stripped of their stickers.
Enjoy Japan’s Sticker Culture the Right Way—Start Your Own “Shiru-katsu”!
Japan’s sticker culture is now one of the symbols of “Kawaii” that attracts attention from around the world.
With a wide variety and high quality—from candy-like “Bonbon Drop Stickers” to sparkling “Water Stickers”—just having them can brighten your day. However, this enthusiasm has also led to problems like disputes over “trading rates” and reselling.
What’s important is to follow the rules set by each store or seller, avoid going overboard, and simply enjoy Japan’s kawaii sticker culture. Whether as a tool for children to make friends or as a “little reward” for adults, enjoy a wonderful sticker life. Be sure to start your own unique collection!
Reference sites:
- Q-Lia Official Online Store
- Kamio Japan Official Note "Do you know the Adult Zukan Stickers?" (Published on 2023/8/18)
- The Asahi Shimbun: "13 Million 'Bonbon Drop Stickers' Shipped—Shortages Due to Heisei Girls' Boom" (2026/1/7)
- Yomiuri Shimbun Online Otekomachi: "'Expressing Individuality' in Sticker Books... Adults Who Were Heisei Girls Go Wild for Sticker Trading" (2026/01/16)
- Toyo Keizai Online: "Why Has the Bonbon Drop Sticker Craze Heated Up So Much, Including Price Gouging and Counterfeits? The Reality of the 'Sticker Trading' Boom That Captured the Hearts of 'Heisei Girls'" (2025/12/16)
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