What is a ChibiPokeHouse?
ChibiPokeHouse (ちびポケハウス) playsets were a line of toys produced by TOMY, beginning around 1997. Most were small, portable, Polly Pocket-esque clamshell playsets, which featured a small scene from the Pokemon world, and came with two Pokemon figures and a small bridge accessory, which could connect playsets. There was also a Deluxe line of playsets which were larger, non-portable, and came with more figures, accessories, and a playmat. Most of these featured worlds from the various Pokemon movies and Pikachu mini-movies.
What is Jakks Pacific producing?
It depends a bit more with Jakks. They have a line of very large playsets featuring renditions of cities and areas from the Diamond/Pearl and Black/White lines of toys, which are what you would most commonly see today. There is also a small line of 8 playsets shaped like a Pokeball featuring a certain theme, like snow or ghosts or a gym. Certainly nothing as interesting as the ChibiPokeHouse line, in my opinion.
Do they still make them?
ChibiPokeHouses, almost certainly no. I've seen other lines of TOMY-produced playsets that are similar to ChibiPokeHouses, but of a different line, which was likely exclusive to the release of the fifth Pokemon movie. Jakks Pacific still produces large playsets; however, their small Pokeball line has been discontinued. It would be nice to see them bring it back, though, with some identifiable landmarks (like the Burnt Tower or the Ruins of Alph) in a similar spirit to the ChibiPokeHouses.
Are they hard to find?
Depends on the playset; some I see everyday on eBay, others I haven't seen since 2005, and that was in my own home. The small compact playsets are far easier to find than the large deluxe line on eBay, and you can usually find 4 or 5 out of the 8 Jakks Pokeballs on any given day, as well as most large Jakks playsets. On Japanese sites, both the compact and deluxe ChibiPokeHouses are available, but with fairly limited selection.
I want some! Where can I find them?
There are a few pretty good places to find them.
-eBay: Good for compact ChibiPokeHouses and Jakks products. Most ChibiPokeHouses are very inexpensive and complete; however, you need to look closely to be sure you're getting all the pieces it came with. The Jakks products are considerably more expensive, and the Pokeballs are usually around $20-$40. Every now and then, you see an unusual or rare item, so I like to check every day just in case.
-Yahoo Japan Auctions: This is the better place for the larger playsets. You'll need a Deputy Service if you're outside Japan.
-pkmncollectors LiveJournal comm: You may not necessarily find one for sale, but you'll definitely find a friendly, helpful community, who is more than happy to give you assistance or refer you to other places I haven't mentioned. My username there is Kweh_chan; feel free to PM me with any questions, and I'll be pleased to help you out the best I can.
-eBay: Good for compact ChibiPokeHouses and Jakks products. Most ChibiPokeHouses are very inexpensive and complete; however, you need to look closely to be sure you're getting all the pieces it came with. The Jakks products are considerably more expensive, and the Pokeballs are usually around $20-$40. Every now and then, you see an unusual or rare item, so I like to check every day just in case.
-Yahoo Japan Auctions: This is the better place for the larger playsets. You'll need a Deputy Service if you're outside Japan.
-pkmncollectors LiveJournal comm: You may not necessarily find one for sale, but you'll definitely find a friendly, helpful community, who is more than happy to give you assistance or refer you to other places I haven't mentioned. My username there is Kweh_chan; feel free to PM me with any questions, and I'll be pleased to help you out the best I can.
What is a Deputy Service and where can I get one
A Deputy Service is basically a middleman; you leave them the details via a form on their website, and they'll bid on or buy the item on your behalf, then ship it to you. You then pay for the item, the shipping, and a fee for their services. It costs extra money, but it's worth it if you've found something you really want. In order to use one, you'll need a membership with them (it's free), and a paypal account.
Some good ones are Celga, Treasure Japan, Noppin, Shopping Mall Japan, and Goody Japan. I am a member with all of them, and have bought using Treasure Japan, Noppin, and Goody Japan.
Some good ones are Celga, Treasure Japan, Noppin, Shopping Mall Japan, and Goody Japan. I am a member with all of them, and have bought using Treasure Japan, Noppin, and Goody Japan.
What are some good search terms?
For eBay, google, Amazon, etc, try the following:
"Pokemon House", "Pokemon House Deluxe", "Pokemon Playset", "Pokemon Chibi World"
For Japanese sites, try:
"ちびポケハウス" (ChibiPokehausu), "コンパクトワールド ちびポケハウス" (Chibi Pokehausu compact world), " デラックスタイプ ちびポケハウス" (Chibi Pokehausu deluxe)
"Pokemon House", "Pokemon House Deluxe", "Pokemon Playset", "Pokemon Chibi World"
For Japanese sites, try:
"ちびポケハウス" (ChibiPokehausu), "コンパクトワールド ちびポケハウス" (Chibi Pokehausu compact world), " デラックスタイプ ちびポケハウス" (Chibi Pokehausu deluxe)
Are any of your playsets for sale?
Sorry, no.
I've spent a lot of time and money building my collection, and many of them have sentimental value, so they are not, nor will ever be, for sale.
I've spent a lot of time and money building my collection, and many of them have sentimental value, so they are not, nor will ever be, for sale.
Are you buying?
YES!
I have several playsets on my wishlist. Visit that page to see what I'm looking for, and send me a message, so we can organise a deal. I have bought regularly from various sellers on the pkmncollectors community, and have a good reputation as a reliable and responsible buyer, if you're concerned with my credentials.
I have several playsets on my wishlist. Visit that page to see what I'm looking for, and send me a message, so we can organise a deal. I have bought regularly from various sellers on the pkmncollectors community, and have a good reputation as a reliable and responsible buyer, if you're concerned with my credentials.
I have pictures of a playset you're missing, do you want them?
Absolutely! Send 'em my way and I'll give you credit for them!
Will you exchange sites with me?
Certainly! If you have a site about Pokemon or Pokemon Collecting, leave me a message with your website and I'll it add to my list of awesome websites!