Traveling Japan with Chiikawa plushies: the autumn-leaf series and what to pack
Updated on Nov 9, 2026. The autumn-leaf series runs on X until Nov 21.
In Japan, carrying your favorite character plushie around and taking pictures of it on outings and trips is called “nui-katsu” (ぬい活, plushie activities). This page collects Chiifan’s X series in which Potetama plushies of Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi travel to famous autumn-leaf spots. Each trip has its own guide with photo spots, access and where to stay.
The plushie images on this page are AI-generated travel scenes that Chiifan made with San-Arrow’s product photos of the “Potetama” plushies as a reference. They are not photos taken at the places and may differ from how the places really look. © nagano / chiikawa committee
All trips in the autumn-leaf series
One trip goes up on Chiifan’s X (@chiifan_enjoy) every day around 15:00 Japan time. Until Nov 21 it is the autumn-leaf series, and each trip gets its own guide.
- #1 Arashiyama, Kyoto (Nov 7)
- Togetsukyo Bridge, Bamboo Grove, Randen, teahouse
- #2 Kamakura, Kanagawa (Nov 8)
- Hasedera, Enoden, Yuigahama
- #3 Higashiyama, Kyoto (Nov 9)
- Kiyomizu stage, Ninenzaka, Yasaka Pagoda, teahouse
- We add each new trip to this list.
#1 Arashiyama, Kyoto: Togetsukyo Bridge, Bamboo Grove, Randen, teahouse
The first trip: Togetsukyo Bridge from the riverbank, the Bamboo Grove, the purple Randen tram and dango at a riverside teahouse, in an order you can walk in half a day.
#2 Kamakura, Kanagawa: Hasedera, Enoden, Yuigahama
The sea through autumn leaves from Hasedera’s terrace, fallen leaves on the steps, the Enoden window and Yuigahama at sunset, linking a temple and the sea by train.
#3 Higashiyama, Kyoto: Kiyomizu stage, Ninenzaka, Yasaka Pagoda, teahouse
From this trip the plushies wear scarves and are drawn riding in plushie bags on the slopes, with a miniature tea party at a teahouse.
What we pack: scarves, plushie bags and a mini tea set
These are what the plushies wore and used in the series. We chose items for plushies of about 15 cm to match the Potetama trio (about 13–17 cm tall).
- Knit scarf
- A scarf for 15–20 cm plushies (8 colors with heart embroidery). It only wraps around the neck, so it fits most body shapes
- Clear mini tote pouch
- A wide pouch that holds two or three 15–20 cm plushies side by side, with a zip on top. You can take pictures without taking them out
- Shoulder bag with a window
- About 22 × 16 × 8.5 cm, with a clear front window and a cover sheet. For 15 cm and 20 cm plushies; strap 70–130 cm
- Miniature tea set
- A tray (about 6 × 4 cm), a teapot (about 3.5 cm wide) and four cups (about 1.5 cm). It is ceramic, so carry it in a small box
- The clothes and bags we used come from Japanese online shops on Rakuten, and many of those shops only ship within Japan, so we don’t link to them here. Use the sizes below when you look for similar items.
- Plush bodies differ in how firmly they are stuffed, so treat any size on a product page as a guide.
5 rules for not losing your plushie on a trip
Famous spots are full of places where it is easy to drop a plushie: hilltops, rivers, crowds and slopes. We recommend these five rules.
- Never hold them out over a railing: put them on a flat spot on the inside.
- Take them out only for the picture, then put them straight back in the bag.
- On slopes and in crowds, keep them in the bag. With a clear pouch you can shoot them inside it.
- Keep them away from food: put the plushie beside or behind the plate, never touching it.
- In shops and cafes, ask first whether photos are OK, and keep other customers out of the frame.
- Some temples don’t allow tripods or monopods (inside Kiyomizu-dera, and Hasedera during the night viewing). Hold the plushie or set it on a flat spot, and shoot handheld.
The plushies in the series: Potetama Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi
The plushies in the images are San-Arrow’s “Potetama” (ぽてたまぬいぐるみ) Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi. The three are about 13–17 cm tall, so clothes and bags for 15 cm plushies fit them.
Coming next: autumn leaves until Nov 21, then winter trips
The autumn-leaf series continues until Nov 21, and then we plan to switch to winter trips. New trips appear on X first.
Plan the trip: tours, kimono rental and travel essentials (KKday)
Tours, kimono rental and travel essentials you can book on KKday for a trip with your plushies. Check the price, what is included and the cancellation rules on each KKday page before you pay.
Arashiyama half-day tour: Sagano Romantic Train & Hozugawa river boat
For riding the Sagano train and the river boat in autumn without booking each one yourself
Kamakura & Enoshima day tour from Tokyo (Great Buddha, Enoden)
A guided day trip from Tokyo, including an Enoden ride
Kyoto kimono rental (Okamoto, Kiyomizu store)
A kimono shop in Higashiyama near Kiyomizu-dera, handy for the slopes walk
JR Haruka Kansai Airport express ticket
Kansai Airport ⇄ Osaka / Kyoto (JR)
Japan eSIM, unlimited data
For maps and showing QR tickets on your phone. Check that your phone supports eSIM
Frequently asked questions
What is nui-katsu?
A Japanese word for activities with your favorite plushie: carrying it around, dressing it up and taking pictures of it on outings and trips.
Which plushies appear in the series?
San-Arrow’s Potetama Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi, about 13–17 cm tall.
Are the plushie pictures real photos?
No. They are AI-generated scenes from Chiifan’s X series, made with the official product photos as a reference.
Sources
Pages marked (Japanese) are only available in Japanese.