Tokyo’s five-pound steal-a-thon that lets you loot anything you can carry
A pop-up shop in Tokyo is allowing its customers to walk out with as many items as they want for less than £5 - but it comes at a certain cost. At Hidden, a flash convenience store cropping up across the Japanese capital, participants are given the opportunity to experience the thrill of shoplifting without the consequences. 'Customers' pay an entry fee of around 1,000 yen - approximately £4.65 - and are then given free rein to steal as much merchandise as they can possibly carry. Inside the 'stealable market', shelves are filled with thousands of lucrative items to suit every 'shopper' - from premium mattresses and cosmetics, to snacks and gadgets, to clothing and books. However, the task is not as simple as it might seem. Participants are firstly given 60 seconds to grab as many products as they can - in pin-drop silence. The shop itself is rigged with 200 ultra-sensitive microphones that pick up the slightest sound. Should shoppers cough, drop an item, rustle packaging or even step too loudly, an alarm gets trigged and the challenge comes to an end. All collected items are then returned to shelves. At Hidden, a pop-up store in Tokyo, Japan, 'shoppers' are tasked with stealing as much merchandise as they can possibly carry for less than £5 - but there's a catch The idea is to use a combination of speed, stealth and strategy - something groups of participants need to work together on to make it out with their collective loot. Thankfully, if one team member gets eliminated after making a sound, the rest if the group can still continue with the mission and take home their acquired items, according to Tokyo Weekender. For those who think they can seamlessly ace the challenge, there are some perks involved, as there is no cap on the value or number of items that can be take - provided the participant remains silent for the entire duration. The event's disclaimer specifically states that it 'does not promote or condone criminal activities', rather a unique concept that blends tension, skill and reward. Visiting Tokyo this March? Now is the time to begin warming up for the challenge, as Hidden is making a return after a highly successful event last year. The store has dates set for 13 March through 16 March, 2026. Elsewhere in Tokyo, a chain pub has set a ban on older customers in order to try to maintain the raucous, fun atmosphere for which it is known. Tori Yaro Dogenzaka is an izakaya (an affordable Japanese pub) situated in Japan's capital city. Participants at Hidden are allowed 60 seconds to grab as many products as they can - without making a sound, or else they're eliminated This year, the establishment propped up a sign outside the entrance, informing customers of the new rules. The sign said: 'Entrance limited to customers between the ages of 29 and 39. This is an izakaya for younger generations. Pub for under 40s only.' While the pub is part of a chain, this is so far the only establishment to put an age policy like this in place. There are terms and conditions, though. In small writing, the sign explains that older customers may enter as long as one person in the party is 39 or younger.
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The mechanics of Hidden: a silent 60-second heist under 200 microphones
Inside the Hidden setup, participants play a calculated game of speed, stealth and strategy. The challenge centers on grabbing as many items as possible within 60 seconds while remaining absolutely silent. The shop is equipped with 200 ultra-sensitive microphones that pick up the slightest sound, and the moment a shopper coughs, drops an item, rustles packaging or steps too loudly, an alarm is triggered and the mission ends. Any collected items are then returned to the shelves. The idea is to use a combination of speed, stealth and strategy - something groups of participants need to work together on to make it out with their collective loot. According to Tokyo Weekender, if one team member is eliminated after making a sound, the rest of the group can still continue with the mission and take home their acquired items.
No limits for silent thieves and the march dates
For those who think they can seamlessly ace the challenge, there are perks involved: there is no cap on the value or number of items that can be taken — provided the participant remains silent for the entire duration. The event's disclaimer specifically states that it 'does not promote or condone criminal activities', describing the concept as one that blends tension, skill and reward. Visiting Tokyo this March? Hidden is returning after a highly successful event last year, with dates set for 13 March through 16 March, 2026. The promotion notes that the concept is a unique blend of tension, skill and reward rather than an endorsement of wrongdoing.
Age rules in Tokyo’s izakaya cluster: younger generation policy at Tori Yaro Dogenzaka
Elsewhere in Tokyo, a chain pub has set a ban on older customers in order to try to maintain the raucous, fun atmosphere for which it is known. Tori Yaro Dogenzaka is an izakaya (an affordable Japanese pub) situated in Japan's capital city. There are terms and conditions, though. In small writing, the sign explains that older customers may enter as long as one person in the party is 39 or younger. The sign outside reads: 'Entrance limited to customers between the ages of 29 and 39. This is an izakaya for younger generations. Pub for under 40s only.'
