I was lucky enough to receive the TGE05 Nostalgic Corner Shop to build and test before its release, and today I can finally share my experience with you!
This miniature recreates a nostalgic Japanese candy shop filled with colourful sweets, drinks, magazines and many other tiny details. From the beginning, I loved the atmosphere of the kit. It feels like one of those little traditional shops where every corner is completely full and there is always something new to discover.
One of the things I appreciated most was the building experience itself. Compared with some of the more recent kits, which mainly use snap-fit pieces, this one offers a little more difficulty. It includes wire work and several elements that require more than simply clicking the pieces together. It reminded me of some of the first miniature kits I ever built, the ones that made me fall in love with this hobby, so I really enjoyed working on it.
As you would expect from a candy shop, it is packed with sweets in all kinds of shapes and colours. Many of the packages are inspired by real products, which I think is such a charming detail. The candy boxes, the magazine rack, the bottles and all the decorations make the shop feel incredibly full of life. Even the back wall, which is slightly more hidden than the others, has so many lovely details.
My favourite part to assemble was probably the main candy shelf. I was a little worried that some of the tiny sweets might fall off if I moved the kit, so even though you cannot tell at first glance, everything is now very securely glued in place hahaha.
I usually like adding a personal touch to my builds, but this time I didn’t want to replace any of the candy packaging because I genuinely loved the original designs and their level of detail. Instead, I decided to customize the flowers and replace them with more realistic ones. It is a small change, but I think it fits the shop beautifully.
I also loved the bags hanging from the ceiling and the fact that their tiny hangers are made with wire. The wire-shaping tools, both the large and small one, were incredibly helpful. Depending on the day, some of my wire work turned out better than the rest. I can definitely see the difference when I look closely, but hopefully nobody else will notice it at first glance hahah.
Once I installed the first light, the shop already began to feel much more complete, although there were still some very important parts left to add. The blue roof is beautiful, especially the central window, which allows you to look inside from a completely different perspective.
And then there are the sliding doors, one of my absolute favourite features of the entire kit. Both the front and side doors really slide open and closed, which feels so original and realistic. I had so much fun trying them for the first time!
Finally, the famous gachapon machine on the counter, together with the last sweets and stickers, added the perfect finishing touches and turned everything into this beautiful little shop.
Overall, I really loved this kit. One of its biggest strengths is that the increased difficulty is noticeable, which I really appreciate as someone with more building experience. I also adore the Japanese theme, and the packages inspired by real sweets make it feel even more special. When I visit Japan in November, I already know I’ll be looking closely at all the shops to see if I can recognize which products inspired them!
There were only a couple of things I would have preferred to be different. I wish the shop could be completely enclosed because, even with the sliding doors closed, there is still an opening around the counter where dust can enter.
I also wasn’t completely convinced by the way the hanging bags are made. They use stickers with a soft rubber-like material inside to give them volume, but the filling felt slightly too large, so some of the bags remained open along the sides. I would have preferred them to stay fully closed while still looking nicely filled, although this is very much a personal preference.
In the end, the Nostalgic Corner Shop is a beautiful and rewarding miniature that I think many builders will enjoy, especially those who love Japanese culture, nostalgic shops and kits filled with tiny details. It feels like stepping into a little corner of Japan, full of colour, childhood treats and stories waiting to be imagined.
A special thank you to @Robotime for sending me this lovely kit and giving me the opportunity to build and review it before its release. I truly enjoyed the experience!
Thank you for reading! 
. Apart from that, I completely agree, it was such a fun and satisfying kit to build 
