Summer Wonder Festival

The Summer Wonder Festival (WonFes) is the world’s largest semi-annual exhibition for garage kits—intricate resin models of anime, manga, and video game characters. Held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, the event showcases high-detail work from both professional manufacturers and independent amateur sculptors. Because these kits are produced in extremely limited runs and are not intended for mass-market retail, they are highly prized by global collectors. The event is uniquely famous for its “Day License” system, where copyright holders allow fans to sell fan-made figures of their characters without royalties for this single day.

Admission to the festival requires a ticketed guidebook, which serves as the official entry pass and is available for purchase in advance or on-site. To secure the rarest amateur kits, collectors typically arrive at Kaihimmakuhari Station several hours before the 10:00 AM opening to join the extensive entry queues. The venue is divided into massive halls; the Amateur Zone is where the one-day licenses are active, while the Company Zone features upcoming commercial releases from major figure manufacturers. Visitors should note that while photography is generally encouraged, some individual booths may have “No Photo” restrictions for unpainted prototypes.