Hi dear reader, in this post we are going to talk about how you can get your own original Blythe doll from Japan! I was gifted my first very own Blythe doll during my visit around June 2025. Let’s get started!
What are Blythe Dolls?
Blythe dolls are collectible dolls for mostly adults. They can be played with, but they are more fragile compared to a normal doll. They have a proportionally bigger head, large cute eyes, and a few cool functional abilities. There is a string attached to the back of their heads, and upon pulling the string gently, the eye color and the direction where the eye looks changes.
Another cool feature is that they are very photographable. The clothes and accessories are sold separately as well, in addition to their original clothes when you get them. Many collectors buy more clothes and accessories and photograph their Blythe’s. The limbs and head are bendable, so you can make them do cool poses. [Source].
The Origins of the Blythe Dolls
Their origins go back to the 1970s before becoming pretty popular in the Japanese toy market. Takara, the company in Japan, was the pioneer to produce Blythe dolls. At the current date, Good Smile Company produces Blythe dolls. Original Blythe dolls can be found in stores in Japan; these stores are called Junie Moon [Source].
The Original vs. Unoriginal Blythe Dolls
The unoriginal Blythe dolls can be found from Aliexpress or Amazon. The difference, you may ask, is that you can buy blank Blythe dolls when unoriginal. And also, the unoriginals are not produced by the Good Smile Company. The blanks are Blythe dolls that can be customized. So many collectors or doll makers buy unoriginal Blythe dolls, and they customize them however they like.
I would recommend searching Blythe customization videos online and checking out the process and how gorgeous and cute the resulting dolls are. Also, many people want customized dolls that look like themselves to have their own Blythe twin.
From my own research (doll makers usually sell customized dolls on Etsy: etsy blythe dolls), the customized dolls are usually much, much more expensive compared to an original Blythe doll. So the doll makers usually use unoriginal Blythe dolls because customizing an original one, they think, decreases their value. But on the contrary, the customized dolls are so much more expensive. This is definitely a mystery to me 😀
Also, I think another reason is that the doll makers could benefit more if they buy the unoriginal blank doll and have more profit margin, as they sell the doll for almost 20 times what they buy it for. Some doll makers use originals as well. If you intend to buy from Etsy, I would recommend checking the description to see if the doll is original.
Blythe Doll Store: Junie Moon
Junie Moon store is an official seller of the original Blythe dolls in Japan. The stores are super cute, compact, and aesthetic! There are various locations; for example, 2 stores in Tokyo and 1 store in Osaka. They all have the same collection of Blythe dolls, which you can check on the official Junie Moon website: junie moon doll collection. So before going, you can have an idea of which Blythe doll to buy. I have been to one store in Tokyo and one store in Osaka. And I got gifted my current Blythe doll from the store in Osaka.
In the stores, if you are a tourist, you also get a tax reduction, which is a nice discount on the price. Also, you can get customized dolls from the store, but you need enough time to stay until your doll is ready. Mine is from the existing collection called: Lavendula Babe.
Prices of the Dolls
The original Blythe dolls prices vary depending on where you buy them, but honestly, compared to the prices I looked up online, buying from a Junie Moon store was pretty smart. The costs vary also by the doll. You can check the prices and check the collection of the dolls on their official website: junie moon website.
Do Blythe Dolls Gain Value Over Time?
Yes, not just because of inflation, but unopened or customized Blythe dolls are sold for a lot of money. One driving factor is the rarity of the dolls. I mean, when I checked online, there are many unoriginals, but the originals are sold in select parts of the world and not accessible for everyone. Also, the dolls are extremely aesthetic, photogenic, and customizable. So yes, the value of the dolls will keep increasing, as there is a solid fan base.
Final Words
Even though a part of me is dying to do so, I never got my Blythe doll out of its box and played with it. The doll is pretty tightly tied to its box, so once I remove it, I know it will be hard to display it as its originally bought form. The doll in its box is very aesthetically pleasing, and I would recommend this experience to every Blythe lover or anyone just getting to know about Blythe dolls!
