If you've ever found yourself at 2am on YouTube watching someone paint tiny panel lines on a Zaku with a pentip the size of a single eyelash (or if you just vaguely remember a kid in secondary school who was really, really into robots), this one's for you. Singapore's very first official Gundam flagship store has opened its doors at Jewel Changi Airport, and it’s the perfect place to get your inspo for your next — or first — build. Here's everything you need to know.
What is the Gundam Base?
Quick catch-up for the uninitiated: Gundam is a long-running Japanese mecha franchise that started in 1979 and has never really stopped. The Gundam designs became icons of pop culture and spawned an entire hobby industry around Gunpla (short for Gundam plastic model). We're talking highly detailed model kits that range from beginner-friendly to "I need to take a few days off work for this."
The Gundam Base is the official flagship store network run by Bandai, stocking exclusive editions you simply can't find anywhere else. There are stores in Tokyo, Fukuoka, Shanghai, Bangkok, and a few other cities around the world. Singapore is the latest addition to the list, making it the 19th Gundam Base globally and the second in Southeast Asia.
For the local Gunpla community, this has been a long time coming. A 10-day pop-up at Jewel in August 2025 drew queues from 8.30am and sold out multiple runs of limited kits. The message was clear: Singapore was ready for a permanent home.
Where to find it
Jewel is quietly becoming the most dangerous spot in Singapore for anyone with kid interests and adult money. Gundam Base opened on 3 February 2026 and sits on Level 4 of Jewel Changi Airport, right alongside the One Piece Mugiwara Store and the Pokémon Centre.
📍 Address: Jewel Changi Airport, 78 Airport Boulevard, #04-219, Singapore 819666
⏰ Opening hours: 10am – 10pm daily
🌐 Website: instagram.com/gundambasesg
What's waiting for you inside
You'll know you've found the right place the moment you see it: a 1.8-metre RX-78 Gundam statue standing guard at the entrance, eyes glowing yellow and donning the exclusive Gundam Base livery. It's a proper statement piece and, yes, absolutely worth a photo.
Inside, the store has a surprisingly gallery-like feel for a retail space. The left wall is lined with tall glass display cabinets tracing the full history of Gundam design, and almost every shelf is topped with a display case of immaculately-lit model kits . It's genuinely fascinating to walk through even if you're not planning to buy anything, though fair warning: you probably will end up buying something.
There's also a giant plastic runner at the back of the store that's clearly designed with photo ops in mind. Not subtle, but absolutely effective.
The space is smaller than what you'd find at Gundam Base Tokyo, but what it lacks in square footage, it more than makes up for in curation and atmosphere.
What to buy (and what to keep an eye out for)
This is where things get exciting. The Gundam Base Singapore carries the full range of Gunpla grades, plus a selection of Gundam-branded merchandise and collectibles. The real draw, though, is that it's the only place in Singapore carrying official Gundam Base Limited-edition kits. These are exclusive to the Gundam Base network and can't be found at your regular hobby shop.
At launch, standout picks included:
- HG 1/144 RX-78-2 Gundam [Beyond Global] in Gundam Base Color — S$32
- MG 1/100 Sengoku Astray Gundam [Metallic] — S$81
- MG 1/100 Gundam Virtue [Clear Color] — S$116
- MG 1/100 Burning Gundam Hyper Mode — S$203
- MG 1/100 Hyaku-Shiki Ver. 2.0 [Mechanical Core Plating] — S$216 (limited to one per customer)
Around half of the store is dedicated to Gundam Base-edition versions of classic kits, with special decals, colourways, and other accessories. The rest is dedicated to seasonal items and kits that are typically Japan-only, including the RGZ-91 Re-GZ Char's Counterattack Ver. (S$86) and the RGM-86R GM III Axis Shock Image Colour (S$27). If you've been eyeing those up without a Tokyo trip on the horizon, this is your chance.
One thing worth noting: there are no Singapore-exclusive kits at the time of writing, though the team has hinted this may change. Keep an eye on @gundambasesg on Instagram for any new drops.
Building Gunpla with a view
At the back of the store, there's a dedicated workshop area with benches and tables where you can sit down and start building right after you've made your purchase. The best part? The seating overlooks Jewel's Rain Vortex, giving you the perfect backdrop to the most aura-loaded build session you could ask for.
Free beginner workshops are planned for weekends, designed for first-timers and families with no tools or experience required. A basic build takes around 45 minutes. Availability isn’t fully guaranteed, so you’re best off checking it out yourself when you’re there.
Ready to make the trip?
If you've been waiting for an excuse to visit Jewel for something other than catching a flight, the Gundam Base Singapore is a genuinely solid reason. It's one of the most unique retail experiences in Singapore right now: part hobby shop, part museum, part relaxation spot with a world-famous waterfall view. Even if you've never built a Gunpla kit in your life, it's the kind of place that makes you want to start.
See you on the road,
Amanda 💙
