A pop-up shop called Hidden in Tokyo is letting shoppers pay just 1,000 yen, roughly $7 USD, for a chance to steal as much merchandise as they can, with a catch, of course.
It sounds too good to be real. A store where you pay a few dollars, walk in, and take whatever you want with no fear of being arrested or having security chasing you down. But, it’s completely real, and Hidden in Tokyo, a pop-up store in (you guessed it) Tokyo, is challenging shoppers to do just that, with one key condition.
Once inside, participants get 60 seconds to grab anything they want from the store, as long as they can carry it. There is no limit on the number of items or their value; you can just take as many as possible in one minute. However, you have to do it in complete silence.
Tokyo store challenges shoppers to steal in silence
The entire shop is wired with microphones designed to pick up even the smallest sound. A single footstep, a rustle of packaging, or any noise will cause the run to be stopped and all the unsuccessfully stolen goods to go right back on the shelf.
Hidden in Tokyo is no stranger to this format. The store ran the same silent steal challenge last year and saw massive success, with huge queues of shoppers attempting the challenge. So, it’s no surprise that the challenge is making a return in 2026.
The store has now confirmed the challenge is coming back, with dates set for March 13 through March 16, 2026, and it’s expected that plenty will try their hand at bagging various drinks, clothing, and so much more without making a sound.
