A popular location in EPCOT’s Japan World Showcase Pavilion has unexpectedly closed, and construction walls have gone up without any formal announcement from Walt Disney World Resort. While the rest of the pavilion remains open, one spot is now unavailable to guests — and could stay that way for a while.
On August 11, WDWMagic reported that the Garden House sake kiosk in the Japan World Showcase Pavilion had abruptly shut its doors. Disney Park guests arriving at the location now find beige construction walls surrounding the building, blocking access entirely.
Known for serving sake and other beverages to EPCOT visitors, the kiosk is not operating at this time. Instead, Walt Disney World Resort is directing guests to visit the small sake bar inside Mitsukoshi Department Store, the pavilion’s largest gift shop.
“Garden House is planting something new,” read signs on the construction walls. “Please visit the Sake Bar inside Mitsukoshi. Arigato!”
The closure comes after earlier construction activity in the same section of the Japan World Showcase Pavilion at EPCOT. In June, walls appeared in a nearby walkway just steps from the Garden House, but the kiosk continued to operate. The new walls extend from those initial barriers, suggesting the projects may be connected.
Permits filed for the walkway in June labeled the space as a “Gashapon Kiosk.” Gashapon machines, a type of mystery capsule dispenser popular in Japan, have recently gained popularity in the United States. Guests use tokens or coins for the machines, which dispense collectible toys, accessories, or other themed items.
Walt Disney World Resort has not confirmed its plans for the Garden House or the nearby walkway space. It’s unclear whether the sake kiosk’s closure is temporary or part of a larger reimagining of the Japan Pavilion.
The rest of the Japan World Showcase Pavilion, including its restaurants, shops, and cultural exhibits, remains fully operational during the ongoing construction work.
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