Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
About the Different Pokémon Centers:
Q: You visited so many! Which Pokémon Center is the best one to visit in Tokyo? A: That's a tough one, but my personal favorite was the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo in Ikebukuro Sunshine City. It's the largest one in Japan, so I found it had a huge selection of merchandise. It's also in the same building as the Pikachu Sweets Cafe and the Pokémon Go Lab, so you get three experiences in one spot!
Q: What's the difference between Mega Tokyo and the Tokyo DX store? A: The Tokyo DX store is the other really big one, and its main advantage is that it's attached to the Pokémon Cafe. So, if you're lucky enough to get a café reservation, Tokyo DX is the best option for you. My advice is to not wait until the last minute to shop; the checkout line can get really long, and you don't want to miss your reservation time!.
Q: You mentioned one in Shibuya. What's special about that one? A: The Shibuya store is so cool! The mascot is this giant animatronic Mewtwo in a tank, which is just incredible to see. But the most unique thing is the Pokémon T-shirt Design Lab. You can design your own custom t-shirt, but they have limited availability, so my tip is to go in the morning to get your spot.
About the Pokémon Cafe:
Q: How do I get into the Pokémon Cafe? Do I need a reservation? A: Yes, 100%. You absolutely need a reservation, and they are extremely hard to get. They fill up the instant they're released, which is 31 days in advance at 6:00 PM Japan time. You can try for a standby spot, but I really don't recommend it unless you have a very flexible schedule. I have a whole separate video on the tricks and patterns I found for booking, so I'll be sure to link that!.
Q: What about the Pikachu Sweets by Pokémon Cafe? A: So, that's a separate, smaller spot at the Mega Tokyo (Ikebukuro) location. It's mainly for drinks and desserts, and when I was there, it was "to-go" only. The cool part is that since it's an extension of the café, they sell some of that exclusive Pokémon Cafe merchandise.
About Location-Specific & Rare Items:
Q: Do different stores sell different things? A: Yes, and that's the fun (and danger!) of it. Many of the stores carry signature items you can only get at that specific location. For example, the Gotemba Premium Outlet store has the exclusive Pikachu on Mt. Fuji plush, which was my daughter's favorite. The Kyoto store has a Kimono Pikachu, and the Narita Airport store has Pilot and Flight Attendant Pikachus.
Q: You went to Kyoto for the Kimono Pikachu. Any advice? A: Honestly, my advice is to go early in your trip if you can! We extended our trip just to go there, but when we arrived, most of the exclusive kimono items were already out of stock. It was pretty disappointing, so I'd say to manage expectations or try to go right when they open.
Q: I'm looking for older or discontinued items. Any tips? A: Yes! When you're at the Pokémon Center in Yokohama, check out the store one floor down called Surugaya. They had a whole section of secondhand Pokémon plushies. I found it was a great place to look for things that are no longer in the main stores, but I wouldn't go there looking for a cheap deal—the prices seemed pretty standard.
Summary:
Discover the best Pokémon Centers (Pokemon Center) in Japan for your next visit! In this video, I start by revealing my favorite Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo at Ikebukuro, but there’s much more to explore. I’ll take you through 10 different Pokémon Centers, including Pokemon Cafe, Pokemon Go and Pikachu Sweets, highlighting the unique features and exclusive limited edition merchandise each location offers. Whether you're looking for rare items or just want the best experience or best Pokemon Go battles, this guide will help you find the perfect Pokemon Center for your journey. Don’t miss out on these tips to make your trip unforgettable!"
Which Pokémon Center do you want to visit? Let me know in the comments!
00:00 - Intro
00:10 - Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo (Ikebukuro)
00:55 - Pokemon Go Lab (Ikebukuro)
01:15 - Pikachu Sweets (Ikebukuro)
01:59 - Pokemon Tokyo DX
02:55 - Pokemon Cafe (Tokyo)
03:23 - Pokemon Center Osaka DX + Pokemon Cafe (Osaka)
04:00 - Pokemon Center Yokohama
05:12 - Pokemon Center Tokyo Skytree Town
05:44 - Pokemon Center Kyoto
06:19 - Pokemon Store (Gotemba Premium Outlets)
07:07 - Pokemon Store (Narita Airport Terminal 2)
07:32 - Pokemon Center Shibuya
For Pokemon Cafe Booking Strategies, please check out the following video:
youtu.be/LpFr39Kc15w
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
About the Different Pokémon Centers:
Q: You visited so many! Which Pokémon Center is the best one to visit in Tokyo? A: That's a tough one, but my personal favorite was the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo in Ikebukuro Sunshine City. It's the largest one in Japan, so I found it had a huge selection of merchandise. It's also in the same building as the Pikachu Sweets Cafe and the Pokémon Go Lab, so you get three experiences in one spot!
Q: What's the difference between Mega Tokyo and the Tokyo DX store? A: The Tokyo DX store is the other really big one, and its main advantage is that it's attached to the Pokémon Cafe. So, if you're lucky enough to get a café reservation, Tokyo DX is the best option for you. My advice is to not wait until the last minute to shop; the checkout line can get really long, and you don't want to miss your reservation time!.
Q: You mentioned one in Shibuya. What's special about that one? A: The Shibuya store is so cool! The mascot is this giant animatronic Mewtwo in a tank, which is just incredible to see. But the most unique thing is the Pokémon T-shirt Design Lab. You can design your own custom t-shirt, but they have limited availability, so my tip is to go in the morning to get your spot.
About the Pokémon Cafe:
Q: How do I get into the Pokémon Cafe? Do I need a reservation? A: Yes, 100%. You absolutely need a reservation, and they are extremely hard to get. They fill up the instant they're released, which is 31 days in advance at 6:00 PM Japan time. You can try for a standby spot, but I really don't recommend it unless you have a very flexible schedule. I have a whole separate video on the tricks and patterns I found for booking, so I'll be sure to link that!.
Q: What about the Pikachu Sweets by Pokémon Cafe? A: So, that's a separate, smaller spot at the Mega Tokyo (Ikebukuro) location. It's mainly for drinks and desserts, and when I was there, it was "to-go" only. The cool part is that since it's an extension of the café, they sell some of that exclusive Pokémon Cafe merchandise.
About Location-Specific & Rare Items:
Q: Do different stores sell different things? A: Yes, and that's the fun (and danger!) of it. Many of the stores carry signature items you can only get at that specific location. For example, the Gotemba Premium Outlet store has the exclusive Pikachu on Mt. Fuji plush, which was my daughter's favorite. The Kyoto store has a Kimono Pikachu, and the Narita Airport store has Pilot and Flight Attendant Pikachus.
Q: You went to Kyoto for the Kimono Pikachu. Any advice? A: Honestly, my advice is to go early in your trip if you can! We extended our trip just to go there, but when we arrived, most of the exclusive kimono items were already out of stock. It was pretty disappointing, so I'd say to manage expectations or try to go right when they open.
Q: I'm looking for older or discontinued items. Any tips? A: Yes! When you're at the Pokémon Center in Yokohama, check out the store one floor down called Surugaya. They had a whole section of secondhand Pokémon plushies. I found it was a great place to look for things that are no longer in the main stores, but I wouldn't go there looking for a cheap deal—the prices seemed pretty standard.
Summary:
Discover the best Pokémon Centers (Pokemon Center) in Japan for your next visit! In this video, I start by revealing my favorite Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo at Ikebukuro, but there’s much more to explore. I’ll take you through 10 different Pokémon Centers, including Pokemon Cafe, Pokemon Go and Pikachu Sweets, highlighting the unique features and exclusive limited edition merchandise each location offers. Whether you're looking for rare items or just want the best experience or best Pokemon Go battles, this guide will help you find the perfect Pokemon Center for your journey. Don’t miss out on these tips to make your trip unforgettable!"
Which Pokémon Center do you want to visit? Let me know in the comments!
00:00 - Intro
00:10 - Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo (Ikebukuro)
00:55 - Pokemon Go Lab (Ikebukuro)
01:15 - Pikachu Sweets (Ikebukuro)
01:59 - Pokemon Tokyo DX
02:55 - Pokemon Cafe (Tokyo)
03:23 - Pokemon Center Osaka DX + Pokemon Cafe (Osaka)
04:00 - Pokemon Center Yokohama
05:12 - Pokemon Center Tokyo Skytree Town
05:44 - Pokemon Center Kyoto
06:19 - Pokemon Store (Gotemba Premium Outlets)
07:07 - Pokemon Store (Narita Airport Terminal 2)
07:32 - Pokemon Center Shibuya
For Pokemon Cafe Booking Strategies, please check out the following video:
youtu.be/LpFr39Kc15w
