Gotta Catch 'Em All: A Pokémon Lover's Guide to Tokyo | Tokyo Cheapo (2024)

Pokémon fan visiting Tokyo? Then this one’s for you.

It’s no secret that Japan is the best place to get your Pokémon fix. There are Pokémon shops, food, events, and even trains, but where do you start? Whether you’re into the games or the anime, or both, here’s everything you need to know about finding Pokémon in Tokyo.

Shop ’til you drop at Tokyo’s Pokémon Centers

When it comes to shopping for Pokémon goods, you can’t beat Pokémon Centers. There are over 20 of these large shops all over Japan, four of which are in Tokyo.

At a Pokémon Center, you can pick up a range of official merch, including plushies, clothes, cards, and even games. Pokémon Centers have a good selection of different Pokémon featured on their merch, so if your favorite isn’t very popular, these are the best places to check.

You can often find seasonal and limited-edition merchandise, plus some merch that is exclusive to specific stores. They also offer tax-free shopping, so bring along your passport!

There are also a few Pokémon Stores around, for example in Tokyo Station and Narita Airport. Pokémon Stores still sell official Pokémon merch, but they are much smaller than Pokémon Centers.

Which Pokémon Center in Tokyo is the best?

Each of Tokyo’s four Pokémon Centers has something different to offer — so we don’t think there’s a “best” one; it all depends on what you’re looking for. If you want to buy a lot of stuff, we recommend the Pokémon Center TOKYO DX or the Pokémon Center MEGA TOKYO, they’re the largest stores so will have more merch to choose from.

Meanwhile, the Pokémon Center Shibuya is in a very convenient location and is also next to a Nintendo Store. Finally, Pokémon Center Skytree is in a more touristy area so you can easily add it to a day of sightseeing (read up on Tokyo Skytree).

The different Pokémon Centers in Tokyo also have different Pokémon mascot statues, store-exclusive merchandise, and store-specific acitivites.

There are also two other Pokémon Centers in the greater Kantō region — Pokémon Center Tokyo Bay (Chiba Prefecture) and Pokémon Center Yokohama (Kanagawa Prefecture).

Are Pokémon Centers free?

Yes, it is free to enter a Pokémon Center and you don’t even need tickets. However, they can get very busy on weekends, holidays, and special events, so there may be lines to enter.

Of course, Pokémon Centers aren’t the only places you can pick up Pokémon merchandise in Japan. However, keep in mind that the Pokémon featured on merch sold outside of Pokémon Centers are usually limited to popular Pokémon like Pikachu, Eevee, and Snorlax, and current-generation starters and legendaries. So if you’re a Mr Mime fan, you’ll probably need to stick to Pokémon Centers.

Anime, pop-culture, and variety-goods stores

Anime and games stores are likely to have at least some Pokémon merch, and bookshops are good places to check for books and manga (although they will most likely be in Japanese). In addition to Akihabara, Nakano is also known for a high concentration of pop-culture stores, so check them out if you’re in the area. And don’t forget variety-goods stores like Don Quijote.

Gatcha and crane-game prizes

Pokémon plushies, cards, and other merch are popular prizes in gatchapon (capsule toys) and crane games. You can often find gatchapon machines and crane games in shopping and entertainment complexes. Prices can vary a lot, depending on the location and the value of the prize, but a small keychain gatchapon might cost around ¥200, while a turn on a crane game can cost around ¥100 to ¥300 for a small plushie.

Collaborations

The Pokémon Company often collaborates with other brands to release special-edition goods and products. For example, at the time of writing, you could buy Pokémon donuts from Mister Donut. In the past, they have also collaborated with clothing brands like UNIQLO and GU, and the café chain Pronto.

Pokémon cafés and food

There are two official “Pokémon cafés” in Tokyo: the Pokémon Café and Pikachu Sweets Café. They are similar conceptually, but it is important you don’t get them mixed up.

The Pokémon Café is a sit-down affair, with a full meal service, and a giant Pikachu walking around. Menu items include things like Japanese-style curry and burgers, carefully arranged to look like different Pokémon.

The Pokémon Café tends to book out months in advance, so reservations are strongly recommended. There are same-day waitlists in case someone cancels, though. The Pokémon Café is located next to the Pokémon Center DX.

Meanwhile, the Pikachu Sweets Café sells a smaller range of drinks and sweets, and is take-away only. There is a standing area where you can take photos, but there are no seats. You can’t make reservations for the Pikachu Sweets Café, so there may be lines and certain products might sell out on busy days. The Pikachu Sweets Café is located near the Pokémon Center MEGA TOKYO.

Other options

Besides these two cafés, there are plenty of other places to get Pokémon-themed food in Tokyo. For example, Pokémon-themed candy and chocolate can often be found at convenience stores and supermarkets. Sometimes cafés and restaurants will also do collaborations — like Mister Donut and their line of Pokémon donuts. Pokémon have also found their way into souvenir snacks, like the Pikachu-themed Tokyo Banana.

Pokémon theme parks

At the moment, there are no Pokémon theme parks in Tokyo. However, there is Pokémon WONDER, which is a section in a larger amusem*nt park, and plans have just been announced to build PokéPark KANTO.

What is Pokémon WONDER?

Pokémon WONDER is an outdoor adventure experience in Yomiuriland, Tokyo’s largest amusem*nt park. The exact location of Pokémon WONDER isn’t disclosed publicly, but the idea is that it’s a secret forest where visitors can try to become Pokémon Masters.

Visitors can explore two different courses through the forest and search for over 50 different Pokémon. These Pokémon are made of natural materials, not projections or toys, so they really blend in with the environment.

The experience should take about 90 minutes, and participation is limited to a maximum of six people at a time. Prices range from ¥6,700 to ¥24,000, depending on the age and number of group members.

Something to look forward to: PokéPark KANTO

In December 2023, the Pokémon Company announced plans to build PokéPark KANTO, a Pokémon theme park, in Tokyo. It will also be part of Yomiuriland, like Pokémon WONDER. Besides this, we don’t know much at all right now. Heck, we don’t even know when construction is meant to start or finish, but we’re still looking forward to it.

Mimaru Hotel’s Pokémon themed rooms

From ¥70,000 per night

Book Mimaru hotel Pokémon themed rooms here: Ueno East, Ginza East, and Hatchobori

For die-hard fans and Pokémon-loving families, Mimaru Hotel’s Pokémon-themed rooms are sure to please. In Tokyo, these rooms are available in Mimaru’s Ueno East, Ginza East, and Hatchobori hotels. There are also Mimaru hotels in Kyoto and Osaka with Pokémon-themed rooms.

The rooms themselves are fun, with all the comforts of a high-end hotel alongside lively Pokémon decor. Plus, guests staying in these rooms get exclusive gift bags — a Pokémon tote bag and luggage tag. The designs differ depending on whether your hotel is in Kantō or Kansai. These rooms are definitely on the pricier end of things though, so you might want to make it a one-night stay.

Pokémon events

You’ve seen those videos of dancing Pikachus right? Well, that’s Pikachu Outbreak, an event that used to be held in Yokohama. The event made a come back in 2023 as the Pokémon Worlds Celebration Event, but it remains to be seen whether it will run again in 2024.

PokéLid manhole covers

Ah yes, we’ve waited this long to talk about the manhole covers. These Pokémon-themed manhole covers, more officially called PokéLids, can be found all over Japan, with 12 in Tokyo. You can check this handy PokéLids map to find out where they all are. And for more info, take a look at our full guide to PokéLids in Japan.

Pokémon GO

Pokémon GO is still strong here in Tokyo, and players will be pleased to know there are plenty of opportunities to battle gyms and catch region exclusives. In busy areas like Shibuya and Shinjuku, Pokéstops will almost always have lures, guaranteeing a high concentration of Pokémon to catch. Read our guide to playing Pokémon GO in Tokyo.

Where to find Pokémon things outside of Tokyo

So what about if you’re venturing beyond Tokyo? Well then, you’re in for a treat. There are official Pokémon Centers, Stores, and Cafés in other parts of the country including Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya. But, there are also Pokémon-themed trains to look forward to, and some prefectures even have official mascot Pokémon.

Pokémon-themed trains and planes

The most well-known Pokémon train is the POKÉMON with YOU Train. It’s operated by JR East, and runs between Ichinoseki and Kesennuma Stations in the Tōhoku region.

Sometimes, as part of promotional activities, other trains and even planes will be decorated with Pokémon. The above Oshawott train runs on a local train line in Mie Prefecture. Meanwhile in 2023, Skymark Airlines (a Japanese low-cost carrier) also did a collaboration with Pokémon, going so far as to give customers Kit Kats with Pokémon airplanes on the wrappers during each flight.

Pokémon Local Acts: Ambassadorial Pokémon

The Pokémon Local Acts initiative is part of a campaign to promote various prefectures in Japan. The nine participating prefectures were assigned “Ambassadorial Pokémon” that match with the prefecture’s “charms.” If a prefecture has an Ambassadorial Pokémon, you’re guaranteed to find charming, exclusive merchandise with it on it. You’ll probably also see it on signage and promotional materials.

The Pokémon and prefectures that are part of Pokémon Local Acts are:

• Alolan Vulpix (Leader) and Vulpix (Deputy leader): Alolan Vulpix was chosen to represent Hokkaidō, Japan’s snowiest region. Vulpix helps (somehow?).
• Geodude: This rock-type Pokémon was selected for Iwate Prefecture. Iwa means rock and te means hand, so it makes a lot of sense.
• Lapras: Lapras was chosen to represent sailing along Miyagi Prefecture‘s coast, which was badly affected in the 2011 earthquake.
• Chansey: This Pokémon was chosen for f*ckushima Prefecture because Chansey is said to be lucky and f*cku means luck.
• Dragonite: Dragonite was chosen to represent f*ckui Prefecture, because of the Prefecture’s association with dragons. The Prefecture is also home to a world-renowned dinosaur museum, so why they didn’t choose Aerodactyl or Cubone is beyond us. We’re not mad, just disappointed.
• Oshawott: This water-type Pokémon represents Mie Prefecture, a Prefecture known for its shellfish and the ama free divers who collect them.
• Alolan Sandshrew and Sandshrew: These Pokémon were chosen to represent Tottori Prefecture, which is known for its desert-like sand dunes.
• Slowpoke: Slowpoke was chosen for Kagawa Prefecture because Slowpoke’s name in Japanese, yadon, sounds similar to udon, a type of noodle dish Kagawa Prefecture is famous for.
• Alolan Exeggutor and Exeggutor: These two Pokémon were selected for Miyazaki Prefecture, which is known for its warm, tropical climate.

Pokémon Fossil Museum

The Pokémon Fossil Museum is an exhibiton that travels to different science and natural history museums around Japan. It’s an interative experience that’s great for kids. You can compare Pokemon to real-life dinosaurs, and see life-sized models of fossil Pokémon.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a Pokémon Center in Tokyo?

Yes, in fact there are four Pokémon Centers in Tokyo for you to choose from.

Can you go to the Pokémon Café without a reservation?

You can certainly try, but the Pokémon Café in Tokyo usually books up months in advance. If you are lucky, someone might cancel their booking last minute and you can take the time slot, but we wouldn’t rely on it.

While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. This should not be taken as an official guide to Pokémon in Tokyo.