Updated with the latest Pokemon updates, including the launch date of PokePark Kanto, and links for the best Pokemon Tokyo adventure!

Why do I love going to Japan? The rich culture, fascinating history, welcoming people. Why do the boys love going to Japan? Pokémon, Pokémon, and more Pokémon! These boys are Pokemon crazy, and I don’t think it’s a phase they’re going to grow out of.

Tokyo is a Mecca for Pokémon fans, and my boys managed to elbow a Tokyo Pokémon activity into every single day of our last trip. So this is a post for the Pokémon fans. If you love Pokémon as much as my kids do then I’ve broken down all of the best Pokémon Tokyo experiences and attractions into a full list of everything we tried/visited on our last trip to Tokyo:

Visit The Pokémon Cafe

The most popular Pokemon attraction in not only Tokyo but in Japan is the Pokemon Cafe. There are actually two of these: the Pokemon Cafe Tokyo and the Pokemon Cafe Osaka. We’ve visited the Pokemon Cafe Tokyo twice, but have never been to the one in Osaka. (We’re trying out that Pokemon Cafe on our next trip in March – Update to follow!) This is by far the most popular Pokemon Tokyo experience.

At the Pokemon cafe you can eat cute themed food, sit in a fully Pokemon themed restaurant environment, and as a fun surprise, Pikachu will even come out and put on a fun dance show for all the diners. Watching our youngest waving as hard as he could, dancing in his chair with Pikachu is a core memory I’ll never forget. Truly magic!

The Pokemon cafe menu is small but perfectly formed: I’d rather have a few things done well than an extensive menu done badly. You can see everything we ate at our Pokemon cafe visit here.

✨Practical Tip – It’s worth noting that getting a Pokemon reservation can be tricky. You can read all about how to get a Pokemon cafe reservation here.

On our first trip we managed to get one, and on our second trip we failed. So we used a reservation service to buy a reservation instead, because we were so determined to go back again. It wasn’t cheap, but it was worth it!
You can read all about our experience of paying for a reservation here.

Shop In A Pokemon Center

There are so many Pokémon centers in Tokyo! Five of them, to be precise. Which is mind boggling to me, because we don’t have a single on here in the UK. Tokyo has more Pokemon centers than any other city in the world, so if it’s Pokemon shopping you’re looking for, this is the place to be.

🛍You can get my Ultimate Guide to Pokémon Center Tokyo and Free Shopping Checklist for Families

Each of these Tokyo Pokémon Centers have their own unique look and feel, and each has their own unique Pokémon character statues as well as unique merchandise. If you love Pokémon then you really should try to visit all five. They are:

Pokemon Center DX

The Pokemon Center DX is the Pokemon Center attached to the Pokemon Cafe, so you should visit this site when you have your Pokemon Cafe reservation. This Pokemon Center is located in Nihonbashi Takashimaya, which is a department store.

What makes the Pokemon Center DX unique is its giant Snorlax statue. And on our last visit they were also hosting a Pokemon gaming event in store that drew a HUGE crowd and was really fun to watch, so worth keeping your eyes peeled for these to.

• Address: 5F, Nihombashi Takashimaya S.C. East Building, 2-11-2 Nihombashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0027
• Access: Approximately a 5-minute walk from the Yaesu North Entrance of JR Tokyo Station; directly connected to Nihombashi Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line and Tozai Line, and Toei Asakusa Line

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Pokemon Center Shibuya

The first thing you’ll see when you arrive at the Pokemon Center Shibuya is the life-sized Mewtwo which sits in a tank at the entrance to the store. This is one of the harder to find Pokemon Centers, because the Pokemon Center Shibuya is located on the 6th floor of Shibuya PARCO.

We haven’t actually been to this Pokemon Center (it’s the only one we’ve missed!) so this is definitely on the bucket list for our next Japan trip.

• Address: 6F, Shibuya PARCO, 15-1 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8377
• Access: About a 5-minute walk from Shibuya Station, served by JR Yamanote Line, Saikyo Line, Tokyu Toyoko Line, Den-en-toshi Line, Keio Inokashira Line, and Tokyo Metro Ginza, Hanzomon, and Fukutoshin Lines

Pokemon Center Skytree Town

The Pokemon Center Skytree Town was both the smallest Pokemon Center we visited AND the busiest. Perhaps because it’s that bit smaller? I’ll be honest, we didn’t spend very long shopping here because the crowds were so uncomfortable that it was hard to see the merchandise on the shelves.

But we did enjoy the Rayquaza-themed statue at the entrance to the store, and the Pokemon Center Skytree Town is worth going out of your way for because of the exclusive Skytree cross over merchandise that you can find inside.

• Address: 4F, Tokyo Skytree Town Solamachi East Yard, 1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 131-0045
• Access: Directly connected to Tokyo Skytree Station on the Tobu Skytree Line and Oshiage Station on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, Toei Asakusa Line, and Keisei Oshiage Line

Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo

Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo is the largest Pokemon Center in Japan. This store is located in the Sunshine City mall, and you’ll be greeted by life-sized statues of Solgaleo and Lunala at the entrance of the store. All of these statues in the stores make great photo ops!

Next door to the Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo is a Pokemon Sweets store. This isn’t a cafe in the conventional sense, because it doesn’t have any seating to eat in store. But you can buy the cutest cakes and drinks, all in pastel Pokemon packaging. This is also a great option for somewhere to go with kids that are disappointed that they can’t get a Pokemon cafe reservation.

• Address: 2F, Sunshine City Alpa, 3-1-2 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-6002
• Access: Approximately a 3-minute walk from Higashi-Ikebukuro Station on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line; about an 8-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station served by JR, Tokyo Metro, Seibu, and Tobu Lines

Pokemon Center Tokyo Bay

The Pokemon Center Tokyo Bay is located in the LaLa Port Shopping Park. This is the newest Pokemon Center in Tokyo (as it closed and then reopened following extensive renovation in 2024). It is also the one that we haven’t visited yet. We plan to visit this Tokyo Center when we return to Japan in March 2026, and I will write a full review.

Visit The Tokyo Station Pokemon Store

There is a brand new Pokemon Store opened on Character Street in Tokyo Station. This store isn’t big enough to be classed as a Pokemon Center, but don’t let that put you off visiting. The store is really cute AND what we loved here was the exclusive merchandise. In particular the plushie of Pikachu wearing a station master costume. The boys brought one of these each to bring home (as well as a whole host of Pokemon cards and other cute merch).

While you’re here, you can explore the wider Tokyo Character Street, which has stores dedicated to all sorts of Japanese manga and kawaii characters. And you’ll also find gashapon stores here where you can hunt for the cutest pokemon collectible toys. If you’re not going hunting for larger gashapon stores in other locations then this is a convenient way to try this phenomena as you pass through Tokyo station.

• Address: B1F, First Avenue Tokyo Station (Tokyo Character Street), 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005
• Access: About a 1-minute walk from the Nihonbashi Exit of Tokyo Station

👉I’ve written a full post about visiting this store and whether it’s worth it, which you can read here.

Other Experiences Pokemon Fans in Tokyo Will Love:

Klook.com

Go Pokemon Hunting in Akihabara

There are people much more knowledgeable about the importance of Akihabara than me. But what I do know if that my boys had the best day of their trip shopping for Pokemon collectibles and second hand Pokemon cards here. And there were so many different shops to visit and explore. This is my favourite Pokemon Tokyo experience!

My top tip if you’re looking for card shops is to look up: the buildings here are enormous, and you’ll often find the shops you’re looking for hidden away on the 10th/11th floor and accessible by external lift. If you only look at what’s on the ground level of each building, you’ll miss out on so much.

We managed to visit 6/7 different Pokemon shops all within a two minute walk of the station, and the further you branch out the more you’ll find. What we loved were that there were cards to suit every budget: from rare grade 10 cards that ran into the hundreds, to deck fillers that you’d find in big boxes, and that you could pick up for pennies.

👉 Explore Akihabara from a whole new perspective by booking a Go Kart Riding Tour. It was so much fun watching tourists whizzing down the streets dressed in Pokemon and Mario onesies! These tours look great fun and they’re affordable too. Check prices and book here.
🎁 Use my exclusive code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get an extra 5% off ticket prices.

So Much To Explore In Akihabara

The boys favourite shop was called Card Kingdom, where they spend an hour (no exaggeration) looking at the cases to choose their cards, and we found the staff here were so welcoming and friendly too. (not every store is quite as receptive to excited kids, for obvious reasons, although my boys are always very respectful!).

My oldest decided to buy his first graded Pokemon card from here on this trip, and it was such a magical moment for him (I think everyone in school has seen that card at this point!)

While you’re in Akihabara, stop for a snack at Yokohama Kurikoan Akihabara. This cute snack store sells adorable Magikarp-shaped taiyaki cakes. Taiyaki cakes are hot cakes shaped like fish, so this is a fun and natural Pokemon collaboration.

These come in two flavours: chocolate or vanilla. We tried both and I think the chocolate one had a much richer, creamier taste. There are other taiyaki cake flavours here (including red bean paste and chestnut.) But the Magikarp versions only come in those two flavours.

• Address: 1-15-1 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021, Japan (Handa Building 1F)
• Nearest Station: Akihabara Station (approximately 215 meters away)
• Opening Hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Finally it’s worth noting that if you play Pokemon GO! then Tokyo is packed full of hotspots, and Akihabara in particular is home to numerous PokéStops and Gyms. Ideal for raids and catching region-specific Pokémon.

PokePark Kanto At Yomiyuriland

It’s not opening until next Spring, but did you see the news that they’re opening a new Pokemon immersive park?! This will be called the PokePark Kanto and it will be a section of the Yomiyuriiland theme park, which is just outside Tokyo! The launch date has officially been released, and we now know that this park will be opening earlier than expected on 5th February 2026.

👉You can read everything we know about PokePark Kanto so far here!

Visiting Japan next spring? From 21st November you can enter a lottery for tickets to visit the PokePark Kanto, with all the information that you need to know shared here.

We’re going back to Japan for a month next Spring, so you better believe we’ll be first in line for that ticket lottery to visit the PokePark Kanto and see this place for ourselves. Keep everything crossed for the boys that they get the chance to see it!

Pokemon Tokyo Places to Stay

It makes sense that hotels in the city are capitalising on the popularity of Pokemon in Tokyo by offering themed rooms and Pokemon stays throughout the year. I’ve added these below, so you can stay in a Pokemon room and really immerse yourself on your Pokemon Tokyo trip!

• Miramu Tokyo. Miramu is a chain of apart-hotels with branches all over Tokyo. And in the summer they announced that they will be launching special Pokemon rooms. These will have Pokemon all over the walls, a giant Snorlax on the bed, and even a Pokemon goody bag on arrival. These rooms are popula and often sell out. Check prices and availability here.
• Grand Hyatt Hotel Tokyo Summer. Between June 20 and August 31, the Grand Hyatt launch a special Pokemon Summer event. You can stay in special Pokemon themed rooms and the hotel also offers special Pokemon menus with items like Pikachu pancakes and a Bulbasaur burger. Check prices and availability here.

Before You Go To Tokyo For Pokemon

All the gear and no idea? That phrase could literally be the story of my life! BUT before the boys went off on their Tokyo Pokemon adventure, we did make sure they were kitted up and that they looked the part. Because you have to look like a trainer if you want to be the very best!

These are the Pokemon goodies we bought before we went to Japan – handy, and the boys looked amazing in the photos:

• Pikachu Backpacks. YOU GUYS LOVE THESE BAGS! And we do too – I get so many people messaging and asking where they’re from. They’re faux-leather, loungefly style ones, but at less than half the price. The link is here.
• Hard Pokemon card protector sleeves. The boys popped these in their backpacks and used them to protect the cards they bought.
• Cotton Pokemon t shirts. Soft, comfortable, and most importantly, super cool! Because people need to know you’re a fan! We loved these ones because they’re bold and had a Japanese-style vibe.
• An Ash Hat. My youngest wanted to wear a full Ash costume (most days) on our first trip to Japan but we were tight on luggage space so he settled for wearing this Ash baseball cap instead. Practical and showing your poke-pride!
• Pikachu bum bag. You also might have noticed my youngest wears a Pikachu bumbag in every single photo we take of him. This is so he always has his inhalers close by but is also handy for carrying Pokemon cards, cash, and snacks!

Ready to Catch ’em All?

Whether you’re hunting for rare collectibles, enjoying Pikachu-shaped pancakes, or just soaking in the Pokémon magic, Tokyo is a dream destination for every Trainer.

Keep planning your Pokemon trip to Japan by reading these posts next:

🍛 Find out how you can Buy a Pokemon Cafe Reservation Here (A Costly Adventure!)
🎢 Read about PokePark Kanto, Tokyo’s Newest Theme Park, Here
🎁 Read About Our Visit to the Pokemon Centre DX Here

Which Pokémon experience in Tokyo is on your bucket list? Let me know in the comments below! And if you’ve already visited, share your favourite spot—I’d love to hear your recommendations!

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