The Pokémon Cafe is one of the most difficult places to get a reservation in Japan (followed closely by the Ghibli Museum and the Harry Potter experience.)
Please note that the Pokemon Cafe in Tokyo will be closed for renovations from March -late June 2026.
Go to the bottom of this article in order to see additional tips for Pokémon fans in Japan
So I wanted to share some tips to help you plan and reserve the Pokémon Cafe in Japan in advance:
1. Reservations on weekends and national holidays (such as golden week) are even trickier than normal. Plan around these dates where possible.
2. The Osaka branch of the Pokemon cafe is easier to book than the Tokyo branch. If you are visiting both cities, try and adjust accordingly.
3. Some people swear by paying for a third party booking service (such as VIP Pokémon Cafe Booking – you need to let them know 35-40 days in advance though and give them a big timeslot to choose from. For example: 1pm-5pm) to arrange the tickets for you.Please do your research and make sure the sites are legitimate. There is also another company called Little Circle 100 that can make reservations on your behalf.
If you miss out on Pokémon Cafe seats:
1. Remember that the food at the cafe is cute to look at but doesn’t actually taste good (character or themed cafes rarely do.) *Please note that the Pokemon Cafe has ZERO gluten free options.
2. You can try your luck and go to the cafe before it opens to see if that have any vacancies or cancellations (although this is risky business)
3. Think outside the box and go for other Pokémon themed options. For example, Pokémon Sweets in Ikebukuro offers take out and the desserts are all Pokémon themed. I also recommend visiting the Pokémon Cafe in Tokyo anyway as the merchandise store there is big and that section of Sunshine City Department Store has lots of Pokémon decorations and statues.
4. There is some Pokémonmerch sold at Pokémon Shops in Character Street underneath Tokyo Station.
5. Please note that there used to be a Pokemon Store on the 4th floor of Narita Airport Terminal 2 – but it moved to Terminal 1 on Jan 27th, 2025. It is now in Narita Airport Terminal 1, 4th floor of the South Wing.
I’ve put this tip in my “What to Pack for Japan with Kids” blog post, but if you or your kids are into finding Pokémon while out and about in Japan, then make sure you have your Pokémon Go app ready to go ! Sometimes when using it in a new country you will need to reset the app before it will work (tip: there are lots and lots of Pokémon to find in Sunshine City Ikebukuro.)
See here for information on booking a Pokémon themed hotel room.
EXTRA TIP FOR Pokémon LOVERS (ON A BUDGET) EXPLORING SHINJUKU!!!
Take the train for 5 mins to Nakano Station on the Chuo Line and walk for 350 metres to Nakano Broadway. The second floor of the Nakano Broadway Mall has a Mandarake store – in here you can find binders and binders of cheap Pokémon cards – and you can choose the cards you need!
The Pokémon Store DX near Tokyo Station requires a reservation ahead of time. They also sell limited edition Pikachu stuffed toys.
The Pokémon Stores DX in Osaka and Kyoto also sell limited edition Pikachu stuffed toys.
The Pokémon Store DX in Shibuya does not require a reservation but it is the most crowded.
*All of these stores offer a tax free option for tourists who spend more than 5500 yen- you must show your passport.
I, personally, am not into Pokémon merch but I did almost purchase these make up sponges at the Pokémon Center Shibuya.
I also highly recommend staying in a Pokémon themed room at MIMARU Osaka Namba North! These rooms have been recently renovated and themed to Pokémon. It’s also in a very kid-friendly area with lots of sightseeing and dining options for families nearby. Read in detail about my stay at MIMARU Osaka Namba North here.
This is at MIMARU Namba North. How cool is this?! And there are bunks on the other side of the living room section too! ©Pokémon. ©Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.
