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Top Five Pokémon Centers in Japan!

Bianca BacheBianca Bache
Published Time
Posted on 
August 31, 2022
Pokemon Pikachu plus from Pokemon Centre Japan

Pokémon, also known as Pocket Monster ( ポケットモンスター)  has become one of the most recognizable games and anime across the world. One of the most iconic locations in the series is the Pokémon Center. In-game, the Pokémon Center is where you and your Pokemon can rest up after battle. But in real life, it’s where you can go to get some awesome Pokémon merchandise! Read more to find out where you can find the top five Pokémon Centers in Japan!

Through the years Pokémon has evolved and branched out, think Trading Card Games, Pokémon Go mobile game, and various merch. Pokémon goodies and Pokémon merch have blown up and almost become their own currency, with limited edition items, location based exclusive items and seasonal items, the demand for Pokémon has grown!

Japan Pokémon Center have Pokémon Trading Card Stations where people can play and trade Pokémon cards.
Experience Pokémon at its truest form at some of Japan’s Pokémon Centers by playing at the official Pokémon Trading Card Stations! Image vis Shutterstock

Go beyond Pokémon and explore all things Japanese pop culture! Check out TokyoTreat for your dose of Japan! TokyoTreat sends an exciting box of Japanese snacks, sweets, drinks and and more right to you from Japan!

The History of Pokemon Centers

The first official Pokémon Japan Center opened on April 25, 1998, in Nihonbashi, Tokyo. However, just shy of its 10-year anniversary, the store closed and reopened in a different location in April 2008 in Hamamatsu-cho, Tokyo. 

It then closed and reopened again in 2014, this time relocating from Hamamatsu-cho to its current location in Ikebukuro’s Sunshine City Shopping Center. The Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo (ポケモンセンターメガトウキョー) is an absolute sensational place to visit for Pokémon lovers or casual fans! This store is called MEGA for a reason, it’s one of the largest Pokémon Centers in Tokyo, it has an exclusive desserts shop called Pikachu Sweets, it’s the first official Pokémon GO Lab, and Pokémon Card Station!

Pokémon Center sign that is above official Pokémon Center stores.
Nothing can cause more delight then seeing the Pokémon sign glistening above the entrance to a Pokémon Center Image vis Shutterstock

What to Expect at Pokémon Centers

If you grew up watching Pokémon, then visiting a Pokémon Center is an absolute must-do. Luckily across Japan there are a few locations to travel to! In Japan there are 16 Pokémon Centers and six Pokémon Stores to visit. Each store has slightly unique aspects, making visiting each store a new experience. 

Firstly, each store has a mascot that greets guests at the entrance and unique merchandise that can only be bought in that particular location. Some stores also hold special events and have Pokémon Trading Card Station stands where fans can take part in Pokémon trading card games! 

There are two categories of Pokémon shops to visit: the Pokémon Center, which is an official shop that has Pokémon items and services on a larger-scale. And there are Pokémon Stores which are on a smaller-scale and focus on selling the more popular items from Pokémon Centres. 

Pokemon Center in Tokyo, Japan shelves that contain official Pokemon character plush like Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle and Pikachu.
Shelves lined with Pokemon Plush Image vis Shutterstock

Japan’s Pokemon Center Locations

The locations for the Pokémon Centers are dotted around Japan, although there are concentrations in the main areas. There are seven Pokémon Centers in Tokyo, and two in Osaka. From the Northern to Southern Prefectures of Japan, here are the locations of the Pokémon Centers:

Hokkaido & Tohoku 
Daimaru, Sapporo 
Sendai 

Kanto
Tokyo DX
Nihombashi
Tokyo Mega
Tokyo-Bay
Shibuya
Skytree Town
Yokohama

Chubu
Nagoya 
Kanazawa City

Kansai
Kyoto 
Osaka DX
Osaka

Chugoku
Hiroshima 

Kyushu & Okinawa
Fukuoka 
Okinawa

Top Five Pokémon Centers

It’s pretty overwhelming trying to pick the best Pokémon Centers to visit in Japan. Luckily for you, you don’t have to figure out which ones to go to! We’ve ranked the top Pokémon Centers Locations in Japan for you!

Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo with Grookey, Scorbunny and Sobble Gen 8 starters. It's also one of the top five Pokémon Centers in Japan.
Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo featuring Grookey, Scorbunny and Sobble Gen 8 starters! Which starter would you choose?? Image via Shutterstock

1. Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo

Tokyo Pokémon Center Mega, located in Ikebukuro’s Sunshine City mall, is one of the biggest stores in the world. If you imagined this store to be stocked with an amazing amount of Pokémon merchandise including unique Pokémon Center plush you’re right! You can find collectible cards, boosters packs, Poké balls, and so much more here! This store really is the world of Pokémon! 

Mewtwo floating in an incubator in the Pokémon Center Shibuya, a perfect spot for a photo opportunity in Shibuya, Tokyo.
Truly in awe of this Mewtwo at Pokémon Center Shibuya! Image via Shutterstock

2. Pokémon Center Shibuya

The Pokémon Center Shibuya is located within the popular Shibuya Parco shopping mall, a bustling shopping center in central Tokyo. This store is one of the newer Pokémon Centers stores that recently opened in Japan.

A major highlight of this store is that it features distinctively unique technology that showcases Pokémon in fascinating ways. The biggest attraction that warrants a mini photoshoot would be the lifesize Mewtwo which sits inside an incubator right at the entrance of the store. But beyond that you get to see the Shibuya only Graffiti Pikachu!

Pikachu and Mew next to Snorlax at the Pokémon Center TOKYO DX store in Tokyo, Japan. The TOKYO DX store is considered to be one of the top five Pokémon Centers in Japan.
Sleepy Snorlax with perched Pikachu & Mew at the Pokémon Center TOKYO DX, name a better trio! Image via Shutterstock

3. Pokémon Center TOKYO DX

The Pokémon Center Tokyo DX located in Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C. is regarded as one of the most impressive stores yet! Sitting at the entrance is none other than the iconic Snorlax with adorable Pikachu and Mew perched on its shoulders! Once you’re in store you’ll see a huge range of Pokémon products such as plush toys and the latest Pokémon video games like Sword and Shield. When you visit this Center don’t forget to visit the Pokémon Café located next door!

Pikachu riding Rayquaza at the Pokemon Center SkyTree.
A great sight to see at Pokémon Center SkyTree, Pikachu riding Rayquaza! Image via Shutterstock

4. Pokémon Center SkyTree Town 

Tokyo Skytree is a must visit, not only for the Pokémon Center, but also for the iconic 360-degree views of Tokyo! But first and foremost, the Sky Pokémon Center is truly an impressive store! Once you walk in, you’ll notice the enormous Rayquaza waiting at the entrance. You won’t find this at any of the other Pokémon Centers!

Rayquaza was specifically chosen for SkyTree Tower because, just like the tower, the Rayquaza lives high in the sky! To commemorate your visit don’t forget to grab the exclusive plush toy of the Pikachu riding Rayquaza! 

Windy and Pikachu mascot in the newly opened Pokémon Center Okinawa, Japan.
A warm welcome from Windy and Pikachu at the entrance of Pokémon Center Okinawa. Image via Twitter

5. Pokémon Center Okinawa

A surprising new addition to the must-visit Pokémon Centers! The Okinawa Pokémon Center recently opened in mid-2022 and is designed to resemble the beautiful nature of Okinawa. At the entrance, you are welcomed by the cute duo, Windie and Pikachu! You can enjoy specialized Pokémon video content and an area for Pokémon Card Games. 

Pikachu Piolet front and center at the Narita Pokémon Center surrounded by other Pikachu plush.
Special mention to the extra cute Pikachu Pilot at the Narita Pokemon Center! Image via Shutterstock

Although debated, the best Pokémon Centers to visit are mostly based in Tokyo, because of Tokyo’s tourism popularity it’s easy to see why there are so many iconic stores there. However, each Pokémon Center across Japan has something unique and magical about them! So, if you have the opportunity to visit them, take the time to explore each location and see the exclusive products available from each location. 

Not in Japan? No worries! The Pokémon Center has an official Pokémon Center online store where you can find original items, Pokémon TCG trading cards, and gather info about new Pokémon ventures! 

To quote the legendary game “Gotta catch ’em all” or better yet, Gotta visit ’em all!

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Bianca Bache

Tokyo based writer that's very enthusiastic about snacks, treats and all things sweet!

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