The Ultimate Guide to Pokémon in Japan 2026

Did you know Japan is home to over 22 dedicated Pokémon Center stores, a brand-new theme park that opened just this year, hundreds of colorful Pokémon manhole covers, and special themed hotel rooms, and even airplanes? Whether you’ve been a fan since the 90s or just started your journey, Japan is the ultimate real-life adventure zone for Pokémon lovers. From the brand-new PokéPark Kanto and iconic Pokémon Centers to the adorable and delicious Pokémon Cafe, there’s so much to experience beyond your Nintendo Switch.

This guide will take you through the best parks, shops, and attractions for Pokémon fans in Japan in 2026, and by the end, you’ll be ready to book your flight.

PokéPark Kanto: The first permanent Pokémon theme park

The most exciting news for 2026 is PokéPark Kanto, which opened on February 5, 2026 within the Yomiuriland amusement park, about thirty minutes from central Tokyo. The park has three distinct areas: the PokéPark Entrance, Kayatsuri Town, and the sprawling Pokémon Forest where over 600 different Pokémon live.

Address: 〒206-8725 Tokyo, Inagi City, Yanokuchi 4015-1 (inside Yomiuriland)

Official website: https://www.pokepark-kanto.co.jp/

Tickets: Sold through a first-come, first-served and lottery system on the official website.

Three pass types are available: Town Pass (from ¥4,700), Trainer’s Pass (from ¥7,900), and Ace Trainer’s Pass (from ¥14,000). All tickets include admission to Yomiuriland.

Pokémon GO integration: From launch day, PokéPark Kanto–exclusive content has been available in Pokémon GO during park hours, including themed raids and special Field Research tasks.

For more tips on planning your visit including timed entry, what to wear, and how to combine PokéPark with Yomiuriland’s rides and illuminations. Check out our earlier guide here!

Official Pokémon Centers: More than 22 locations nationwide

No trip to Japan for a Pokémon fan is complete without visiting a Pokémon Center. These official stores are filled with plushies, stationery, trading cards, and exclusive items you cannot find anywhere else. Each location offers a unique sticker or badge featuring its mascot Pokémon. Below are the flagship and regional stores you should not miss.

Pokémon Center TOKYO DX (Nihonbashi, Tokyo)

Address: 5F, Nihombashi Takashimaya S.C. East Building, 2‑11‑2 Nihonbashi, Chuo‑ku, Tokyo 103‑0027

Official website: https://www.pokemon.co.jp/shop/en/pokecen/tokyodx/

Hours: Daily, 10:30 – 21:00

Access: 3‑minute walk from Nihombashi Station (Ginza/Tozai Line, Exit B2) or 5‑minute walk from JR Tokyo Station (Yaesu North Exit)

Note: A giant Snorlax statue greets visitors at the entrance, making it the perfect photo stop. This is also the only Pokémon Center directly connected to the Pokémon Cafe.

Pokémon Center OSAKA DX (Shinsaibashi, Osaka)

Address: 9F, Daimaru Shinsaibashi Main Building, 1‑7‑1 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo‑ku, Osaka 542‑8501

Official website: https://www.pokemon.co.jp/shop/en/pokecen/osakadx/

Hours: Daily, 10:00 – 20:00

Access: Directly connected underground from Shinsaibashi Station, Exit No. 4 (Osaka Metro Midosuji Line)

Pokémon Center KYOTO (Near Shijo Station)

Address: 2F, SUINA Muromachi, 78 Higashiirokoujichou, Shimogyo‑ku, Kyoto 600‑8009

Official website: https://www.pokemon.co.jp/shop/en/pokecen/kyoto/

Hours: Daily, 10:00 – 20:00

Access: Directly connected to Exit 26 from Hankyu Kyoto Line “Karasuma Station”

Note: Known for Kyoto‑exclusive merchandise that incorporates traditional Japanese crafts and designs.

Pokémon Center FUKUOKA (Hakata)

Address: 2F, Hakata Marui, 9‑1 Hakataekichuogai, Hakata‑ku, Fukuoka 812‑0012

Official website: https://www.pokemon.co.jp/shop/en/pokecen/fukuoka/

Hours: Daily, 10:00 – 21:00

Access: Directly accessible from JR Hakata Station

A quick note for travelers: Pokémon Center MEGA TOKYO in Ikebukuro remains temporarily closed at this time, with plans to reopen around September 2026. Be sure to check the official website before planning your visit to that location.

The Pokémon Cafe: An adorable dining experience

For a unique dining experience, you must make a reservation at the Pokémon Cafe. After a temporary closure from March 23 to June 16, 2026, both the Tokyo and Osaka locations reopened on June 17, 2026. The Tokyo location now features a brand‑new interior, a dedicated stage for live performances, and an updated menu. The cafe is entirely reservation‑based, with slots opening 31 days in advance at 6:00 PM JST on the official website. Reservations typically sell out within minutes.

Pokémon Cafe TOKYO

Address: 5F, Nihombashi Takashimaya S.C. East Building, 2‑11‑2 Nihonbashi, Chuo‑ku, Tokyo 103‑0027

Official website: https://www.pokemon-cafe.jp/en/cafe/

Hours: Daily, 10:30 – 21:00 (last order 20:30)

Pokémon Cafe OSAKA

Address: 9F, Daimaru Shinsaibashi Main Building, 1‑7‑1 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo‑ku, Osaka 542‑8501

Official website: https://www.pokemon-cafe.jp/en/cafe/

Hours: Daily, 10:00 – 20:00

The updated menu features the Pikachu & Pichu’s Friendly Curry Plate (¥2,530), the Snorlax’s Nap Teriyaki Burger (¥2,530), and the Mimikyu’s Disguise Omelette and Corn Stew (¥2,530). For dessert, try the Pika‑Pika Parfait ~Chocolate & Berry~ (¥2,090) or the Eevee’s Colorful Fruit Pancake (¥2,090). The Choose Your Pokémon Latte (¥935) lets you pick your favorite latte art from hundreds of Pokémon designs.

A new 10-minute live performance, “Let’s Make Pika-Pika Parfait,” is held regularly on the dedicated stage, where a Pikachu character guides guests through making the new Pika-Pika Parfait.

Where to buy Pokémon cards & collectibles

For collectors, the new Hareruya 2 Akihabara Tower, which opened in February 2026, has quickly become a must‑visit. Described as Japan’s largest Pokémon TCG specialty store, the multi‑level flagship features an octagonal rotating display, a golden chandelier encasing real Pokémon cards, and a massive play area with over 150 seats for battling and trading.

Address: Ishimaru No. 3 Building, 1‑2‑13 Sotokanda, Chiyoda‑ku, Tokyo 101‑0021

Official website: https://www.hareruya2.com/

Hours: Daily, 10:00 – 22:00

Access: Just a 3-minute walk from JR Akihabara Station

You can also find official cards and rare booster packs at every Pokémon Center, especially Pokémon Center MEGA TOKYO (once it reopens). To save time, check the Pokémon Center Online Store before your trip. Some items can be shipped to your hotel in Japan.

Pokémon-themed hotel rooms

MIMARU Apartment Hotels

Following a major renovation in early 2026, MIMARU now offers Pokémon Rooms at 10 locations across Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Each room features over 100 Pokémon characters, plus a giant Snorlax plushie and Poké Ball. Reservations are currently being accepted through the end of November 2026.

Official website: https://mimaruhotels.com/en/lp/pokemon/

Hours: Check‑in 16:00 / Check‑out 22:00

Note: Reservations are currently being accepted through the end of November 2026.

Grand Hyatt Tokyo – Pokémon 30th Anniversary Stay Package

Grand Hyatt Tokyo is offering a limited‑time collaboration from June 20 to August 26, 2026.

Pokémon 30th Anniversary Grand Adventure Suite Stay: Just one group per night can book this 120m² suite, featuring 30 Pikachu plushies and an in‑room Flying Pikachu Gourmet Burger set for dinner. The package starts from ¥400,000 for two guests and includes exclusive amenities like a passport case and a talking Pikachu plushie.

Pokémon 30th Anniversary Grand Adventure Stay: The second package offers one of eight twin rooms with Pokémon‑themed artworks. This plan starts from ¥71,500 for two guests and includes a daily breakfast buffet at The French Kitchen with special Pikachu pancakes.

Address: 6‑10‑3 Roppongi, Minato‑ku, Tokyo 106‑0032

Official website: https://www.tokyo.grand.hyatt.co.jp/

Booking: Reservations opened April 8, 2026. A credit card guarantee is required, and cancellations made within 14 days (for the suite) or 7 days (for the twin room) incur a one‑night fee.

ANA Pokémon jets

All Nippon Airways (ANA) is celebrating Pokémon’s 30th anniversary with a fleet of special Pokémon Jets. You can currently spot the Pikachu Jet NH (Boeing 787-9) and the Eevee Jet NH (Boeing 777-300ER) in service on both domestic and international routes from Tokyo. These colorful jets feature exclusive interior designs and even a dedicated in-flight safety video created in collaboration with The Pokémon Company.

Pokémon Jet Red (fire‑type, Boeing 787-8, registration JA819A) will enter domestic service in late July 2026 on routes from Tokyo Haneda to cities including Sapporo, Hakodate, Osaka (Itami), Takamatsu, Matsuyama, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Okinawa (Naha), Miyako, and Ishigaki.

Pokémon Jet Green (grass‑type, Boeing 787-9) will serve international routes, and Pokémon Jet Blue (water‑type, Boeing 737-800) will serve domestic routes. Launch dates for Green and Blue will be announced soon.

For families, the ANA Pokémon Kids TV Lounge at Haneda Airport’s domestic and international terminals offers a safe and fun space for children to enjoy Pokémon Kids TV before their departure.

Official website: https://www.ana.co.jp/en/jp/

Ride the rails with Pokémon: POKÉMON with YOU Train

For a unique rail adventure, take the POKÉMON with YOU Train in the Tohoku region. This beloved train operates on weekends and public holidays, running on three scenic routes: the Kesennuma, Miyako, and Kamaishi lines. The train has two cars: one features Pikachu-covered communication seats, while the second is a fun-filled playroom. Passengers even receive a commemorative notebook and boarding pass, and at Kesennuma station, you can join a fun stamp rally.

All seats are reserved; tickets can be booked on the JR‑EAST Train Reservation website from 10:00 AM one month before departure. Both a basic fare ticket and a reserved seat ticket are required to board; however, holders of a JR EAST PASS can reserve a seat for free.

Official website: https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/joyful/pokemon.html

Beyond the big three: Poké Lids

One of the most unique “only in Japan” experiences is hunting for Poké Lids — Pokémon‑themed manhole covers. As part of the Pokémon Local Acts project, over 450 different Poké Lids can now be found across Japan, each an original design that celebrates the unique character of its local area.

The best way to plan your own hunt is the official Pokémon Local Acts website, which features an interactive map showing the location of every Poké Lid in the country. New covers are still being added, and in April 2026, six new Poké Lids were installed on the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture. The lids are located in Nanao City, Wajima City, Suzu City, Shika Town, Anamizu Town, and Noto Town, and are now open for visitors to discover.

The designs are closely tied to local landmarks:

In Suzu City, Luvdisc and Sylveon appear against the iconic Mitsukejima Island.
At Noto Sakura Station in Anamizu Town, Snorlax, Plusle, and Minun sit among cherry‑blossom scenery.
In Nanao City, the lid is placed next to the Wakura Pokémon Footbath, a free foot‑bath facility that opened in May 2026.

The six new lids are the first to be installed in the Noto Peninsula following the 2024 earthquake, and they form part of a wider disaster‑recovery tourism initiative run by the Pokémon with YOU Foundation. Once installed, each lid will gradually become a PokéStop in Pokémon GO.

Official website: https://local.pokemon.jp/en/

Plan your trip with Arigato Travel!

Japan in 2026 is a true paradise for Pokémon fans, with a brand-new theme park, world-class shopping at the flagship Pokémon Center, the newly reopened Pokémon Cafe with its exciting menu and live shows, and over 450 Poké Lids waiting to be discovered across the country. With so much to see and do, planning the perfect trip can feel overwhelming. That’s where Arigato Travel comes in. Our team can help you create a custom itinerary that includes all these amazing spots and more, handling the details so you can focus on the adventure. Contact Arigato Travel today to start planning your ultimate Pokémon journey.

Featured Photo Credit: Thimo Pedersen

Ready to live out your real-life Pokémon adventure? Explore Japan’s incredible theme parks, official centers, and hidden Poké cafes. After a busy day of catching ’em all, refuel by booking one of our expert-led food tours to discover the best local dining spots!