How We Scored Pokémon Café Reservations in Japan!
One of the top things on our Japan bucket list was visiting the Pokémon Café—but if you’ve looked into it, you know how fast it books out. Reservations open exactly 30 days in advance and sell out within minutes.
So when our Japan travel dates were confirmed, we were already behind. We checked the official Pokémon Café site, and every single slot in Tokyo was booked.
⚡️ The Booking Hack That Saved Us
We ended up using a third-party Japan travel concierge service that books reservations on your behalf. It wasn’t cheap—but it worked.
Here’s how it went down:
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We contacted the concierge service with our preferred café, date, and time window.
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They charged a small booking fee (about $25 - 30 USD) upfront.
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On the exact day and time the café reservations opened, they jumped in and booked for us in real time.
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Later that day, we received an email confirmation—we were in! They even scored us a lunchtime slot!
📍Where We Went: Pokémon Café Tokyo
We visited the Pokémon Café in Nihonbashi, Tokyo. It’s located right inside the Pokémon Center DX—so after our meal, we browsed shelves of limited-edition merchandise and took photos with oversized Pikachu statues.
The café menu was themed, adorable, and surprisingly tasty. Our son ordered the Pikachu curry, and we even got to meet a life-size Pikachu that walked around for photos. The whole experience was well-paced, family-friendly, and totally worth the planning stress.
🎟 Booking Tips
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Set your alarms: Booking opens at 6 PM JST, 30 days in advance.
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Try multiple cafés: Osaka and Tokyo both have locations.
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Be flexible with your time slots—mid-week and earlier times are easier to grab.
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Consider a concierge or booking service if you’re short on time or already inside the 30-day window.
🏯 Tokyo vs. Osaka Pokémon Café: What’s the Difference?
Both the Tokyo and Osaka Pokémon Cafés offer the same core concept: adorable, themed meals, exclusive merch, and photo ops with Pikachu. But there are a few differences worth knowing:
📍 Tokyo Pokémon Café (Nihonbashi)
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Located inside the Pokémon Center DX
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Slightly larger space with more table availability
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Often the first to release new limited-time menu items
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Easier to pair with Tokyo’s central sightseeing spots (like Asakusa or Akihabara)
📍 Osaka Pokémon Café (Shinsaibashi)
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Located inside the Pokémon Center Osaka DX
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Slightly smaller but less crowded on weekdays
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Sometimes has special Kansai-only merchandise
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A great stop if you’re already visiting Universal Studios Japan or Dotonbori
If you're planning to hit both cities, the Pokémon Cafés are unique enough that visiting both can be a fun bonus—not just a repeat. But if you’re choosing just one, Tokyo’s location tends to offer the more “premium” experience with better reservation options.
🧠 Final Thoughts
If you’re traveling to Japan with kids (or Pokémon-loving adults!), the café is more than just a gimmick—it’s a well-executed, memory-making stop. And if you’ve missed the official reservation window, don’t panic—there are ways in.
