Pokémon Café In Japan – How To Get A Reservation & Is It Worth It In 2025?

If you’re a Pokémon lover, then you have to visit the Pokémon Café in Japan. 

It’s a wonderland for fans where the entire restaurant is Pokémon themed.

You can dine on Pokémon-shaped food, buy exclusive souvenirs and even watch Pikachu dance! 

Now, although this sounds like every aspiring Poké master’s dream come true, it’s also very popular.

It gets a lot of hype and often goes viral on social media. So, getting a reservation at this café is a challenge in itself. 

As a millennial and life-long fan of Pokémon since the original 151, visiting this cafe has been on my bucket list since forever. 

I was over the moon to finally visit the Tokyo branch, but it didn’t come without a fair bit of planning and stress!

To make the process easier for you, this post will explain how to get a reservation at the Pokémon Café Japan and whether it’s worth your time.

What is a Pokémon Café in Japan?

Pokémon is a Japanese game franchise and worldwide phenomenon that has captured the hearts of millions of children and adults alike.

It features a collection of fantasy Pocket Monsters that has grown in size from 151 original creatures to over 1000 with the latest Gen IX. 

Since its creation in 1996, it’s only grown in popularity and has adapted for each new generation of fans.

The franchise features card games, Nintendo Gameboy games, an animated series, the Pokémon Go app and a highly anticipated theme park. 

Due to all this ‘Pokémania’, it makes sense that Japan has its own Pokémon Café where you can dine with your favourite characters. 

At the time of writing, there are two branches of Pokémon Café in Japan. One in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi and one in Shinsaibashi, Osaka. 

Both are very popular, so you will need to book your reservations in advance to dine. 

How to get a reservation at the Pokémon Café

Who knew that one of the most stressful parts of planning a trip to Japan was securing a reservation at the Pokémon Café?

I can’t tell you how much planning and effort went into trying to get a simple booking here! It was a journey. 

Pokémon Café reservations open up at 6 pm Japan Time, 31 days before your desired reservation date. 

So, you’ll need to calculate this and book it in your calendar as a reminder.

But, I will warn you now, it’s not as simple as logging on to the website at that time and getting the booking. You need to be prepared. 

As soon as reservations open up, the website often crashes due to the volume of hopeful diners. Slots are known to sell out in seconds.

So, I recommend getting on the website at least 15 minutes in advance and refreshing the website a few seconds before 6 pm. 

If you don’t get a reservation at 6 pm, don’t panic. Keep refreshing the website. Or try 20 minutes later, then try again 20 minutes later, etc. 

Have a few different browsers open and keep trying. If there is more than one of you in your party, have them try as well. 

I highly recommend being flexible with your dates so you can try for a few days during your Japan trip for the best chances. 

Once your reservation is secured, you’ll receive a booking confirmation via email that you’ll need to show at the desk on the day. 

What if you don’t get a reservation?

If you aren’t successful in getting a Pokémon Café reservation before your trip to Japan, don’t fret. All is not lost. 

They do allow you to wait in line on the day and will try to seat you if there have been any cancellations or ‘no-shows’. 

It’s never a guarantee you’ll be seated, and wait times can be well over an hour. 

But, if you’re a fan of Pokémon and can’t leave without eating here, I think it’s definitely worth the wait.

My suggestion would be to go straight away at opening time for the best chances of getting a table. 

Alternatively, there are some paid reservation services you can use. But always do your research. 

Most importantly, don’t give up. In the words of Ash Ketchum: “If you just try hard enough, things will work out. Won’t they?” 

Where is the Pokémon Café in Japan located?

At the time of writing, there are two branches of Pokémon Café in Japan. One in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi and one in Shinsaibashi, Osaka.

I booked to go to the Pokémon Café in Tokyo, located in the Pokémon Center DX.

The closest Tokyo metro stop is Nihombashi Station via the B2 exit, but it is also very close to JR Tokyo Station.

This is home to another Pokémon Gift Shop and the famous Character Street with popular stores like Kirby Café Petit.

As soon as you enter the bottom floor, you’ll be greeted with colourful artwork of your favourite Pokémon characters.

These make great photo opportunities. So, make sure to get your camera ready!

Then, you’ll take the lift up to the main store on floor 5, which is every Pokémon lover’s dreamland. 

Exploring Pokémon Centre DX in Nihonbashi

As soon as you leave the elevator, you’ll be greeted with a life-size statue of Snorlax, joined by Pikachu and Mew.

Again, this made such a great photo opportunity, and I was so excited to be there! My inner child was squealing. 

As you make your way inside the store, you’ll find every Pokémon gift you could think of.

There’s a mountain of plushies, stationery, cards, collectables and kitchenware. 

Honestly, you could deck your whole house out with Poké stuff they sell here.

Also, look out for a row of Gachapon machines that have some Pokémon-themed capsule toys.  

The queues for the store are often quite long, so I recommend getting here with enough time to spare before your café reservation. Or, save your shopping spree for later. 

Did you know? Every Pokémon Center has unique pins you can collect from their store. So, if you go to each one, you can Catch ‘Em All for a master collection!

Entering the Pokémon Café

The entrance of the Pokémon Café in Tokyo can be found straight away when you exit the elevator to the left of the Snorlax statue. 

There is a queue line, but this is for those who do not have a reservation and are waiting for a walk-in. 

If you have a reservation, just hang out by the entrance around 10-15 minutes before and keep an eye on the time slot posted at the entrance.

When your time slot is called, you’ll be welcomed inside by one of the friendly staff.

They will check your reservation (so have your confirmation handy), and then you’ll be given a menu and shown to your seat. 

What are the seating arrangements? 

The are four themed sections to the Pokémon Café (A, B, C and D) and each has a different mascot. On our visit, the mascots were;

• A = Mega Lizardon X
• B = Mega Garura
• C = Mega Gardevoir
• D = Pikachu / Eevee 

You cannot choose your section; they are randomly selected on the day. 

It’s also good to note that these mascots change often. The main difference between them is to accommodate the number of diners in your party. 

A, B and C can accommodate 2-6 people, and D is a group table that is sectioned out for solo diners.

We got super lucky and were seated in 1A in the Mega Charizard / Lizardon X section by the window. 

This meant that we got front row seats and the best view for the Pikachu Dance.

As you can’t walk around when he is dancing, it was perfect! 

I have to admit that when we were there at midday, the café was almost empty, and the other sections had no one seated. 

Considering the effort it took to get the reservation and the fact that it kept instantly selling out, I was expecting it to be packed out all day!

But, I guess it’s to ensure that it’s an enjoyable visit for everyone and that the staff aren’t overwhelmed. 

Inside the Pokémon Café in Tokyo

I loved how light and airy the Pokémon Café was, and it had delightful wooden decor.

The details were on point, and every table had Pikachu tail seats.

There were Pokémon Café logos, portraits, faux grass Poké Balls, and you could find mascots of Pikachu and Eevee on tables. 

By the solo diner’s table, you could find Pokémon stained glass windows and episodes of the Pokémon cartoon playing on TV. 

I particularly loved the photo area they had prepared at the back. Here, you could get a picture taken with two Chef Pikachu’s.  

During our meal, we were given a cute gift of a random drink placemat. I got Mega Gyarados.

Our section of tables had a cute blue Lizardon X wrapping, and each one had a touch-screen tablet to order meals. 

What’s on the Pokémon Café menu?

Every drink, meal and dessert here is Pokémon themed, and it is absolutely adorable. 

They have Gengar smoothies, Pokémon soda floats, and coffee with a Pikachu tail cookie.

The mains are mainly curry, but they also have an Eevee salad and Snorlax lunch plates to choose from. 

For sweets, you can order Pikachu pancakes, a Pokémon Parfait or an ‘I choose you’ Poké Bowl dessert. It’s a secret until you open it – how cool!

Something I absolutely love about themed cafés in Japan is that they always have a photo of the meal on the menu. 

So, you know exactly what it will look like. It’s a small thing, but I found it made a big difference. This way, you’re never disappointed. 

What is the food like? 

After hearing horror stories about the food being awful at the Pokémon Café, I didn’t set my expectations too high.

As someone who visits theme cafés often, I already knew I wasn’t visiting for the quality of the food. I was paying for the overall experience.

This may just be me, but I didn’t think the food was that bad here. It could have been the jet lag, but I thought it was pretty tasty.

I ordered the ‘Pikachu and Bulbasaur’s Best Friends Forever Curry Plate’ and thought it was delicious. 

You can also order this with Charmander or Squirtle, depending on your favourite first partner Pokémon. 

My friend ordered the ‘Last Resort Japanese Mixed Rice Plate Meal with Eevee and Colorful Friends’ (a literal mouthful), which looked scrumptious.

We washed our meals down with Gengar’s Confuse Ray Smoothie, which had a red light-up ice cube inside. 

My favourite Pokémon are Togepi and Gengar, and I wore my BlackMilk Gengar dress especially for the occasion. So, I was in my element.

Another cool thing is that many of the menu items at the Pokémon Cafe have souvenir plates and glasses you can pay extra for to take home!

Watch Pikachu Dance!

Something I was really excited about was watching the Pikachu dance at the Pokémon Café.

The time this happens is a ‘surprise’, but you’ll know when Pikachu comes out as it’s an entire show!

I honestly almost cried when he appeared, as it was the cutest thing in the entire world. 

I’ve had the Pokémon Café on my list forever, but to see Pikachu dance as well was a dream come true and something I’ll never forget. 

We had a great view in Section A, but don’t worry if you’re in Section B, C, or D.

He does move to each section, so everyone gets to see his electric highness!

It’s good to note that the mascot dancing isn’t always Pikachu; sometimes it’s Gengar on special occasions like Halloween.

I was hoping that Gengar would be there on my visit as well, as I dressed up for the occasion. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be!

Buy Pokémon Café souvenirs

Another awesome reason to visit the Pokémon Café in Japan is that they sell exclusive merchandise. 

After your meal, you can browse their gift shop and buy Pikachu plates, Pokémon Café cutlery and Gengar tumblers.

But the best part is the selection of plushies they had to offer. I ended up buying cutlery and a pink Chef Pikachu plushie keychain for my handbag!

You can pay for your souvenirs along with your meal on exit at the cash desks. 

Is the Pokémon Café expensive? 

Affordability is always subjective. Compared to a regular restaurant in Japan, the prices at the Pokémon Café can seem expensive. 

But I found the menu prices were pretty on par with other theme cafés in Tokyo. 

My curry was around 2,240 JPY, which works out to be around £10, and my Gengar drink was 1,045 yen (£5). 

So, the total was around £15 for my meal and the overall experience. Coming from the UK, I found this very affordable. 

But it is expensive for a Japanese salary. In fact, the food prices here for locals are extortionate.

There hasn’t been a salary increase in Japan in over a decade. So, always keep this in mind when calling a destination ‘cheap’.

Is the Pokémon Café worth visiting? 

Yes, I think it is totally worth it. If you’re a fan of Pokémon, you have to visit this café in Japan!

Despite the ordeal it takes to make a reservation, I’d gladly suffer it again, as the entire experience is simply awesome. 

From munching on Pokémon-themed food, taking photos with mascots and watching Pikachu dance. It was a childhood dream come true. 

It’s a Poké paradise that you have to experience at least once in your lifetime. Don’t be a Snorlax and sleep on it. 

My top tips 

• Make sure to prepare for your Pokémon Café reservation 31 days before your travel dates as part of your Japan planning. 

• This means adding the date to your calendar, setting a reminder and being online beforehand. It’s important as slots book out in seconds.

• Remain flexible when booking, as you may not be successful for your first date of choice. 

• Earlier reservations are much quieter, and the DX store will be a more peaceful shopping experience. Shopping in the late afternoons/evenings can be hectic in Tokyo. 

• You cannot split the bill between your party here when paying by credit card. So, have some cash on you if you want to split.

Why not visit the Pikachu Sweets Café?

If you weren’t successful in getting a reservation for the Pokémon Café, or just love Pokémon-themed snacks, you must visit the Pikachu Sweets Café!

It’s located inside the Sunshine City Mall in Ikebukuro, which was my favourite place to eat/shop in Tokyo. 

It’s located right outside the Pokémon Center MEGA, and so it makes the perfect place to refuel. 

The great thing is that you don’t need a reservation to eat here; you just queue up and order at the counter. 

You can order Pikachu waffles, coffee with foam art of your favourite Pokémon and even get a Polteageist apple tea.

The entire shop is decked out in Pikachu motifs, and you’ll eat standing up at their shared Poké Ball tables. 

It was honestly so fun and perfect for fans. Look out for other Pokémon displays and mascots throughout the mall. 

You can also visit Kiddy Land, Sesame Street Market, a Ghibli Shop, Disney Store, Sanrio Store/Café and Chiikawa Park nearby. 

Read more of my Japan travel guides

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Kumachan Onsen – Tokyo’s Teddy Bear Hotpot

Visit the Snoopy Café in Japan

Save how to reserve the Pokémon Cafe Japan for later!