The most recent trip to Japan that I took I didn’t travel with anyone so I was free to make my own itinerary. There are no Pokémon stores in the U.S. yet, so I decided to partake in a loft quest to go to a different Pokémon store every single day that I was in Tokyo. 

On my first trip, I had been to the Tokyo station Pokémon store no less than 3 times, and though I had fond memories I decided to start somewhere else. 

My first stop was to Ikebukuro. This center is located inside the enormous Sunshine mall, which is connected directly to the subway, making it very easy to get to by train. The mall itself was thrilling with so many interesting stores to pass through and I found myself endlessly distracted in the mazes of floors and escalators on the way in and out. This Pokémon store has multiple rooms filled with all kinds of merchandise and even an impressive wall of items on sale. I think this was by far the best out of all 6 that I went to for a wide selection of discounted items. I was easily able to find cards and had a hard time not buying everything I wanted in my first go, knowing I’d probably see similar items at the next stores. I regret it a bit, because I think this location might have been one of the best stocked! 

Additionally, this location boasts a Pokémon Go Lab & small store, where visitors are invited to hang out and partake in various Pokémon go events as well as just relaxing for a bit and catching some Pokémon after spending some yen. Just a few steps away from the Lab you will find a Pokémon card shop to buy accessories and where trainers go to play games. Just past this is Pikachu Sweets if you still haven’t quite enough Pokémon at this point yet. 

Adorable pink pastel uniform pikachu statues greet you and offer a selection of Pokémon themed snacks and beverages. They even had a large Garbador waste can I found particularly charming. 

The second store I went to was the Pokémon Center DX in Nihombashi, a very posh area. To get to this center you travel up an elevator and are greeted by enormous Snorlax and Pikachu. This location is also where you can find the Pokémon Cafe, though I did not have time to put in a reservation and go see it for myself. This location I think probably had the widest selection of merchandise from what I could tell. All the newest items were available as well as many discounted products, different card packs and accessories. They had almost every single plush Pokémon from the Pokémon collection arranged in perfect order according to its pokedex number along a giant display. They also had a variety of exclusive Pikachu plushes that I didn’t spy at any of the other stores I visited.

 Though this store was a bit crowded and the line for the check out was long, it was strategically placed along a corridor of interesting last minute purchases, a view of the large card table area where Pokémon card games and events occur, and a giant interactive display allowing you to scroll through different Pokedex entries.

Check out my next blog to hear about the other smaller Pokémon stores I visited while I was in Tokyo!