Everything you need to know about visiting the Pokémon Cafe in Tokyo
Congrats! You’ve finally booked your trip to Japan and/or you’re currently in Tokyo right now trying to figure out how to get a seat with Pikachu, Squirtle, and Charmander at the famous Pokémon Cafe in Tokyo. I mean, you obviously can’t fly all the way across the world to NOT eat a meal where everything is ridiculously cute and Pokémon themed right??
Of course, Japan is known for its many themed cafes but the Pokémon cafe is definitely one of my favorites. Keep reading for everything you need to know about visiting the Pokémon Cafe in Tokyo including directions on getting there, how to secure a reservation, what to order, and more!
This site contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links however, this has no impact on the integrity of my reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
How to Secure a Reservation at the Pokémon Cafe
Okay let’s get the hard things out of the way first. Booking a reservation in advance is probably the hardest part about visiting BUT you can also visit without one. If you’re a planner, then you should know that reservations for the Pokémon Cafe (Nihombashi, Tokyo) open one month prior to the desired date at 6:00 PM Japan Standard Time. I highly recommend setting calendar invites and an alarm if you want to book in advance as these slots tend to get filled within 24 hours. You can book directly on the website here.
Didn’t get a chance to book 30 days in advance? Don’t worry! We didn’t either and still managed to get in after a short wait in line. The current hours for the Pokémon Cafe in Nihombashi are from 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM. Unlike most recommendations for places in Japan, I would actually recommend coming in the late afternoon or just before closing for your best chances at getting a table. They reserve a small number of tables for walk-ins and they also give away tables for people that don’t show up for their reservation.
They also post this sign outside that shows you the availability for the day and you can usually get lucky with some last minute cancellations so you can either put your name in and snag an open time slot later in the day, or just wait around for people to miss their reservation (it always happens because there is a strict 10 minute grace period) which is what we did. We arrived at ~1:50pm and got seated at ~2:30 because there were people that didn’t show up to their reservation within 10 minutes for the 2:20 seating time.
Directions for getting to the Pokémon Cafe
There is only ONE official Pokemon Cafe in Tokyo (the other one is located in Osaka) which is what makes this one so popular and famous. The Pokemon Cafe in Tokyo is located near the Nihombashi Station (inside the Takashimaya department store).
Here are some of the best ways to get there:
- Subway: The most convenient way to reach the cafe is by taking the subway to Nihombashi Station (located on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line and Toei Asakusa Line)
- Taxi: Taxis are readily available in Tokyo and can take you directly to the cafe. However, traffic can be heavy, so make sure you factor that into your travel time.
- Walking: If you’re staying nearby, walking might be a pleasant option.
I recommend checking Google Maps for the most up-to-date travel information and the best route based on your starting location.
What to expect at the Pokémon Cafe
Once you get inside, you probably want to know what to expect?! First and foremost, please don’t expect the food to be the best thing you’ll eat in Japan HOWEVER it definitely might be the cutest. Every food item is Pokémon themed and the decor is to die for.
There are life-size Pikachus sitting at the tables and pictures of all the different Pokémon hung up on the walls. You’ll also meet the kindest and happiest servers I’ve ever interacted with – I swear they didn’t stop smiling the entire time we were inside. There’s a ton of fun photo opportunities along with a bunch of collectible items for purchase after you’re finished eating.
You can also expect a lot of kids, but you can expect just as many adults. I mean… my fiancé and I are both in our mid-30s and we were absolutely pumped to be there!
The price point for food is also fairly reasonable. You can expect a slight upcharge because it’s a themed café but each dish was no more than $16 USD and the Pokémon lattes and craft drinks were around $5-8 USD.
What to order at Pokémon Cafe
Okay now the best part – what to order from the menu!!
For starters, my fiancé ordered the Pikachu and Charmander’s Best Friends Forever Curry Plate while I ordered the Eevee and Colorful Friends Japanese Mixed Rice Plate. Everything was so creative and definitely a 10/10 for presentation. As for taste, the Pikachu Curry Plate was actually delicious while my Eevee plate was just average (which was to be expected anyway).
For drinks, I ordered a Snorlax latte and my fiancé ordered a hot coffee which came with an adorable lightning shaped cookie inside of a cute yellow Pikachu mug.
Ordering the latte was fun because you get to choose which Pokémon character you want on top of the foam. They had literally EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER to choose from. Both items were delicious and only cost $6 USD each.
Some of you might know that I have a crazy sweet tooth so we also got dessert.
I ordered the Pokémon Cafe’s Very Chocolate Parfait ($12 USD) which came with vanilla and chocolate ice cream, granola, fresh berries, two chocolate pockys, and Pikachu-shaped cereal on top! It was so good and wasn’t too sweet.
I think Japan is actually famous for their souffles so my fiancé went with the Pikachu Souffle Pancake ($14 USD) which came with fresh fruit, syrup, and whipped cream.
It’s safe to say we were ridiculously full by the time we left.
Visiting the Pokémon Cafe in Tokyo: Final Thoughts
Ummm… three words: SO WORTH IT!
There are A LOT of themed cafés in Japan so I know it can be hard narrowing it down but I definitely recommend visiting the Pokémon Cafe (even if you’re not a fan) in Tokyo for an unforgettable experience while traveling. Beyond the creative and delicious Pokemon-inspired dishes, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for fun photos and can purchase exclusive merchandise/souvenirs not found anywhere else in Japan.
There are only TWO of these official cafés in the country so you have to make sure to stop by on your next visit to the birthplace of Pokémon!
VISITING OTHER PARTS OF ASIA?
Check out my other travel guides on Asia here.
LOOKING FOR TRAVEL INSPIRATION TO SOMEWHERE ELSE?
Congrats! You’ve finally booked your trip to Japan and/or you’re currently in Tokyo right now trying to figure out how to get a seat with Pikachu, Squirtle, and Charmander at the famous Pokémon Cafe in Tokyo. I mean, you obviously can’t fly all the way across the world to NOT eat a meal where everything is ridiculously cute and Pokémon themed right??
Of course, Japan is known for its many themed cafes but the Pokémon cafe is definitely one of my favorites. Keep reading for everything you need to know about visiting the Pokémon Cafe in Tokyo including directions on getting there, how to secure a reservation, what to order, and more!
This site contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links however, this has no impact on the integrity of my reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
How to Secure a Reservation at the Pokémon Cafe
Okay let’s get the hard things out of the way first. Booking a reservation in advance is probably the hardest part about visiting BUT you can also visit without one. If you’re a planner, then you should know that reservations for the Pokémon Cafe (Nihombashi, Tokyo) open one month prior to the desired date at 6:00 PM Japan Standard Time. I highly recommend setting calendar invites and an alarm if you want to book in advance as these slots tend to get filled within 24 hours. You can book directly on the website here.
Didn’t get a chance to book 30 days in advance? Don’t worry! We didn’t either and still managed to get in after a short wait in line. The current hours for the Pokémon Cafe in Nihombashi are from 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM. Unlike most recommendations for places in Japan, I would actually recommend coming in the late afternoon or just before closing for your best chances at getting a table. They reserve a small number of tables for walk-ins and they also give away tables for people that don’t show up for their reservation.
They also post this sign outside that shows you the availability for the day and you can usually get lucky with some last minute cancellations so you can either put your name in and snag an open time slot later in the day, or just wait around for people to miss their reservation (it always happens because there is a strict 10 minute grace period) which is what we did. We arrived at ~1:50pm and got seated at ~2:30 because there were people that didn’t show up to their reservation within 10 minutes for the 2:20 seating time.
Directions for getting to the Pokémon Cafe
There is only ONE official Pokemon Cafe in Tokyo (the other one is located in Osaka) which is what makes this one so popular and famous. The Pokemon Cafe in Tokyo is located near the Nihombashi Station (inside the Takashimaya department store).
Here are some of the best ways to get there:
- Subway: The most convenient way to reach the cafe is by taking the subway to Nihombashi Station (located on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line and Toei Asakusa Line)
- Taxi: Taxis are readily available in Tokyo and can take you directly to the cafe. However, traffic can be heavy, so make sure you factor that into your travel time.
- Walking: If you’re staying nearby, walking might be a pleasant option.
I recommend checking Google Maps for the most up-to-date travel information and the best route based on your starting location.
What to expect at the Pokémon Cafe
Once you get inside, you probably want to know what to expect?! First and foremost, please don’t expect the food to be the best thing you’ll eat in Japan HOWEVER it definitely might be the cutest. Every food item is Pokémon themed and the decor is to die for.
There are life-size Pikachus sitting at the tables and pictures of all the different Pokémon hung up on the walls. You’ll also meet the kindest and happiest servers I’ve ever interacted with – I swear they didn’t stop smiling the entire time we were inside. There’s a ton of fun photo opportunities along with a bunch of collectible items for purchase after you’re finished eating.
You can also expect a lot of kids, but you can expect just as many adults. I mean… my fiancé and I are both in our mid-30s and we were absolutely pumped to be there!
The price point for food is also fairly reasonable. You can expect a slight upcharge because it’s a themed café but each dish was no more than $16 USD and the Pokémon lattes and craft drinks were around $5-8 USD.
What to order at Pokémon Cafe
Okay now the best part – what to order from the menu!!
For starters, my fiancé ordered the Pikachu and Charmander’s Best Friends Forever Curry Plate while I ordered the Eevee and Colorful Friends Japanese Mixed Rice Plate. Everything was so creative and definitely a 10/10 for presentation. As for taste, the Pikachu Curry Plate was actually delicious while my Eevee plate was just average (which was to be expected anyway).
For drinks, I ordered a Snorlax latte and my fiancé ordered a hot coffee which came with an adorable lightning shaped cookie inside of a cute yellow Pikachu mug.
Ordering the latte was fun because you get to choose which Pokémon character you want on top of the foam. They had literally EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER to choose from. Both items were delicious and only cost $6 USD each.
Some of you might know that I have a crazy sweet tooth so we also got dessert.
I ordered the Pokémon Cafe’s Very Chocolate Parfait ($12 USD) which came with vanilla and chocolate ice cream, granola, fresh berries, two chocolate pockys, and Pikachu-shaped cereal on top! It was so good and wasn’t too sweet.
I think Japan is actually famous for their souffles so my fiancé went with the Pikachu Souffle Pancake ($14 USD) which came with fresh fruit, syrup, and whipped cream.
It’s safe to say we were ridiculously full by the time we left.
Visiting the Pokémon Cafe in Tokyo: Final Thoughts
Ummm… three words: SO WORTH IT!
There are A LOT of themed cafés in Japan so I know it can be hard narrowing it down but I definitely recommend visiting the Pokémon Cafe (even if you’re not a fan) in Tokyo for an unforgettable experience while traveling. Beyond the creative and delicious Pokemon-inspired dishes, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for fun photos and can purchase exclusive merchandise/souvenirs not found anywhere else in Japan.
There are only TWO of these official cafés in the country so you have to make sure to stop by on your next visit to the birthplace of Pokémon!
VISITING OTHER PARTS OF ASIA?
Check out my other travel guides on Asia here.
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