Pokemon Cafe Tokyo Nihonbashi, what to know before you go?

Did you know that in Tokyo, Japan, there is a magical place where Pokémon fans can live a unique experience? This is the Pokémon Cafe in Nihonbashi, a charming place full of fantasy that you cannot miss if you are a follower of this famous saga. On one of our trips to Japan, we had the opportunity to visit this pokemon-themed café and we were fascinated. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know to fully enjoy this incredible experience.

First, we’ll show you how to book your visit to the Pokémon Cafe. This is a very popular place, so it is important to make your reservation in advance. We will explain the necessary steps to secure your entry and not be left without enjoying this magical place. We’ll also give you details on how to get to the cafe, so you don’t get lost along the way and can make the most of your visit.

Once inside, you will be surprised by everything you can see and eat. From delicious dishes inspired by the famous Pokémon characters, to detailed decoration that will transport you to the world of your dreams. In addition, you will discover the exclusive objects that you can purchase as a souvenir of your visit, such as stuffed animals, mugs and other themed items.

The Pokémon Café opened its doors in 2018

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How to get to the Pokémon Cafe?

The Pokémon Cafe is located on the 5th floor of the East building of the Nihonbashi Takashimaya Shopping Center. To get there from Nihombashi Subway Station, follow these simple instructions:

• 1. Exit Nihombashi subway station and look for exit B2.
• 2. Exit B2 will connect you to the Takashimaya department store in Nihonbashi, where the Pokémon Cafe is located.
• 3. Once inside the warehouses, go to the 5th floor.
• 4. Ready! Now you can enjoy delicious Pokémon-shaped dishes and watch Pikachu dance.

To get there, use the Tokyo Metro Ginza, Tozai lines or the Toei Subway Asakusa line.

What is Pokémon Center?

Pokémon Centers are stores where you can find all kinds of products from the Pokémon franchise. These stores are a paradise for fans of the saga, offering a wide variety of items, from toys and action figures to clothing, accessories, trading cards, and many other Pokémon-themed products.

Pokémon Centers are mainly located in Japan, but there are also some located in other countries, such as the United States and Singapore. These stores are operated by The Pokémon Company, the company that manages and promotes the Pokémon brand around the world.

Each Pokémon Center features a wide variety of merchandise featuring popular Pokémon from all generations, plus exclusive items and limited editions that often attract Pokémon collectors and enthusiasts.

Additionally, depending on the season, you can find limited edition products. When we went, there were several, and I couldn’t resist the limited edition Pikachu with Afro Sakura Plush.

How do I reserve my ticket to the Pokémon Cafe?

To reserve your ticket, you have to go to the Café’s official website, indicate the number of people (the maximum is 8). Once this is done, a calendar opens and you will choose the day there. Please note that you can only choose a date up to 30 days in advance.

In fact, I remember that in order to choose the day, I had to be cautious so as not to miss the opportunity to choose one of the few days that we would be in Tokyo, during our last trip to Japan.

Once the date has been chosen, you have to select a time and an area, the available options will be A, B, C and D (if there is availability). The main difference between them is that area D is where a huge shared table is located, so reservations for one person usually end up at this table.

As a reference, we made the reservation in area B, we were also lucky enough to have a corner table, but you can’t choose, you reserve in an area and then they will assign you the table.

A last step before confirming your reservation, which is totally optional, is to buy objects that we are told will only be for sale at the time of reservation (that is, we will not be able to buy them once in the cafe). I bought two coasters, one of Cook Pikachu and one of Gengar.

The act of making the reservation itself is free, you only have to pay if you have purchased something. So, I paid for the cupholders and confirmed the reservation.

Don’t be scared when you receive the confirmation email, since it is almost all in Japanese.

How much does the Pokémon Cafe cost?

Making the reservation is free, what you spend will depend on how much you consume during your visit. There is no minimum consumption in terms of an amount of money, what is the minimum required is that each person orders something from the menu (this rule does not apply to babies). That is, if you only order a coffee it counts. But obviously, if you go, it’s because you’re a fan, and you won’t want to miss out on those adorable Pikachu desserts.

So now you know: when visiting the café you don’t necessarily have to make your entire meal, it is also perfectly valid to order only desserts and drinks. They won’t tell you anything, and there is no minimum consumption while you order something from the menu.

In our case, we ate the full meal, since we wanted to see the dishes. But, I think when I visit again next time, I will go just for the desserts.

What food is there and how can you order it?

At the Pokémon Cafe you can enjoy a delicious variety of food in adorable themed shapes. The menu includes sweet drinks, full dishes, desserts and coffees, all inspired by the popular Pokémon characters. It is important to note that the offering of drinks and dishes may vary depending on the season or if a new Pokémon game has been released recently.

When visiting the cafe, you do not need to place a complete food order. It is perfectly fine to order only desserts and drinks if you wish.

To place your order, use the tablet that is placed at your disposal at the table. Don’t worry about the language issue, since you can change the language to English.

Complete meals

The fixed menus are those of Snorlax, Pikachu and Eevee. Additionally, depending on the season, you will see special dishes on the menu, when we went, they had some special dishes about the initial pokemons of the 9th generation.

Drinks

Most of the drinks are sweet and, for example, when we went, there were drinks of the starter Pokemon Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly.

Other drinks available are Gengar smoothie, Eevee cold tea, Sinistea hot tea, among other drinks.

Coffees with Pokemon drawings

Of the coffees that can be ordered, in addition to coffee in a Pikachu cup, you can order a coffee in a pokeball cup in which you can also choose your favorite Pokemon to have it drawn on the foamed milk. The hardest thing will be to undo it.

In my case I ordered a coffee with a drawing of Cherrim.

What is it like to visit the Pokémon Cafe?

The arrival

Upon arriving at the Pokémon Cafe floor, you’ll be greeted by a giant surprise: a huge Snorlax ready to take a photo commemorating your visit! It’s simply epic. Right there, you will have access to both the cafe and the Pokémon Center. Two in one!

If you arrive early, you can walk around the Pokemon Center Tokyo DX first. This floor is really like a dream come true for any Pokémon fan.

We took a quick tour of the Pokemon Center DX and as the time for our reservation approached, we arrived at the cafe on time and lined up, eager to live this Pokemon adventure. Upon receiving us, they placed us at a table in area B, the one we had reserved. Additionally, a bag was waiting for us on the table: they were the cupholders that I had purchased when booking.

Of course, remember, a very important warning: when you enter the cafe, you have exactly 90 minutes to savor every moment. It is a fun time, but this time is to leave room for other trainers who arrive at the next reservation time. So, we dedicated ourselves to having a great time in that limited time!

Ordering the food

We placed our order using the tablet (that seems to be an iPad) that was placed on the table. Something very good is that, while the food arrives, we were able without any problem to get up from the table and explore the cafe, which is very pretty and has Pokémon decorations everywhere.

Our menus

In my case, I ordered the Pikachu menu and a Gengar smoothie (I also bought the glass)

Vincent ordered the Snorlax menu and a Fuecoco drink.

When you order a drink, they will give you a cupholder at random, someone from the restaurant will come and ask you to choose a number and depending on the one you choose, you will get a cupholder from a starter Pokémon, when we went the cupholders were from the 9th generation, and we got two of Sprigatito and two of Fuecoco, Quaxly definitely resisted us. The cupholder will change depending on the season.

Pikachu’s dance

During our stay the long-awaited moment of the Pikachu dance arrives, this time it was the Pikachu chef’s turn, and he came out to dance for a little while, it doesn’t matter if you don’t know Japanese you will still enjoy the moment.

And seeing a Pikachu mascot is always adorable.

And we ordered dessert!

Before leaving we ordered dessert, but only one to share, tea and coffee.

The dessert chosen was the Pikachu pancake, as for drinks: Vincent ordered an Eevee tea and I had a coffee with a drawing, this time I chose the cherry Pokémon Cherrim. Adorable.

The moment of departure

As the end of the 90 minutes approaches, the staff will approach the table to politely tell you, and they will also come to let you know when it is no longer possible to order more food.

All in a very friendly and cordial way, the truth it’s appreciated because one is so delighted with so many Pokémon that time is completely forgotten.

Pay at the checkout

At the time of checkout, you will be able to see the cafe’s exclusive items, like chef Pikachu plushies, spoons and forks, the pokeball cup, among others. Keep in mind that these are things that you can only buy in Pokémon cafes, so if you like one, don’t hesitate.

Pokémon Cafe FAQ

Is Pokémon Cafe worth it?

The answer to the question of whether Pokémon Cafe is worth it is a resounding yes. The experience is totally worth it, but it will be even better if you are a Pokemon fan.

We were delighted and happy after our visit to this special cafe. The location, in Nihonbashi in Tokyo, is perfect and easy to find. The cafe has a fun, colorful atmosphere, and the Pokemon themed food is delicious.

You can eat your favorite character while having fun. Plus, the Pokémon Cafe is permanent, so you don’t have to worry about losing it. You can reserve a table through the website and browse the cafe’s merchandising to take home a souvenir of your experience.

If you are planning to visit Tokyo, you will not regret coming to this place. The drinks and sweets are delicious, and Pikachu’s dance is very cute. In addition, access is easy to find, you only have to walk a few minutes from the subway station to reach the fifth floor of the Nihombashi Takashimaya shopping center.

In short, we recommend that you do not miss it and enjoy this unique experience at the Pokemon Cafe in Tokyo.