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Pokémon Cafe reservations in Tokyo and Osaka: when bookings open, the time in your country, prices and the rules on the day
The Pokémon Cafe has two branches, in Nihombashi in Tokyo and in Shinsaibashi in Osaka, and both take guests by online reservation only. This guide sets out when each month's bookings have opened in 2026, what that time is in London, New York, Los Angeles and Sydney, how to book and what you need, what happens if you have no reservation, how the two cafes differ, what the food and the reservation-only goods cost, and the rules on arriving, staying and cancelling. Every time, price and rule below comes from the cafe's official English pages, its two reservation sites and the Pokémon Center store pages, read on 15 October 2026, and each page is listed under Sources at the end.
Last checked · Sources
In short
The Pokémon Cafe in Tokyo and the Pokémon Cafe in Osaka take reservations online only, on a separate reservation site for each branch, and not by phone or email. In 2026, each month's bookings opened at 6:00 p.m. Japan time on the 1st of the month before (for example, all of November opened on Thursday 1 October), and the cafe announced each date on its NEWS page one to two weeks ahead. Bookings for December 2026 had not been announced on 15 October 2026. Seats without a reservation are offered only when there are last-minute cancellations, but the cafe's goods can be bought without one. A stay is 90 minutes, everyone aged 6 and over orders at least one item, and main dishes cost 2,530 yen. Reservations can be cancelled online until 10:00 p.m. Japan time the day before.
How to get a Pokémon Cafe reservation
There is one way in: book online. Every notice the cafe posts about new dates ends with the same line: "Reservations can only be made online. Please note that we do not accept reservations by phone or email." The cafe's FAQ is just as short: "This store requires a reservation."
Tokyo and Osaka each have their own reservation site, so a booking for one cafe is made on that cafe's site. The cafe's official website links to both from its reservation page. Both sites open with a page of terms to read before you choose a date, and the main rules from those terms are set out further down.
When do Pokémon Cafe reservations open?
At 6:00 p.m. Japan time, on a date the cafe announces on its NEWS page. Through 2026 the cafe opened one month of dates at a time, on the 1st of the month before. The notice for November is typical: "Reservations open at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, 2026." It covered every date from 1 to 30 November, and added: "* All dates in the above period will be available for reservation."
These are the rounds the cafe announced in 2026, as listed on its NEWS page on 15 October 2026. The notices do not name one branch, and the cafe's reservation page leads to both.
| Dates you could book | Bookings opened (6:00 p.m. Japan time) | Notice posted |
|---|---|---|
| 8 to 31 July 2026 | Sun 7 June 2026 | Mon 1 June 2026 |
| August 2026 | Wed 1 July 2026 | Fri 19 June 2026 |
| September 2026 | Sat 1 August 2026 | Thu 23 July 2026 |
| October 2026 | Tue 1 September 2026 | Fri 21 August 2026 |
| November 2026 | Thu 1 October 2026 | Fri 18 September 2026 |
| December 2026 | Not announced yet | Not posted yet |
One booking round, in numbers
- 6:00 p.m.Japan time, when bookings open
- 1 monthof dates opened at a time
- 6 to 13 daysbetween the notice and the opening, in 2026
What 6:00 p.m. in Japan is in your time zone
Japan Standard Time is nine hours ahead of UTC all year, because Japan does not change its clocks, so 6:00 p.m. in Japan is always 09:00 UTC. The UK, the United States and Sydney do change their clocks. On the 1st of each month from December to March, the UK and the United States are on winter time and Sydney is on summer time.
| 6:00 p.m. Japan time on | London | New York | Los Angeles | Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The 1st of December, January, February or March | 09:00 the same day | 04:00 the same day | 01:00 the same day | 20:00 the same day |
The local times were worked out for this guide from the official clock-change dates for the UK, the United States and New South Wales, which are listed in the sources. They apply only if the cafe opens a round at 6:00 p.m. Japan time on the 1st, as it did through 2026.
Sunday 1 November 2026 is a special case, because it is the day the clocks go back in the United States. At 6:00 p.m. in Japan it is 09:00 in London, 04:00 in New York and 20:00 in Sydney, and in Los Angeles it is the moment the clocks go back, which shows as 1:00 a.m.
In Europe and the Americas, then, a round opens in the early morning or the middle of the night. In Sydney it opens in the evening.
How to book the Pokémon Cafe
Both reservation sites work the same way. The steps below follow the cafe's FAQ and the terms on the first page of each site.
Booking a table
- Open the right site: the cafe's official website has a reservation page with one link for Pokémon Cafe TOKYO and one for Pokémon Cafe OSAKA. Read the terms on the first page.
- Verify your email: the site sends an authentication code to your email address. If it does not arrive, check your spam folder and your email settings.
- Choose the date, time and party: pick a free time slot and give the number of guests. "Please include children aged 0 and above in the number of guests when booking."
- Add special goods if you want them: "When you proceed with your reservation, you will be able to select the goods." They are paid for by credit card. More on these further down.
- Keep the completion email: it has your reservation number and the link for cancelling.
You can book a date up to the morning of the day itself, if anything is left: the FAQ asks you to book "by 8:00 AM on the day of the desired reservation."
What you need before bookings open
Ready to book
- An email address for each booking."If you want to make reservations for multiple dates, please make sure to have another email address since you cannot make multiple reservations with the same email address."
- A phone numberthat works while you travel. The cafe may contact you at the phone number and email address you give, and the terms say a reservation may be cancelled if the cafe cannot reach you.
- The exact number of guests, babies included. "After completing a reservation, we do not accept changes to the number of people."
- A credit card, if you want the special goods: VISA, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club or Discover. "Certain debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted."
- A supported browser.The FAQ lists recent versions of Edge, Firefox and Chrome on Windows 10 and 11, Safari, Firefox and Chrome on the latest macOS, the latest iOS, and Chrome on Android 13.0 or later.
- Your Japan time.Work out when 6:00 p.m. in Japan falls where you are, using the table above.
Groups, seats and children
Each cafe has three seat types, and the site shows which are free for each time slot.
| Seat type | Pokémon Cafe TOKYO | Pokémon Cafe OSAKA |
|---|---|---|
| A | 2 to 4 guests | 2 to 6 guests |
| B | 1 to 2 guests | 2 to 6 guests |
| C | 1 to 6 guests | 1 to 6 guests |
"Seats cannot be specified." A group of six or fewer makes one booking. "For groups of 7 or more, please make multiple reservations," each with its own email address. If two bookings want to sit near each other, the FAQ asks you to book them under the same name, at the same time and in the same seat type, and to tell the cafe in advance; it will try, but it cannot promise.
The rules that can cost you the booking
Can you go to the Pokémon Cafe without a reservation?
Not for a table, in most cases. The FAQ says: "We will offer seats at the store only if there are last-minute cancellations." So a walk-in seat depends on someone else cancelling on the day, and the cafe does not promise one.
The shop counter is different. "You can visit the store only to purchase the goods," says the FAQ, and every booking notice adds: "* Merchandise is available for purchase without reservation." The cafe's goods page puts it the same way: "You can purchase these goods without reserving a seat too!" Two limits apply: quantities are limited, and "Purchase of the goods is limited to 3 items per 1 product."
No reservation? Two things you can still do
- Buy the cafe's goods: at either cafe, without a booking, up to three of each item while stock lasts.
- Go to Pikachu Sweets in Ikebukuro: a takeout shop run by the Pokémon Cafe in Tokyo, with no reservations at all.
Pikachu Sweets by Pokémon Cafe, the shop with no booking
The cafe's own page for it starts with the point: "Pikachu Sweets by Pokémon Cafe is a takeout shop that requires no reservations." Its FAQ adds: "No reservation is needed for Pikachu Sweets by Pokémon Cafe. Walk-ins are welcome."
It is not a sit-down meal, and there is no show, but it needs no planning at all. Our Otome Road guide covers the anime shops around Sunshine City, a short walk from Ikebukuro Station.
Pokémon Cafe Tokyo vs Osaka: what differs
The two cafes share the same booking rules, the same 90-minute stay and the same menu and show since 17 June 2026. The new menu notice lists both branches under Available Locations. What differs is the city, the hours, the seats and a few details on the day.
| Pokémon Cafe TOKYO | Pokémon Cafe OSAKA | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Nihombashi Takashimaya S.C. East Building, 5th floor | DAIMARU SHINSAIBASHI Main Building, 9th floor |
| Hours | 10:30 to 21:00 | 10:00 to 20:00 |
| Last reservation slot | 7:30 p.m. | 6:00 p.m. |
| Last orders | 8:30 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. |
| Arrive before your time | 15 minutes (10 minutes for the 10:40 a.m. A-seat slot) | 10 minutes |
| Seat types | A 2–4, B 1–2, C 1–6 guests | A 2–6, B 2–6, C 1–6 guests |
| Cards at the cafe | Includes Discover and UnionPay | Includes UnionPay, not Discover |
| Pokémon Center nearby | Pokémon Center TOKYO DX | Pokémon Center OSAKA DX |
Each cafe has its own reservation site, so a booking for Tokyo is no use in Osaka, and the other way round.
Pokémon Cafe Tokyo, in Nihombashi
The Tokyo cafe is a 5-minute walk from the Yaesu North Entrance of JR Tokyo Station. Its reservation site gives the hours as "from 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM. Last admission for customers with reservations will be from the 7:30 PM time slot, and last orders will be taken at 8:30 PM." In May 2026 the cafe also announced: "The interior of Pokémon Cafe TOKYO is being renovated!" The renovation brings a new stage for the show described below, and the notice adds: " Only Pokémon Cafe TOKYO is undergoing an interior renovation."
The Pokémon Center store page lists Pokémon Center TOKYO DX as the nearby facility, so a visit to the cafe and a visit to the shop go together well.
Pokémon Cafe Osaka, in Shinsaibashi
The Osaka cafe opens earlier and closes earlier. Its reservation site says: "current hours are from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. *Last admission for the customer with reservation will be from 6:00 PM, and we will have last call for orders at 7:00 PM." It is directly connected to Shinsaibashi Station on the Midosuji Line by an underground passage, and the store page lists Pokémon Center OSAKA DX as the nearby facility.
If your trip covers both cities, the 2026 notices gave one opening time, not one for each branch, so pick the city where your free afternoon or evening falls. For a group of five or six, Osaka has more seat types to choose from: its A, B and C seats all take up to 6 guests, while in Tokyo only C seats do.
Pokémon Cafe menu and prices
All prices on the cafe's menu page include tax. These are the prices read on 15 October 2026, for the menu that started on 17 June 2026. The menu page notes that the Kids Menu is only for children aged 12 and under.
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Main dishes (curry rice plate, teriyaki burger, omelet with corn stew) | 2,530 yen each |
| Pokémon Cafe Kids Plate, The Pikachu Hamburger (12 and under, with 3 coasters) | 1,540 yen |
| Desserts (Pika Pika Parfait, fruit pancake) | 2,090 yen each |
| Soda floats, smoothie, fruit tea set, matcha latte | 1,265 yen each |
| Milk tea and white peach drink | 1,375 yen each |
| Choose Your Pokémon Latte, coffee with a Pikachu Tail-cookie | 935 yen each |
| Cocoa, apple or orange juice, cola, oolong tea | 715 yen each |
| Drinks with a take-home mug, glass or tumbler | 1,705 to 3,465 yen |
What a table might cost
- 6,600 yentwo adults with a main dish each and a child with the Kids Plate
- 715 yenthe lowest order for one person, a cocoa, juice, cola or oolong tea
The one-item rule, the show and the stickers
The FAQ is clear: "We request all guests aged 6 and older to order at least 1 item per person." Children under 6 do not have to order, but they still count as guests on the booking. Food stays at the cafe: "We request that you not take home the food."
Since 17 June 2026 both cafes have run a show called Let's Make a Pika Pika Parfait, where you make the parfait together with Pikachu. The FAQ says: "The show lasts approximately 10 minutes." The show can change or stop, and the notice warns that in that case "refunds for food, beverages, or merchandise will not be provided, and reservations cannot be rescheduled or transferred to another date."
Drinks come with a small extra: "For each drink you order, you will receive one sticker featuring the Pokémon 30th Anniversary logo (Pokémon Cafe version)!" There are three designs, you cannot choose one, and the stickers last while supplies do.
Before you order
- Allergies: the FAQ says the cafe cannot change the menu or remove allergens, and points to an allergy table on its website. Check it before you book.
- Babies: "please only bring pre-packaged baby food that has not been opened," and tell the staff when you come in. Infant cutlery is available in limited numbers.
- Menus: "We offer menus in English, simplified Chinese, and Korean."
- Strollers and wheelchairs: both are fine. Tell the staff when you come in, and the stroller is kept at a set place.
Reservation-only special goods
When you book, the site offers a short list of goods that only guests with a reservation can buy. The goods page puts it simply: "Reserve a seat at the Pokémon Cafe to get some special goods!"
The ordinary goods are on sale to everyone, with or without a booking. On the goods page the Chef, Waitress and Patissier Pikachu plushes are 2,640 yen each and the Poké Ball mug is 1,430 yen.
On the day: arriving, your 90 minutes and cancelling
Your visit, step by step
- Arrive early: in Tokyo, "at least 15 minutes before your reservation time," or 10 minutes before for the 10:40 a.m. A-seat slot. In Osaka, 10 minutes before.
- Tell the staff when you come inif you have a stroller, a wheelchair or baby food.
- Order: at least one item for each guest aged 6 and over. Special goods you reserved are handed over on the day.
- Watch the clock: "Your stay is 90 minutes from the time of your reservation. Last call for orders is 30 minutes before the end of your stay."
- Shop: the goods counter is open to everyone, with a limit of three of each item.
The 90 minutes start at your reservation time, not when you sit down: "We do not accept extensions on your stay even if you arrive later than the time of the reservation."
How to get to Pokémon Cafe Tokyo
Both cafes are inside department-store buildings in the city centre, close to stations. The cafe's website asks guests not to come by car: "Nearby roads and parking lots are extremely crowded. Please use public transportation to visit our cafe." Leave time for a delay, because a booking is cancelled once 10 minutes have passed without notice to the cafe, even when the train is late.
The Tokyo address is Nihombashi Takashimaya S.C. East Building 5F, 2-11-2 Nihombashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo.
Three ways in
- JR Tokyo Station: "5-minute walk from the Yaesu North Entrance".
- Nihombashi Station, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line or Tozai Line: use the B2 entrance.
- Nihombashi Station, Toei Asakusa Line: a 4-minute walk.
How to get to Pokémon Cafe Osaka
The address is DAIMARU SHINSAIBASHI Main Building 9F, 1-7-1 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo-ku, Osaka.
One way in
- Shinsaibashi Station, Osaka Metro Midosuji Line: Exit 4 is directly connected to the building by an underground passage.
Planning the rest of the day? Our anime guide to Japan covers the other big anime stops, and our Pokémon card guide covers where to buy cards in Tokyo.
Frequently asked questions
When do Pokémon Cafe reservations open?
In 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Japan time on the 1st of the month before, for the whole of the next month, with a notice on the cafe's NEWS page one to two weeks ahead. November 2026 opened on Thursday 1 October. Dates from 1 December 2026 had not been announced on 15 October 2026.
Can you go to the Pokémon Cafe without a reservation?
Only if a seat comes free. The FAQ says: "We will offer seats at the store only if there are last-minute cancellations." Pikachu Sweets by Pokémon Cafe in Ikebukuro is a takeout shop that needs no reservation.
Can you buy Pokémon Cafe merch without a reservation?
Yes. "You can visit the store only to purchase the goods," up to three of each item while stock lasts. Only the special goods chosen while booking need a reservation.
Can you cancel a Pokémon Cafe reservation?
Yes, online until 10:00 p.m. Japan time the day before, through the link in the completion email or the Confirm Your Reservation page. On the day itself, call the cafe directly. Special goods bought with the booking are cancelled with it.
Which is better, Pokémon Cafe Tokyo or Osaka?
They share the booking rules, the 90-minute stay, the menu and the show. Tokyo is open later (last reservation slot 7:30 p.m.) and is near Tokyo Station. Osaka opens at 10:00 and is directly connected to Shinsaibashi Station; its A, B and C seats all take up to 6 guests. Book the cafe in the city you will be in.
How much does the Pokémon Cafe cost?
You pay for what you order, and everyone aged 6 and over orders at least one item. Main dishes are 2,530 yen, desserts 2,090 yen, the Kids Plate 1,540 yen and the cheapest drinks 715 yen, with tax included.
Is the Pokémon Cafe good for kids?
It has a Kids Plate for children aged 12 and under, infant cutlery in limited numbers, a place to keep strollers, and it lets you bring sealed baby food. Children under 6 do not have to order, but every child, babies included, counts in the number of guests on the booking. The cafe cannot change dishes for allergies.
Where is the Pokémon Cafe in Tokyo?
On the 5th floor of the Nihombashi Takashimaya S.C. East Building in Nihombashi, Chuo-ku, a 5-minute walk from the Yaesu North Entrance of JR Tokyo Station.
Sources
Official and primary sources used for this page. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Pokémon Cafe: reservation page — the links to the Tokyo and Osaka reservation sites
- Pokémon Cafe: FAQ — booking, email addresses, guests and seats, walk-ins, special goods, the 90-minute stay, cancelling, the menu, children, payment
- Pokémon Cafe: FAQ (Japanese) — the same answers in Japanese, to check the English
- Pokémon Cafe: Tokyo and Osaka — prices include tax, public transportation
- Pokémon Cafe: menu — dishes, drinks and prices, the Kids Menu age
Show all 24 sources
- Pokémon Cafe: allergy information (PDF) — the allergy table
- Pokémon Cafe: goods — goods without a reservation, special goods, prices, limits
- Pokémon Cafe: NEWS — the list of booking notices
- Pokémon Cafe: November 2026 bookings — opened 1 October 2026, December not yet announced
- Pokémon Cafe: October 2026 bookings — opened 1 September 2026
- Pokémon Cafe: September 2026 bookings — opened 1 August 2026
- Pokémon Cafe: August 2026 bookings — opened 1 July 2026
- Pokémon Cafe: July 2026 bookings — dates from 8 July opened 7 June 2026
- Pokémon Cafe: new menu and show from 17 June 2026 — the show, the drink stickers, the Tokyo renovation
- Pokémon Cafe: new menu details — new items, prices and both branches
- Pikachu Sweets by Pokémon Cafe — the takeout shop with no reservations
- Pokémon Center: Pokémon Cafe TOKYO — hours, address, directions, nearby Pokémon Center
- Pokémon Center: Pokémon Cafe OSAKA — hours, address, directions, nearby Pokémon Center
- NICT: Japan Standard Time — JST is UTC+9 with no clock changes
- GOV.UK: When do the clocks change? — UK clock-change dates
- NIST: Daylight Saving Time — US clock-change dates
- NIST: Local Time FAQs — US time zones
- NSW Government: Daylight saving — Sydney clock-change dates
- Bureau of Meteorology: Daylight saving time — Australian time zones
Related guides
To cite or link to this page: Pokémon Cafe reservations in Tokyo and Osaka: when bookings open, the time in your country, prices and the rules on the day — Japan Pocket Guide, https://japanpocketguide.com/things-to-do/pokemon-cafe-reservation/