Guide · Akihabara

Part of: Pokémon Center Tokyo: Which One to Visit

Pokémon Cafe Tokyo: How Reservations Work, When They Open, and What to Do If You Miss Out

Pokémon Cafe Tokyo is on the 5th floor of Nihombashi Takashimaya S.C. East Building, directly connected to Nihombashi Station and five minutes from Tokyo Station, and it is reservation-only. Bookings are online only. Each month's dates have recently opened at 18:00 Japan time on the 1st of the month before; November 2026 opened on 1 October. Bookings stay open until 08:00 on the day itself. Your stay is 90 minutes. I run private anime tours in Akihabara most weeks, and this is the booking guide I give Pokémon fans.

Pokémon Center Tokyo DX is on the same floor, so the shop and the café make one stop.

When do Pokémon Cafe Tokyo reservations open?

From the official news, a whole month opens at once, at 18:00 JST on the 1st of the month before: September 2026 opened on 1 August, October on 1 September, November on 1 October. December 2026 had not been announced when I checked. Reservations close at 08:00 on the day you want, so cancelled seats can appear late.

The café says dates can change, and announces each opening on its NEWS page. For how this compares with other Tokyo bookings, what to book before your Tokyo trip has the full list; for the Akihabara day around it, my Akihabara anime tour needs no booking window at all.

What are the rules for a Pokémon Cafe booking?

From the official FAQ: one reservation per email address; groups of seven or more make several reservations; count children from age 0; no changes to the number of people after booking; cancel by 22:00 the day before. Arrive at least 15 minutes early in Tokyo. After ten minutes without notice the booking is cancelled. You stay 90 minutes, and everyone aged six and over orders at least one item.

Menus come in English, simplified Chinese and Korean. The café cannot change dishes for allergies; the allergen list is on the official site. The FAQ lists the credit cards it takes, including UnionPay and Discover in Tokyo.

Can you go to the Pokémon Cafe without a reservation?

To eat, only if there is a last-minute cancellation; the FAQ says seats are offered at the store only then. To shop, yes: you can enter just to buy goods, while stock lasts, with a limit of three of each item.

This is the honest section. Without a booking, plan for the shop, not the meal. Set an alarm for the 1st of the month before your trip at 18:00 Japan time, and check again early on the morning itself, before 08:00, when late cancellations can free a table. If you need two dates or two groups, each booking needs its own email address. Pokémon Center Tokyo DX next door needs no reservation; Pokémon Center Tokyo compares all the Tokyo branches, including Mega Tokyo in Ikebukuro, which has Pikachu Sweets by Pokémon Cafe beside it.

How do you get to Pokémon Cafe Tokyo?

Take the Ginza or Tōzai line to Nihombashi and use exit B2, which connects directly; or walk five minutes from JR Tokyo Station's Yaesu North exit; or four minutes from Nihombashi on the Asakusa line. The café asks guests to use public transport. Its Osaka branch is in Daimaru Shinsaibashi.

From Akihabara, Tokyo Station is a short ride on the JR line. If you shop tax-free on your trip, from 1 November 2026 you pay the tax at the till and get it back after a customs check at the airport.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a reservation for Pokémon Cafe Tokyo? Yes, to eat. It is reservation-only, booked online. You can enter without one to buy goods.

When do Pokémon Cafe reservations open? Recently, at 18:00 JST on the 1st of the month before, for the whole next month. Check the official NEWS page for each month.

Can I book Pokémon Cafe on the same day? Yes, if seats remain. Online booking stays open until 08:00 on the day.

How long can you stay at the Pokémon Cafe? 90 minutes from your reservation time, with last orders 30 minutes before the end.

Where is Pokémon Cafe Tokyo? On the 5th floor of Nihombashi Takashimaya S.C. East Building, 2-11-2 Nihombashi, with direct access from Nihombashi Station exit B2.

A booked table in Nihombashi, a walk-in day in Akihabara

If you would like an anime day that needs no booking alarm, Adventure in Akihabara with Anime is my private half-day walk, three to four hours, never shared with other guests. The price is on the tour page.

About the author. I am Yuuki, a Japanese teacher and Akihabara anime tour guide based in Tokyo. I run private anime tours here most weeks, rated 4.96★ on Airbnb across 171 reviews. I have watched over 1,500 anime series, which is either a qualification or a warning depending on your point of view.

See the Akihabara anime tour →

Sources: Pokémon Cafe, Official website (Tokyo address and access; Osaka location; reservation-only), FAQ (booking until 08:00 on the day; one booking per email; seat types; cancelling; arrival; 90-minute stay; one item per person aged 6 and over; menus in English; allergies; show about 10 minutes; goods-only entry; three of each item; payment) and NEWS posts for November, October and September 2026 (opening dates and times). All checked 4 October 2026. Menu prices and opening hours are deliberately not given.