Pokémon Center Shibuya is one of the main four Pokémon Centers located in Tokyo. Its main mascot character is Mewtwo as seen by the life sized statue inside the container at the front of the store. This location is unique for its very stylized and rather dark decorations and theming along with the stylish Shibuya spin.
The front display window at the store entrance displays the latest merchandise in the store. At this time a whole bunch of new Mega Evolution Pokémon plushies and merch had released along with re-releases of the classic starter Pokémon plushies. In celebration of the 30th anniversary a whole line of merch around the starter Pokémon of each generation is also steadily being released and these were the current generations available.
There are a lot of special details in the entryway and throughout the store like behind the Mewtwo statue are a bunch of Pokémon stats and Tsunekazu Ishihara‘s (president and chief executive officer of The Pokémon Company) signature.
If you look to your left and right as you enter into the main store you’ll also spot these amazing Mewtwo and Mew graffiti artworks done by the famous Japanese graffiti artist known as Number-D.
The Pokémon Design Lab is unique to Pokémon Center Shibuya and is a special service where customers can design their own T-shirts from the available exclusive designs and artwork available. There are plenty of examples on display and the latest available designs are usually displayed at the front entrance. They have various sizes available even for children and it’s a unique souvenir you can only get here.
T-shirt design time generally takes up to 20 minutes after customers are called up to the design lab. It takes roughly an hour afterward for the t-shirts to be completed and ready for pickup and staff will also inform you if there are any production delays otherwise. Customers can pay at the register when their pickup time arrives and collect the T-shirts a the special pick up area at the exit.
For those who are interested in this unique and exclusive experience at the Pokémon Design Lab be sure to check the official news as sometimes the lab is closed or set for limited entry especially during high traffic times like holiday seasons and weekends. Check out our tips and tricks below for more information.
The entrance was filled with Pokemon Fit plushies fully stocked to go along with the special summer campaign where customers could receive special extras free for a purchase of multiple plushies. It’s also a plushie series I highly recommend to people because they are all roughly the same size and tend to fit in more of the popular plushie centered bags and carriers. Many nui-katsu plushie collector accessories also tend to fit on them like hats, capes, and etc. so you often see lots of fans dolling up their favorite Pokémon which is perfect for fans of all ages. If you have a favorite Pokémon and are having a hard time finding their merch in store be sure to talk to the staff for help.
There’s a large screen in the middle of the store that shows lots of cool and cute original videos of Pokémon. This one was of the Eeveelutions.
Pokopia merch is still coming out and filled with lots of cute and useful additions. I was really tempted to pick up some of the block bags because they’re so detailed having the main characters matching the types of blocks and adorable Ditto themed lining on the inside with a star shaped keychain as a bonus.
The latest 30th anniversary merch featuring each generation of starter Pokémon was also fully in stock and on display. Those who are fans of the first few generations who fear missing out have no fear as they keep restocking the previous releases as well so everyone will have their chance to get a little something from their favorite starter gens.
Of course no merch lineup from a large franchise would be complete without blind boxes. The Pokémon display figures are always amazing bang for your buck in my opinion. There’s a design vibe or Pokémon out there for everyone so be sure to check it out and see if you want to try your gacha luck!
The Pokémon Trading Card Game section is a bit smaller at this store mostly because the cards themselves are always stocked behind the register. That being said a lot of the older designs of playmats and other accessories are in stock so it’s a must see for collectors. Be sure to look up information about specific Pokémon card packs and decks you want to purchase beforehand as the Pokémon Centers are starting to implement more limited releases to prevent scalping.
The latest Pokémon game releases for the Switch 2 are fully stocked at their own unique display stands along with previous releases on the Switch.
A lot of older games are also in stock but mostly as digital download cards. At the bottom there are several guides for the games as well so be sure to check them out.
If you’re a block building fan then be sure to check out the extensive collection of Pokémon Nanoblocks as well while in Japan. While smaller than more traditional block building toys like LEGO they are still very detailed and the smaller sizes are great for detailed displays or for souvenirs that don’t take up too much space.
There is a huge selection of special B-Side Label stickers and acrylic charms. B-Side Label is one of my favorite design teams in Japan mostly known for their sticker designs. They’ve branched out in recent years to include even more merchandise and collaborate with big IP like Pokémon, Capcom, and Shueisha. Currently they’ve made stickers for the first 151 Pokémon and other special ones for starter Pokémon, gym leaders, and now the 30th anniversary. They’re a great small souvenir and are even UV and water resistant so you can decorate your suitcases, binders, and even water bottles with them.
Finally the Monpoke section for those who need to get things for their little ones. This one was very well stocked and even had the Lee tote bags that are in pretty high demand here right now since they’re great diaper bags and just for everyday use. There’s everything from books, toys, clothes, and utensils. Anything you can imagine you’d want for your littlest upcoming trainers.
Don’t forget to look back after you checkout or you might miss out on these Pokémon waving you goodbye! If you look closely behind them in the store you’ll also spot some more official signatures. This area also has event pop-ups so be sure to check out if there are any events happening during your visit.
Tips & Tricks
When to visit? Arrive early to beat the crowds. Most popular shopping destinations in Japan get very crowded from the afternoon onward especially on the weekend and some stores are forced to turn away customers. For those who specifically want to use the Pokémon Design Lab it’s best to visit during weekdays as well.
Pokémon Design Lab Limited Entry Time: During peak crowded periods the Pokémon Design Lab will either close or change to a lottery system on the application LINE. This usually occurs a week or so before the specified busy time so be sure to check the news for the latest information: https://shop.pokemon.co.jp/ja/shop/pokemoncenter-shibuya/news/
What About Nintendo? A lucky bonus for those who visit this Pokémon Center is that if you’re also a fan of other Nintendo IP the official store is just in front of Pokémon Center Shibuya. It has everything from Mario, The Legend of Zelda, to Splatoon and Animal Crossing.
Have you visited Pokémon Center Shibuya before? How was your experience? What kind of merch do you want to buy or see at the store next? Let us know you thoughts in the comments!
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