Sometimes, when you’re excited about a place or idea, you can picture it in your head. Place a person or an attraction on a pedestal? Absolute. I’ve always wanted to visit the Pokemon Center store in Japan, even though I know I could easily visit just once. Order some items online. I finally got the chance to do just that when I stopped by Pokemon Center Osaka DX and Pokemon Cafe in Osaka, Japan, and it was everything I wanted it to be… for better or worse.
The first thing I expected was a grand spectacle, and the Pokemon Center Osaka DX store and Pokemon Cafe delivered just that. There are three different ways of placing the statue. The most eye-catching are the three legendary birds Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres. However, to the left of them is the display with bright red And purple Starting with Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly along with Pikachu and Meowth. (When I visited, they were dressed for the holidays.) On the right, in front of the restaurant, there are two statues of two Pikachu dressed as chefs. (Of course, you can buy deluxe versions of each.) They have big screens, and I’m actually surprised more people aren’t using them for selfies. Rather, people seemed more respectful of the situation and instead stood back and took photos from a distance. Given the crowd, I was surprised at how easy it was to take my photos!
I was expecting a lot of merchandise at the Pokemon Center store and rightfully so. Pokemon Cafe is more limited in quantity and has items that are often more practical. Affordable silverware with the restaurant logo on top is plentiful. There is one Pawmi glass I almost bought, but was afraid it wouldn’t last the flight home due to how it was done it seems delicate. Every chef Pikachu plush, both keychain standards and sizesappear. But Pokemon Center DX proper offers so much that it’s almost overwhelming. Plush is everywhere, with plenty of Sitting Cuties giving even unremarkable characters like Pikachu or beginners their moment. The new line of sleeping characters appear in their own section. There are accessories and items associated with the game. People can buy tickets for the new show Pokemon Collection 2024 Kuji: Welcome to Pokemon Home. An entire area of the store is dedicated to Pokemon card trading game. You can get samples Pokemon friends and play on either machine. It’s a lot.
Admittedly, I thought things would be this rich. But I also didn’t expect to see one of my favorite types of travel kiosks. The Pokemon Center Osaka DX store has a coin press. Well, here it is advertised as a Medal souvenir coin vending machine. For 200 yen, you can buy one of three designs. A characteristic of three Pokemon Scarlet And purple start together. The other pairs Eevee and Sylveon. The third picture shows two Pikachus above the Pokemon Center Osaka DX logo. (Naturally, I grabbed all three.) I was surprised and delighted to see that even someone with a bit of change could get a memorable trophy that couldn’t be found anywhere else.
Of course, not all expectations are met well. The things I was worried about were also proven correct. Pokemon Center Osaka DX and Pokemon Cafe were absolutely crowded. Now, I visited on November 21, 2024, which was two days before Labor Thanksgiving Day. So the amount of people I saw there was probably due to that holiday. However, both areas in Shinsaibashi Daimaru were packed with people. The line at the front of the cafe, which was the shorter of the two, took me 15 minutes to get through. I didn’t see anyone lining up to visit Pokemon Cafe if you don’t have a reservation in the 40-odd minutes I spent checking out the place. This is a tourist hotspot and you need to take that into account if you visit.
I also expected an actual Pokemon Center store to be expensive. Again, yes! Given the current exchange rate between the US dollar and the yen, it’s not too bad. But the variety of available products and possibilities means it can be a very expensive experience if someone comes in with a large wish list. Especially if they make reservations at the Pokemon Cafe and will incur additional costs. I didn’t bring too much as I only picked up one of the exclusive Chef Pikachu plush toys, a Pokemon Cafe Pikachu spoon, and three of the crush medals with Pokemon characters on them. But I can totally see someone getting carried away at the moment.
Visiting the Pokemon Center DX store and Pokemon Cafe in Osaka will always be something I remember forever. Not just because I can cross it off my bucket list! Largely because it was the exact experience I wanted. I want it to be just a moment. I wanted it to stand out and leave an impression. I wanted to bring a special Pikachu that I couldn’t find anywhere else. Yes, it also means facing huge crowds and missing out on the opportunity to eat at Pokemon Cafe as a result. But it’s great to know that this is truly one of the places worth going.
The Pokemon Center Osaka DX store and Pokemon Cafe restaurant can be found on the 9th floor of Shinsaibashi Daimaru at 1-7-1, Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi in Osaka, Japan.
