In June 2026, the Pokémon Cafe in Nihombashi, Tokyo reopened after being closed for renovations for about three months!
The interior layout and menu have been refreshed, and the Pikachu show has also changed significantly.
After visiting in person, I found that the view of the show differs depending on whether you choose Area A, B or C when making your reservation.
In this article, I’ll take you inside the renovated Pokémon Cafe Tokyo and share what I found, including the new layout, which seating area I recommend, the Pikachu show time and experience, and the latest food and drink menu.
For details on how to make a reservation, see my separate guide!
日本語版はこちら：Click here.
- Pokémon Cafe Tokyo Is Directly Connected to Nihombashi Station Underground
- There Is Still a Same-Day Cancellation Waiting Line After the Renovation
- Entry Begins 10 Minutes Before the Reservation Time
- The Pikachu Show Time Is Announced When You Enter
- Fewer Guests Enter at Each Time Slot Than I Expected
- Inside the Renovated Pokémon Cafe Tokyo
- Which Seating Area Is Best?
- Pikachu Chef Appears! A 10-Minute Show
- Our Meal Cost ¥7,700 for Two People
- The Same Placemat Design Is Now Used at Every Table
- Go! Greninja! Smokescreen White Peach Drink
- Poltchageist and Sinistcha’s Hospitality-Matcha Latte
- Get a Pokémon 30th Anniversary Sticker with Every Drink
- Best Buddies Pikachu & Pichu’s Curry Rice Plate
- Snorlax’s Naptime Teriyaki Burger
- Be Careful If You Have Food Allergies
- Check the Merchandise Area Before You Leave
- Final Thoughts
Pokémon Cafe Tokyo Is Directly Connected to Nihombashi Station Underground
Pokémon Cafe Tokyo is located on the 5th floor of the Nihombashi Takashimaya S.C. East Building.
This is what the street-level entrance looks like.
I had always entered from here on previous visits, but this time I discovered for the first time that there is an elevator connecting the East Building directly to the underground passage from Nihombashi Station, served by Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway.
After leaving the ticket gates and following signs toward the Takashimaya East Building, I found a sign for “Nihombashi Takashimaya S.C. East Building / Pokémon Center TOKYO DX & Pokémon Cafe.”
As soon as you enter the building, you will find the elevator hall. Take the elevator up to the 5th floor.
After getting off on the 5th floor and passing through the Pokémon-themed doors…
…you arrive right in front of the Snorlax statue outside Pokémon Center TOKYO DX!
With this route, you can get all the way from the subway to the Pokémon Cafe without going outside at all, even on a rainy day.
If you are arriving by subway, this is the route I recommend.
There Is Still a Same-Day Cancellation Waiting Line After the Renovation
The Pokémon Cafe requires advance reservations, but there is also a same-day cancellation waiting line.
I did not count everyone precisely, but there appeared to be around 20 people waiting on the day of my visit.
However, guests in this line are offered a table only if a same-day cancellation occurs, so waiting does not guarantee entry.
It is best to secure a reservation before visiting.
Entry Begins 10 Minutes Before the Reservation Time
Our reservation was for 7:00 p.m.
When we arrived at 6:50 p.m., guests were already being shown inside.
At the entrance, there is now a display case filled with samples of the food and drinks. The whole entrance area also seemed brighter and more open than before.
The Pikachu Show Time Is Announced When You Enter
Before the renovation, the Pokémon Cafe did not officially guarantee that a Pikachu greeting would take place (at least, that was the official position).
This time, however, there was a notice at the entrance for the show “Let’s Make Pika Pika Parfait”, complete with a scheduled start time!
On the day of our visit, the show was scheduled to begin at around 7:45 p.m. and last approximately 10 minutes.
One of three Pikachu characters appears during the show, dressed as either a waitress, chef or pâtissier. Which one you get to meet is a surprise!
Each reservation gives you 90 minutes in the café.
Fewer Guests Enter at Each Time Slot Than I Expected
The 7:00 p.m. slot for Area A was shown as fully booked on the reservation website.
This reservation had been difficult to secure, and because it was right around dinner time, I expected the café to be packed.
However, when we entered, there were only about three other groups already seated.
There were still many empty tables throughout the café, suggesting that “fully booked” on the reservation site does not necessarily mean that every physical table in that area will be occupied.
The number of guests accepted for each time slot may be more limited than the actual number of tables would suggest.
Inside the Renovated Pokémon Cafe Tokyo
I put together a simple floor map of the renovated café.
When making a reservation, you choose from Areas A, B and C. However, the actual café is divided into four rows, and the reservation areas do not correspond one-to-one with the Pokémon type-themed sections.
Area A: Electric-Type Seating with Sofas at Every Table
At the very back of the café is Area A, themed around Electric-type Pokémon.
We were assigned table A7, featuring Morpeko!
Each table features a different Electric-type Pokémon, including Ampharos and Bellibolt, so you will not know which Pokémon you get until the day of your visit.
Area B Extends from the Water-Type Row into Part of the Grass-Type Row
Next to Area A is a row of Water-type tables belonging to Area B.
Area B continues to the opposite side of the screens and extends partway into the Grass-type row.
Area C Includes Grass-Type and Fire-Type Seating
Partway along the Grass-type row, the seating changes from Area B to Area C, which continues through to the row nearest the entrance.
The sofa seats along the wall are themed around Fire-type Pokémon.
Tables may be joined together depending on the size of each group, so exact table numbers and positions can vary. On the day of my visit, however, C1 through C7 were in the Grass-type section,
while C11 through C17 were in the Fire-type section.
Which Seating Area Is Best?
One of the biggest questions when making a reservation is, Which area should I choose?
I had heard that Area A might be the best option, so I worked hard to secure an A reservation.
But after actually visiting, my conclusion was: “I probably should have chosen B.”
Of course, the best choice depends on what matters most to you, but this was my impression:
- Choose A if comfortable seating is your priority — every table has a sofa
- Choose B if you want to see the character up close
- In C, roughly one-third of the seats are very close to the character, while around two-thirds have sofa seating similar to A
Now let’s take a closer look at what actually happened during the Pikachu show.
Pikachu Chef Appears! A 10-Minute Show
At around the scheduled time of 7:45 p.m., Pikachu Chef appeared from the kitchen side of the café!
The show during our visit was the new post-renovation performance, “Let’s Make a Pika Pika Parfait”.
Pikachu Chef stands between the two large screens and dances along with the animation and music displayed behind him.
During the show, Pikachu spent roughly half the time facing each side of the screens.
However, guests are not allowed to stand up to watch the show, and holding a camera above your head to take photos is also prohibited.
From our table, A7, guests seated in front of us sometimes blocked the view, so there were several moments when Pikachu was partially hidden.
And when Pikachu was facing the opposite side of the café, of course, all we could see was his back.
After the main dance finished, Pikachu Chef walked toward the back of the Water-type and Grass-type rows to greet guests.
Pikachu did not come close to the Electric-type or Fire-type rows before leaving the café.
You can certainly see Pikachu from A7, but I would not describe the view as particularly good throughout the entire show.
This distance and visibility are the reason I recommended Area B above for guests who want to see the character up close.
I ranked B above C because guests choosing Area C may be assigned to the Fire-type seats near the entrance.
Our Meal Cost ¥7,700 for Two People
For this visit, we ordered two food items and two drinks.
Here is the breakdown:
- Best Buddies Pikachu & Pichu’s Curry Rice Plate: ¥2,530
- Snorlax’s Naptime Teriyaki Burger: ¥2,530
- Go! Greninja! Smokescreen White Peach Drink: ¥1,375
- Poltchageist and Sinistcha’s Hospitality-Matcha Latte: ¥1,265
Total: ¥7,700 including tax
The Same Placemat Design Is Now Used at Every Table
Previously, each table came with a placemat featuring a different Pokémon.
This time, as far as I could see around the café, every table appeared to have the same design.
Go! Greninja! Smokescreen White Peach Drink
My child chose the “Go! Greninja! Smokescreen White Peach Drink.”
It is a refreshing white peach drink inspired by Greninja, with Water Shuriken-shaped jelly inside.
When the drink arrives, the top of the glass is covered with a coaster.
At the staff member’s cue, you remove it together, releasing a cloud of white smoke designed to represent Greninja’s “Smokescreen” move.
The presentation starts before you even take the first sip.
Poltchageist and Sinistcha’s Hospitality-Matcha Latte
I chose the “Poltchageist and Sinistcha’s Hospitality-Matcha Latte.”
The Matcha Latte is served in a Sinistcha teacup, while the Poltchageist container holds extra matcha.
You can add syrup or more matcha to suit your taste.
The cup contains a generous amount of matcha latte, and it is not overly sweet. I also thought it offered good value and really liked it!
The Pikachu cookie served alongside it had a flavor that reminded me slightly of mandarin orange.
Get a Pokémon 30th Anniversary Sticker with Every Drink
For each drink you order, you receive one “Pokémon 30th Anniversary Logo — Pokémon Cafe Version” sticker.
We received one blue sticker and one red sticker!
It is hard to believe that Pokémon has already been around for 30 years. Time really does fly.
Now, let’s take a look at the food.
Best Buddies Pikachu & Pichu’s Curry Rice Plate
My child chose the “Best Buddies Pikachu & Pichu’s Curry Rice Plate,” which was introduced in June 2026.
In addition to rice shaped like Pikachu and Pichu, the plate includes a salad topped with a Cheri Berry-style meatball and a Poké Ball-shaped tofu hamburger steak.
It is a colorful dish packed with the playful presentation you would expect from the Pokémon Cafe.
Snorlax’s Naptime Teriyaki Burger
I ordered the “Snorlax’s Naptime Teriyaki Burger.”
The top bun is designed to resemble Snorlax’s belly and is served separately on the plate.
Inside are teriyaki chicken and scrambled eggs.
You stack the two halves yourself to complete the burger.
It feels relatively light, but to be frank, I think the curry may be the better choice in terms of both appearance and taste.
Be Careful If You Have Food Allergies
After the renovation, the standard food menu consists of three main dishes: Best Buddies Pikachu & Pichu’s Curry Rice Plate, Snorlax’s Naptime Teriyaki Burger, and Omelet in Mimikyu’s Disguise and Corn Stew.
(Source: official Pokémon Cafe website)
When ordering, a staff member asked whether we had any food allergies.
I explained that my child has a mild egg allergy, and was told that all of the regular meal options contain egg.
I checked the allergen chart they provided, and all three regular dishes, as well as the kids’ plate, were marked as containing egg, wheat and milk.
My child’s allergy is mild, so ordering the curry as usual was not a problem for us.
However, the café does not accommodate requests to remove specific ingredients or serve them separately, and shared cooking utensils and equipment mean that trace cross-contact with allergens may occur.
Guests with food allergies should therefore check the allergen information carefully.
Check the Merchandise Area Before You Leave
By the time we had enjoyed our meal and the show, our 90-minute visit was almost over.
It was a little sad to leave, but there was one more place worth checking before heading out.
The final stop is the merchandise area near the checkout!
The merchandise section also seemed brighter than before, with products displayed in a way that makes them easier to browse.
There are plenty of original items unique to the Pokémon Cafe, so it is worth taking a look before you leave.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 renovation brought a new interior layout, show and menu to Pokémon Cafe Tokyo.
Here are the main points I confirmed during my visit:
- Pokémon Cafe Tokyo is directly connected to Nihombashi Station underground, so you can reach it without going outside even when it is raining
- Advance reservations are required and each visit lasts 90 minutes; same-day walk-in guests are accepted only when cancellations occur
- Reservations are divided into Areas A, B and C, with differences in sofa seating and the view of the show
- The Pikachu show time is announced when you enter and the performance lasts around 10 minutes
- Guests may not stand during the show or hold cameras above their heads to take photos
- The standard food menu currently has only three main dishes, and all meal options, including the kids’ plate, contain egg
- The café does not remove allergenic ingredients or serve them separately, so guests with food allergies should check the details carefully
This was my first visit to the Pokémon Cafe in about a year, and the atmosphere, show and menu all felt noticeably different after the renovation.
Reservations are still highly competitive, but if you are a Pokémon fan, it is definitely a place worth visiting at least once.
If you are planning to make a reservation, I hope this report helps you choose your seat and plan your visit!
マイルは飛行機に乗らなくても、ポイントサイトを使えば誰でもどんどん貯めることができます。
貯まったマイルは特典航空券に交換可能。
我が家はこの方法で、毎年複数回、国内・海外旅行＆帰省を実現しています！
「どうやって貯めるの？」という方へ、やり方やおすすめサイトをまとめました。