For Pokemon fans that make the pilgrimage to Japan, the Pokemon Center stores are a must-see attraction.
The brick-and-mortar retail locations offer some of the most memorable limited-edition items around. The offering is diverse and encompasses every facet of Pokemon merch from apparel to plushies to Pokemon TCG cards.
But where are these Pokemon centers? Do any exist outside of Japan? And if not, what other options are there for diehard Pokemon fans? Here’s everything you need to know about the Pokemon Center stores.
Where are all the Pokemon Centers located?
Most of the operational Pokemon Center locations are in Japan. The only one outside of Japan is located in the Changi Airport in Singapore.
There are 16 locations in all, with five of which are located in Tokyo. The full list of locations includes:
Fukuoka
Hiroshima
Kanazawa
Kyoto
Nagoya
Osaka
Osaka DX
Sapporo
Shibuya
Skytree Town
Tohoku
Mega Tokyo
Tokyo DX
Tokyo Bay
Yokohama
Singapore
Each location has a unique logo and signature Pokemon. These change over time to commemorate different releases. For example, the Yokohama location originally had Pikachu, Turtwig, and Popplio as its mascots. Popplio was dropped in favor of Sobble after the release of Pokemon Sword and Shield.
Are there Pokemon Centers in the US?
The one Pokemon Center location in the United States closed in 2005.
In 2001, the first Pokemon Center located outside Japan opened in New York City. In 2005, it closed and was reopened as Nintendo World. It was later rebranded to Nintendo New York and serves as both a retail location and a museum commemorating Nintendo hardware and brands. It dedicates some floorspace to Pokemon, but also hosts events for prominent releases on Nintendo platforms.
The Pokemon Center has an online store for both the United States and Canada that sells exclusive merchandise and has exclusive offers like
special pre-order bonuses
for Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
Is there a Pokemon Center in the UK?
There is no physical Pokemon Center location in the UK, but there is a digital store.
A
digital storefront
was opened to cater to the United Kingdom market in 2021. As with other regions, it offers a variety of exclusive items ranging from clothes to plushes.
London hosted a temporary location in 2019 to commemorate the launch of Pokemon Sword and Shield. The shop was open for less than a month. There are no publicly announced plans for a permanent location.
Steven Rondina
About Steven Rondina
Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.
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