Exploring the new Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo

In December the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo went through some changes and now offers a whole lot of new entertainment. I checked it out recently and would like to report here.

As everything is located inside the department store Sunshine City in Ikebukuro it is perfect for exploration in winter as you can get out of the cold weather and warm up a little. Mainly three attractions were added to the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo, an extension of the Pokémon Café that offers sweets for take-out, a place dedicated to the Pokémon trading card game and a Pokémon Go lab.

Pikachu Sweets

Pikachu sweets is an extension of the Pokémon Café in Nihonbashi. It offers a completely different menu though. Unlike at the Pokémon Café, you do not need a reservation.

Pikachu sweets offers sweets and drinks for take-out. You can find cupcakes, pudding, ice cream and cake. They also have a selection of hot and cold drinks. Everything is quite pricey, similar to foods and drinks at the Pokémon Café. 

I tried the cupcake, pudding and strawberry white chocolate drink and paid about 1,800 yen. Actually I only wanted to get one cupcake but you can only purchase them as a set of two cupcakes or as a set of a cupcake and a pudding.

The food was OK but nothing spectacular. The drink tasted like normal strawberry milk. If you like Pokémon it is a nice experience but otherwise, I would prefer going to a café with better food and drinks where you can also get a seat. 

If you are wondering whether to visit the Pokémon Café or the Pikachu Sweets I would always prefer the Pokémon Café. 

It was not too crowded. I went on a national holiday and waited about 5-10 minutes in line and another 5 to 10 minutes until my order was ready. The Pikachu Sweets doesn't offer any seats, so you either have to take your order home with you or find a space to sit in the shopping centre which can be difficult on weekends and holidays.

Together with your order, you can also purchase limited goods like tumblers or drink sleeves.

Pokémon Card Station

Next to Pikachu Sweets you can find the Pokémon Card Station.  This place is dedicated to the Pokémon card game. Every day some kind of card game event takes place. 

On weekends there are events where you can learn how to play the game and receive some free promo cards. Unfortunately, everything is Japanese only. 

Besides that, you can also purchase all kind of Pokémon card related goods, like play mats, sleeves and deck cases and of courses booster packs. 

Pokémon Go lab

If you play Pokémon Go this is the place to go to in Tokyo. Here you can buy limited Pokémon Go merchandise and different Pokémon Go related events will take place from time to time. When I went there I saw people looking for trade partners. They were holding up small pieces of paper saying which Pokémon they are looking for and which they want to trade. 

It looked like a really nice way to find trade partners and make friends but might be difficult to participate if you do not speak Japanese. Maybe they will come with methods of using pictures instead of writing the Pokémon names, so visitors from overseas can join as well.

All three new Pokémon attractions are open from 10 AM to 8 PM with no closing day. If you visit the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo make sure to check out these new additions as well and don't forget your phone charger if you want to play Pokémon Go.