Tokyo and Osaka, Japan
Pokémon Cafe reservations: when they open
Since July 2026, a whole month at a time: on the 1st of each month at 18:00 Japan time, for every day of the following month. The old rule, 31 days ahead, which many guides still give, no longer applies.
- When does booking open?
- The 1st of each month, 18:00 JST, for the whole next month. 1 October 2026 opened all of November 2026. Each release is announced on the cafe’s News page a few weeks before, so check it there.
- How far ahead is that?
- About 4 to 8 weeks ahead.
- Where do I book?
- Online only, on the official reservation sites for Tokyo (Nihombashi Takashimaya) and Osaka (Daimaru Shinsaibashi). No phone or email bookings.
- Does it sell out?
- No reliable figure yet for the monthly releases. Under the old 31-day rule, popular slots were reported to go within a minute or two.
- Can I cancel or change?
- Cancel online until 22:00 the day before, then only by phone with the cafe. The number of people cannot be changed. If nobody arrives within 10 minutes of the slot, the booking is cancelled.
Checked 15 October 2026
How to book
Book on the official reservation site for Tokyo or Osaka. You confirm your email with a code from @mail-pokemon-cafe.jp, so let that address through your spam filter. One email address holds one reservation.
Booking a table costs nothing; you can pre-buy up to 3 cafe goods by card when you book. A visit lasts 90 minutes, and everyone aged 6 and over orders at least one item. Online booking stays open until 8:00 on the day.
If it’s sold out
Look again for cancellations: places freed before the 22:00 cut-off come back, and booking is open until 8:00 on the day. Tokyo has taken no walk-ins since it reopened in June 2026.
The cafe’s goods can be bought without a reservation, and the Pikachu Sweets takeout shop needs no booking.
Booking for a group
Up to 6 people per reservation. A group of 7 or more makes several reservations, each from a different email address. To sit near each other, book them under the same name, time and seat type and tell the cafe; it is not guaranteed.
Count every child from age 0 in the party: the number cannot be changed later.
Good to know
- Be on the reservation site before 18:00 JST on the 1st.
- Arrive 15 minutes early in Tokyo and 10 in Osaka; arriving late does not extend the 90 minutes.
- Dishes cannot be changed for allergies; read the allergen list before you book.
Sources
- Pokémon Cafe news: reservations for dates from 1 November 2026 (official): Reservations open at 6:00 p.m. on 1 October 2026 for 1 to 30 November 2026; December to be announced; online only.
- Pokémon Cafe news: reservations for dates from 8 July 2026 (official): Reservations opened at 6:00 p.m. on 7 June 2026 for 8 to 31 July, the first month released at once.
- Pokémon Cafe: FAQ (official): Book by 8:00 a.m. on the day; one reservation per email address; groups of 7 or more make several reservations; cancel by 10:00 p.m. the day before; party size cannot change; 90 minutes.
- Pokémon Cafe news: closure and reopening (official): After reopening on 17 June 2026, Tokyo is reservation only for a while.
- Minnano Rakuraku: Pokémon Cafe reservation guide: Under the 31-day rule, slots filled within a minute or two of the 6:00 p.m. release.
Checked on 15 October 2026. Booking rules change; the official site has the last word.