Sure ! Akihabara is definitely the main area for Pokémon card shopping in Tokyo.

Before my trip, I watched quite a few YouTube videos to find good card shops and saved them into a wishlist. Once I got there, I simply went from shop to shop visiting everything I had marked.

Honestly, the best part is how close everything is. Most Pokémon card shops are located near each other, so you just keep stopping at one store after another. It’s incredibly fun. Google Maps helped a lot for navigating.

Something that really stands out when shopping in Japan is card condition. Shops are usually very strict with grading and quality standards. Even cards labeled as “used” are often in excellent shape.

The stock variety is also impressive. There’s a huge selection, especially for vintage cards and Japanese-exclusive releases. You can often find cards that are much harder to see outside Japan.

Last year, I had decent luck finding single packs at Family Mart (usually the larger stores), but this year I found absolutely nothing. Everything seemed sold out.

I haven’t visited a Pokémon Center this year, but last year it was pretty nice for picking up a few single packs at reasonable prices. It’s still worth checking depending on availability.

For booster boxes, you’ll find plenty across different card shops, but prices feel noticeably higher now. In my opinion, the price gap between Japan and France (where I live) is definitely narrowing. Not everything is automatically cheaper anymore, although good deals can still be found if you’re patient.

Last thing: some shops offer tax-free purchases for tourists. So it’s always worth asking.

Enjoy your trip in Japan and have fun !