Where to Buy Pokémon Cards in Akihabara

Pokémon cards are among the titles carried at more Akihabara shops than almost anything else. What sets Pokémon apart is its release rhythm: brand-new expansion packs land several times a year, so stock turns over fast right after a set drops or whenever a particular pack is in demand, and exactly what each shop keeps on the shelf varies quite a bit from store to store. Cards are also sorted into several rarity tiers — AR, SAR, SR, UR and beyond — so how you search changes depending on which rarity you're chasing. On top of that, Japanese-language cards and overseas (English and other) printings differ in card pool and specs, which is why a handful of shops in the area also carry overseas singles. Before you set out, it helps to decide what you're actually after: hunting down one specific single, tracking down unopened packs or boxes, or just enjoying the surprise of an oripa (a shop-assembled mystery card pack). Once that's settled, Akihabara's shops sit close enough together — most within a single train stop of one another — that you can cover a lot of ground even on a short visit.

Shops that carry Pokémon cards are spread across the whole of Akihabara, from right outside the Electric Town Exit, past Radio Kaikan, out to the Chuo-dori stretch near Suehirocho. What stands out about this area is the range on offer: everything from a shop dedicated to Pokémon cards alone to one that narrows its focus to Pokémon and One Piece Card Game and stocks high-end singles. Rarity range and specialty differ from shop to shop, so here are four worth knowing — check hours and games carried on the cards below.

These four sit on both sides of the area — closer to the Electric Town Exit and closer to Suehirocho and Chuo-dori. For how to walk each stretch, see the Electric Town Exit area guide and the Suehirocho / Chuo-dori area guide.

Buying Pokémon cards breaks down into three main routes: singles bought one card at a time, unopened packs/boxes, and oripa, where a shop packs its own selection of cards into a pack. Singles let you aim directly at a rarity — AR, SR, UR and so on — or a specific card number, which is their strength. Packs/boxes are sold set by set, so shopping for them means narrowing down to a particular expansion. Pokémon also has an especially wide range of oripa built around it, so a simple way to choose is: go for singles if you already know the exact card you want, or packs/boxes if you'd rather enjoy the thrill of opening them yourself. For how oripa works and what to check before buying one, see the What is oripa? guide.

If this is your first time hunting for Pokémon cards in Akihabara, the Electric Town Exit area guide is a good place to start; if you want to dig deeper into rarities and set-to-set differences, the What is oripa? guide is worth a read too. Once you've settled on which shops to visit for Pokémon cards, you can drop them straight into a route.