Where and when did the first Pokémon Center open?
The first Pokémon Center opened in Tokyo in April 1998. That original location eventually closed and later reopened at a different address.
Questions about Pokémon Center
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How many Pokémon Center stores are open worldwide as of 2026?
As of 2026, there are 25 active Pokémon Center locations worldwide. Twenty-three of those are in Japan, with two operating outside the country.
Which countries have Pokémon Centers outside Japan?
Pokémon Centers outside Japan currently operate in Singapore and Taiwan. Singapore's store opened on the 17th of April, 2019, at Jewel Changi Airport. Taiwan's opened on the 8th of December, 2023, at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taipei's Xinyi District.
What happened at Pokémon Center Ikebukuro in 2026?
On the 26th of March, 2026, a sales clerk at the Pokémon Center in Ikebukuro, Tokyo was stabbed to death by a former boyfriend, who then took his own life. Following the attack, other Pokémon Centers canceled most events in April and May.
What products does Pokémon Center sell?
Pokémon Centers sell merchandise including plush toys, action figures, cereal boxes, clothing, backpacks, and badges. The stores take their name from fictional healing clinics in the Pokémon video games.
Is there an online Pokémon Center store?
Pokémon Company International launched an online Pokémon Center store in 2014. It offers Pokémon merchandise to fans who do not live near a physical location.