PokillionaireLaurie Honpo, 7F Akihabara: 4.5/5 Diamond.
Well stocked with great prices and excellent variety across multiple eras. I bought my Gold Star Mewtwo here.
On the 7th floor; easy to miss. Take the elevator up.
Gold Star Pokémon cards cost dramatically less in Japan than in the USA.
I bought Gold Star Mewtwo, Torchic, Gyarados, and Mudkip; all at prices well below US market.
"Damaged" Gold Stars in Japan are often Near Mint by Western standards. The price gap on these iconic cards alone can pay for your flight.
What to pack for Pokémon card shopping in Japan:
- Toploaders and sleeves (most shops don't provide them)
- eSIM for price research on the go
- Power bank (8+ hour shopping days)
- Passport (9% Tax Free at C-Labo, Hareruya 2)
- Comfortable shoes (20,000+ steps per day)
- Patience for "damaged" card hunting
Cardon in Akihabara: 5/5 Diamond.
Phenomenal variety in singles across all eras at fair prices. What sets Cardon apart: they may negotiate on expensive cards. Be respectful and you can score a deal.
I found a Gold Star Torchic here. The selection spans old back Japanese cards, ex era, Diamond and Pearl, Black and White, and Modern.
If you collect across eras, Cardon is essential.
For modern Pokémon packs at retail price in Japan, start with Pokémon Centers and convenience stores.
7-Eleven, Lawson, NewDays, and FamilyMart sell at flat MSRP with zero markup. I grabbed packs at random konbini between shop visits.
Availability varies, but konbini packs are always retail price. Check the card aisle near registers.
Rena 
「Angelus Project」Una vez más he actualizado la lista de todo lo que me falta. ¡No encuentro a nadie que quiera variocolor y tengo un chorro repetido...!
Rena :lgbt_and_pir: 「Angelus Project」 (@[email protected])
Quiero coleccionar las cartas del #PokémonTCGPocket y me faltan estas GENES FORMIDABLES 251 - Venusaur EX ( 2⭐) - Mewtwo 254 - Arcanine EX (2⭐) - Pikachu 255 - Moltres EX (2⭐) - Charizard 256 - Blastoise EX (2⭐) - Pikachu 257 - Starmie EX (2⭐) - Charizard 258 - Articuno EX (2⭐) - Mewtwo 259 - Pikachu EX (2⭐) - Pikachu 260 - Zapdos EX (2⭐) - Pikachu 261 - Gengar EX (2⭐) - Mewtwo 265 - Wigglytuff EX (2⭐) - Pikachu 268 - Blaine (2⭐) - Charizard 269 - Koga (2⭐) - Mewtwo 270 - Giovanni (2⭐) - Mewtwo 272 - Sabrina (2⭐) - Charizard 274 - Moltres EX (2⭐) - Charizad 277 - Gengar EX (2⭐) - Mewtwo 279 - Wigglytuff EX (2⭐) - Pikachu LA ISLA SINGULAR 075 - Celebi EX (2⭐) 076 - Gyarados EX (2⭐) 077 - Mew EX (2⭐) 078 - Aerodactyl EX (2⭐) 079 - Pidgeot EX (2⭐) 080 - Explorardor Novel (2⭐) 081 - Azul (2⭐) 084 - Aerodactyl EX (2⭐) PUGNA ESPACIOTEMPORAL 180 - Yanmega EX (2⭐) - Dialga 182 - Palkia EX (2⭐) - Palkia 183 - Pachirisu EX (2⭐) - Dialga 184 - Mismagius EX (2⭐) - Palkia 185 - Gallade EX (2⭐) - Dialga 186 - Weavile EX (2⭐) - Palkia 187 - Darkrai EX (2⭐) - Dialga 188 - Dialga EX (2⭐) - Dialga 190 - Helio (2⭐) - Palkia 191 - Recluta del Equipo Galaxia (2⭐) - Dialga 192 - Cintia (2⭐) - Palkia 193 - Lectro (2⭐) - Dialga 194 - Maya (2⭐) - Dialga 195 - Venus (2⭐) - Palkia 197 - Infername EX (2⭐) - Palkia 198 - Pachirisu EX (2⭐) - Dialga 200 - Gallade EX (2⭐) - Dialga 201 - Weavile EX (2⭐) - Palkia 202 - Darkrai EX (2⭐) - Dialga 203 - Lickilicky EX (2⭐) - Palkia LUZ TRIUNFAL 082 - Leafeon EX (2⭐) 083 - Glaceon EX (2⭐) 085 - Probopass EX (2⭐) 086 - Arceus EX (2⭐) 087 - Nákara (2⭐) 088 - Anciana de Pueblo Caelestis (2⭐) 089 - Israel (2⭐) 090 - Adamas (2⭐) 091 - Leafeon EX (2⭐) 092 - Glaceon EX (2⭐) 093 - Garchomp EX (2⭐) 094 - Probopass EX (2⭐) #Pokémon #TCGPocket #PokémonTCG #PokémonJCC #PokémonTCGPocket
Every day: wake up at the hostel. Check Google Maps. Hit the Pokémon Center first (morning restocks). Then shop after shop until 8 PM. 20,000+ steps. Every day. Across 14+ cities.
I found my Gold Star Pikachu at Magi, Gold Star Vaporeon at Carderia, Gyarados Gold Star at C-Labo Osaka. Every step was worth it.
Every Treca Capital inside an EDION department store is terrible.
Akihabara (1/5): Overpriced, small selection.
Namba (2/5): Inflated prices, only Modern.
Yokohama (2.5/5): Almost all Modern, inflated.
The pattern: EDION mall rent gets baked into card prices. You're paying for their overhead, not card value.
If you see the EDION logo, walk the other way.
Cherry blossom season floods Japan's Pokémon card shops with tourist competition.
Late March to mid-April and Golden Week bring massive surges. Shops get rinsed faster. Prices at tourist-heavy shops can spike.
My advice: visit in shoulder season (February, June, September) for better selection, or target smaller cities during peak.
Hiroshima has a Bookoff that earned 5/5 stars. I'd visit the city just for this shop.
Bookoff Super Bazaar: Shockingly strong selection. Excellent prices. 20% off on some cards ON TOP of Tax Free.
Also: C-Labo Hiroshima (4/5), Sunrise Hiroshima (4/5), and LHUB (3.75/5) with a "Buy 10 AR Get 1 Free" promo.