What was the name of the first official Pokémon Center store, opened in Tokyo in 1998?

The first official Pokémon Center store was Pokémon Center Tokyo, which opened in Tokyo in 1998. It was the beginning of the dedicated Pokémon retail chain in Japan.

Pokémon Center stores sell a wide range of franchise merchandise, including plush toys, games, trading cards, clothing, stationery, and regional items. The stores are designed as specialized destinations for Pokémon fans rather than general Nintendo shops.

The Tokyo store has moved locations over time, so historical references may describe different addresses. Its original opening is also sometimes confused with the later Pokémon Center Osaka, which became another major Japanese store. Additional locations later appeared in cities including Nagoya, Yokohama, Sapporo, Kyoto, and Fukuoka.

The name “Pokémon Center” also appears in the video games, where Pokémon Centers provide healing and other services. The real-world stores borrow that familiar name but operate as merchandise retailers rather than medical facilities.