Where did the first official Pokémon Center store open in 1998?

The first official Pokémon Center store opened in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, on July 18, 1998.

The store was part of the early Pokémon Center retail concept, which gave fans a dedicated place to buy Pokémon merchandise. Pokémon Center Co. Ltd. was founded on April 23, 1998, as a joint venture involving Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak.

The first location helped establish the Pokémon Center name as a specialized retail brand rather than merely a feature from the video games. In the games, a Pokémon Center is a place where Trainers heal their Pokémon; in the real world, Pokémon Centers became merchandise shops and fan destinations.

A New York City Pokémon Center later operated from 2001 to 2005. That location was remodeled into Nintendo World and later became Nintendo New York, so it was not the first Pokémon Center store.