Which Tokyo district hosted Japan’s first Pokémon Center store?

Japan’s first Pokémon Center store opened in Nihonbashi, Tokyo.

The store opened on July 18, 1998, during the period when Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. was being used to manage specialized Pokémon merchandise stores. These stores offered games, cards, toys, clothing, stationery, and other products connected to the franchise.

Nihonbashi is a historic commercial district in central Tokyo, making it a fitting location for the first dedicated Pokémon retail space. The Pokémon Center concept later expanded through Japan and became an important way for fans to encounter official merchandise beyond ordinary toy and game shops.

Roppongi is another Tokyo district associated with Pokémon, but for a different reason: The Pokémon Company’s headquarters are located in the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower. Shibuya and Shinjuku are also famous Tokyo shopping districts, but neither is the answer to the first-store question. Nihonbashi marks the beginning of the Pokémon Center retail chain.