Nintendo TOKYO & Pokémon Center Shibuya (2026): Numbered Tickets, Lotteries, Purchase Limits, Tax-Free, Hours
Nintendo TOKYO and Pokémon Center SHIBUYA are both on the 6th floor of Shibuya PARCO, open 10:00 to 21:00 (an hour earlier than most of the building). Neither shop needs a reservation for a normal visit, and Nintendo says entry is free. On weekends, holidays and other days it expects crowds, Nintendo TOKYO lets people in with numbered tickets (one per person), handed out at PARCO 1F before opening. Pokémon Center uses numbered tickets or entry limits only on crowded days, and runs LINE-app lotteries for hot items and services. For tax-free: since November 1, 2026 you pay full price and get the tax back after a customs check when you leave Japan, paid out by whatever method the shop uses. PARCO's official tax-free list includes Pokémon Center SHIBUYA but not Nintendo TOKYO.
Saturday, Sunday, holiday or other expected-busy day: Nintendo TOKYO uses numbered tickets for now. Before opening, get yours at Shibuya PARCO 1F; after opening, at the 6F outdoor-stairs entrance by the Mario statue. One ticket per person.
Want a lottery item? Pokémon Center lotteries run in the LINE app, close days before the sale, and only winners are notified. On the day, you need the live ticket screen on your phone; screenshots and printouts are not accepted.
Buying a Switch 2? Switch 2 consoles sold in Japanese stores are the Japan-only model: Japanese language only, and it only links to a Japan-region Nintendo Account. Read section 4 first.
Tax-free: bring your passport, spend ¥5,000+ before tax in one shop on one day, don't eat or use any of it in Japan, keep the items in your carry-on, and clear the customs check at the airport before bag drop.
Official pages: Nintendo TOKYO (Nintendo, Japanese) · Pokémon Center SHIBUYA (English) · Shibuya PARCO tax-free shops
Dollar amounts use $1 = ¥158.40 (exchange rate published November 4, 2026). Your card statement will differ slightly, and a card with a foreign transaction fee adds that fee. See which US cards charge no foreign fee in Japan.
1. Where and when
| Shop | Floor | Hours | On PARCO's tax-free list? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo TOKYO | 6F | 10:00–21:00 | No (ask at the register) |
| Pokémon Center SHIBUYA | 6F | 10:00–21:00 | Yes |
| CAPCOM STORE TOKYO | 6F | 10:00–21:00 | Yes |
| JUMP SHOP (One Piece, My Hero Academia and other Weekly Shonen Jump series) | 6F | 10:00–21:00 | No (ask at the register) |
| SEGA STORE TOKYO (SEGA, ATLUS) | 6F | Not listed on its PARCO page | No (ask at the register) |
| THE GUNDAM BASE SHIBUYA (Gunpla) | 5F | Opens Friday, November 20, 2026 | Yes |
- Address: Shibuya PARCO, 15-1 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. About a 5-minute walk from Shibuya Station (JR Yamanote Line, Tokyo Metro Ginza / Hanzomon / Fukutoshin, Tokyu and Keio lines).
- The rest of PARCO's shops open at 11:00. The 6F hours above come from PARCO's own building hours: "6F Nintendo TOKYO, Pokémon Center and others 10:00–21:00".
- Nintendo TOKYO has no closing days of its own; it follows Shibuya PARCO's opening days.
- "Not on the list" means PARCO doesn't list that shop as tax-free, not that the shop has confirmed it is not. PARCO has no central tax-free counter, and each shop handles tax-free its own way.
Source: Shibuya PARCO shop list and hours, PARCO shop pages for Nintendo TOKYO, Pokémon Center SHIBUYA, JUMP SHOP, CAPCOM STORE TOKYO, SEGA STORE TOKYO, THE GUNDAM BASE SHIBUYA; PARCO tax-free list; Nintendo official store page (FAQ). Checked November 5, 2026.
2. Nintendo TOKYO: numbered tickets and limits
- Entry is free.
- Weekends, holidays and other expected-busy days (not only weekends): Nintendo says that "for the time being" entry is by numbered ticket (整理券, seiriken) on these days.
- Where to get the ticket: before opening, at Shibuya PARCO 1F; after opening, at the 6F outdoor-stairs entrance in front of the Mario statue.
- One ticket per person.
- Lottery to get in? Nintendo's store page does not mention an entry lottery as of November 5, 2026. It only describes numbered tickets. New releases and events can bring special rules, which Nintendo posts on the store's official X account, @N_Officialstore. Check it the day before you go.
- Purchase limits: the Nintendo Sound Clock Alarmo is limited to 1 per person. Some stores may ask you to show a Nintendo Account (free to create) at checkout, and sales can be paused when stock runs low.
- Nintendo-original goods are sold in person only at Nintendo TOKYO, OSAKA, KYOTO and FUKUOKA; some are also on the online Nintendo Store (Japan).
Source: Nintendo TOKYO/OSAKA/KYOTO/FUKUOKA official page (Japanese). Checked November 5, 2026.
3. Pokémon Center SHIBUYA: numbered tickets, lotteries, limits
Normal days: you can usually walk in. Pokémon Center's FAQ says that numbered tickets or entry limits may be used depending on crowds, and that it posts each day's arrangements on the shop's News page. The rules are posted on the Japanese News page; when we checked, the English shop page listed no news.
What a busy day looks like (official example, Saturday, October 24, 2026):
- Time-slot entry tickets were handed out from 9:00: 9:00–9:50 at the PARCO 1F Spain-zaka plaza, then from 10:00 at the shop on 6F.
- One ticket per person. One ticket doesn't let two people in, no one can pick up tickets for others, and you can't have friends join you partway down the line.
- Earliest time slots go to whoever came first. A ticket does not guarantee the item you want will still be in stock.
- No overnight lines allowed.
Lotteries (only for some items and services):
| What | Dates | Apply by (Japan time) | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pokémon Design Lab (design a custom T-shirt on a touchscreen and buy it the same day) | Nov 7–8 | Nov 5, 23:59 (closed; results Nov 6 from 13:00) | 1 shirt per person |
| Nov 14–15 | Nov 12, 23:59 | 1 shirt per person | |
| Nov 21–23 | Nov 19, 23:59 | 1 shirt per person | |
| Nov 28–29 | Nov 26, 23:59 | 1 shirt per person | |
| "My Pokémon Party" sales corner (15-minute entry windows) | Nov 7–15 | Closed Nov 3; general sale to follow later | Winning gets you into the corner, not a guaranteed item |
- You apply through a link that opens in the LINE app. The Pokémon Center notice says LINE must be installed.
- Only winners are notified, through LINE's "LINE Mini App" notifications. No message means you didn't win.
- Come during the time slot you won. If you miss it, you can't get in. You can't change or cancel an entry after the deadline, and Pokémon Center asks you not to apply for more than one shop or date.
- Bring the live ticket screen. Have the LINE ticket screen open on a charged phone before you arrive (the signal can be weak when it's crowded, and there's nowhere to charge in the shop). Staff tap the screen to check you in, so don't tap through it yourself. A screenshot or printout won't get you in.
- Design Lab on those weekends is for lottery winners only. If the shop has an entry limit that day, winners can still go in: tell the staff near the entrance. Plan on about 30 minutes for the explanation and design (up to 20 minutes designing), and the shirt is usually ready about an hour after you finish. Pay and pick it up the same day, before closing. One win per person, no proxies. A child of elementary-school age or younger can bring 1 guardian, still 1 shirt per group.
- Design Lab price: Pokémon published adult sizes (S–XXL) at ¥4,400 (about $27.78) and kids' sizes (110–150 cm) at ¥3,300 (about $20.83), tax included, in May 2025. Prices can change without notice and we could not find a newer price list.
- Recent card releases were sold the same way. For example, each Pokémon TCG MEGA "30th CELEBRATION" card set was 1 per person by lottery on October 16–18, 2026.
Purchase limits in general: Pokémon Center says some items have per-person limits. They are announced on the News page and on signs in the shop. It does not hold items for you and does not answer questions about stock or restock dates.
Paying: credit cards, code payments (QR-code apps) and transit IC cards such as Suica are accepted; which card brands work depends on the shop.
Source: Pokémon Center FAQ (English); Pokémon Center SHIBUYA notices: Oct 24 time-slot tickets, November Design Lab lottery, Design Lab prices (May 2025), My Pokémon Party lottery, 30th CELEBRATION card set lottery (Japanese). Checked November 5, 2026.
4. Buying a Switch 2 in Japan? Check the box first
Nintendo says that the Switch 2 sold in shops and online stores in Japan is the "Nintendo Switch 2 Japanese-Language System (Japan Only)", ¥59,980 (about $378.66):
- The only system language is Japanese.
- It links only to a Nintendo Account set to Japan. A US Nintendo Account can't be linked to it, so on this console you can't use your US account's eShop, Nintendo Switch Online, GameChat, friends or the games you already bought (your US purchases are not deleted; they just can't be used on this console). It can only use the Japanese eShop.
The Multi-Language System (16 languages, any account region) is ¥69,980 (about $441.79). In Japan it is sold only on My Nintendo Store, where you have to log in to a Nintendo Account and meet the store's purchase conditions. For a US account, buying the US model at home is the simpler choice. Nintendo also says video game products sold at Nintendo TOKYO are made for the Japanese market. The Switch 2 AC adapter handles 100–240 V but has a Japanese (Type A) plug. Nintendo says that for both Japan-sold Switch 2 models (Japan-only and Multi-Language), faults or damage while used outside Japan are not covered by warranty or repair service, and game cards sold outside Japan are not guaranteed to work on them.
Source: Nintendo: about the Japanese-Language System (Japan Only), Nintendo Support: using Switch 2 outside Japan, Nintendo: Switch 2 lineup, Nintendo price revision notice (May 8, 2026). Checked November 5, 2026.
5. Tax-free for US passport holders (refund system from Nov 1, 2026)
- Who: visitors with Temporary Visitor (短期滞在) landing status who entered less than 6 months ago. Show your own passport at the register.
- How much: ¥5,000 or more before tax (about $31.57) at the same shop on the same day. Nintendo TOKYO and Pokémon Center are separate shops, so their receipts don't add up together.
- What you pay: the full tax-included price. The consumption tax you paid (10% on most goods, 8% on food and drinks) comes back after customs confirms you're taking the items out of Japan. How and when you are paid depends on the shop and its refund company; the Japan Tourism Agency says to ask the shop. Before you pay, ask at the register: do I register a refund method now, which methods are offered, and when does the money arrive?
- At the airport: within 90 days of purchase, scan your passport at the tax-free kiosk in the departure lobby before you check your bags. At Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Naha you can do it online with Visit Japan Web instead, on the dedicated departure-lobby Wi-Fi before security. A green result means you're done. A red result means you take the goods to the customs inspection area and show them, still before bag drop. Keep the goods in your carry-on until then.
- Don't open the snacks. Customs checks one receipt at a time. If even one item on a tax-free receipt has been eaten, used or left behind, nothing on that receipt gets refunded, and you must tell customs instead of using the kiosk. Put snacks you want to eat in Japan on a separate, non-tax-free purchase.
- Which shops: on 6F, PARCO's tax-free list shows Pokémon Center SHIBUYA, CAPCOM STORE TOKYO and THE GUEST CAFE BY PARCO. Nintendo TOKYO, JUMP SHOP and SEGA STORE TOKYO are not on it, and Nintendo's own store page doesn't mention tax-free. Ask at the register before you pay.
Full step-by-step guide, including the airport kiosk: Japan's new tax-free refund system (2026). You can check your numbers with the tax-free refund calculator.
Source: Shibuya PARCO tax-free list, National Tax Agency: refund method, NTA English leaflet (PDF), Japan Tourism Agency: refund method and customs check, JTA refund FAQ, NTA: online customs check, NTA: tax rates. Checked November 5, 2026.
6. Returns
- Nintendo TOKYO: if you change your mind, only within 7 days and only unopened, unused items, with the receipt. Game software, consoles and accessories, random-item goods and food can't be returned for change of mind.
- Pokémon Center: within 14 days, unopened and unused, at the shop where you bought it, with the receipt. Some items are excluded.
Source: Nintendo official store page (FAQ), Pokémon Center FAQ. Checked November 5, 2026.
FAQ
Do I need a reservation for Nintendo TOKYO or Pokémon Center?
Not for a normal visit (Nintendo states entry is free). On weekends, holidays and other expected-busy days, Nintendo TOKYO lets people in with numbered tickets, and Pokémon Center may do the same on crowded days. Only some products and services (like Design Lab) need a lottery win.
What time should I get there on a Saturday?
Neither shop says when tickets run out. Nintendo hands out tickets at PARCO 1F before the 10:00 opening; on Pokémon Center's busy day on October 24 that started at 9:00. Earlier tickets get earlier entry times.
Can I enter a Pokémon lottery from the US?
You apply in the LINE app, which you can install anywhere. Pokémon Center's notices don't say whether a Japanese phone number is needed. Deadlines are in Japan time. Since US daylight saving time ended on November 1, Japan is 14 hours ahead of US Eastern time, so a 23:59 JST deadline is 9:59 a.m. Eastern the same day. You must come in person during the slot you win, with the live ticket screen.
Is it cheaper than buying at home?
Depends on the item and the exchange rate. Many items, like Nintendo TOKYO originals, are sold only in Japan. Compare using the receipt price plus your card's foreign transaction fee, minus any tax refund.
Anything else for game fans on the same floor?
On 6F, PARCO lists CAPCOM STORE TOKYO, JUMP SHOP and SEGA STORE TOKYO. THE GUNDAM BASE SHIBUYA opens on 5F on November 20, 2026.
Plan the rest of the trip
- Another booking that sells out: Ghibli Museum tickets from overseas.
- Going to Nagoya too: Ghibli Park tickets from the US.
- Paying in Japan: Suica or PASMO on iPhone and Android.
Next to read: How the new tax-free refund works at the airport.
Hours, ticket rules, limits and prices checked against Nintendo, The Pokémon Company (Pokémon Center), Shibuya PARCO and National Tax Agency official pages on November 5, 2026. Rules for specific days change; check the shop's News page or official X account the day before. Exchange rate: $1 = ¥158.40 (open.er-api.com, November 4, 2026).