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Why Ikebukuro?
Ikebukuro might not be the first place that comes to mind when it comes to the Pokemon TCG here in Tokyo, but I'm here to let you know that it should be!
While Akihabara often gets the spotlight because of its title of Otaku Heaven, Ikebukuro is an amazing hidden gem for Pokemon Card lovers, offering a mix of well-stocked shops and competitive events.
Whether you're a seasoned collector looking for rare finds, a beginner looking for your first deck or just curious about the Pokemon TCG scene in Japan, Ikebukuro has something for everyone!
Let me take you on a tour to some of the best card shops in the area, covering what makes each one unique. From stock variety and tournament spaces to atmosphere and accessibility, you'll find everything you need to plan your Pokemon TCG adventure in Ikebukuro!
So without further adieu, let's get into it!
Card Secret (カードシークレット)
Japan, 〒170-0013 Tokyo, Toshima City, Higashiikebukuro, 1 Chome−23−9 近代ビル 10 4F
Mon-Sun - 12pm to 9pm
Stock: Great
They have a great selection of standard raw singles not only in Japanese, but from all over the world. As well as that they have huge amounts of cards from older sets going all the way back to Base Set, so there's really something for everyone regardless if you're a player or collector. On top of that, they have a section full of graded cards and rare Promo cards too, so if you're looking for slabs, this is a good place to start! Finally, they have a lot of stock for games other than Pokemon including One Piece and others!
Tournament / Duel Space: Large
They regularly hold tournaments for up to 64 players and have tons of tables for free play too.
Competition: Mixed
There are a lot of new players that make their Gym Battle debut here, including myself so it's great for a first timer. On the other hand there are a LOT of very strong players that call Card Secret their home too, with City League winners and Champions League top 32 players taking part in Gym Battles very regularly. Overall it's a great balance.
Atmosphere: Warm and Welcoming
The staff are all really friendly and made up of a number of different nationalities, so there shouldn't be any issues with the language barrier.
Accessibility: Pretty Good
Easily accessible from Ikebukuro or Higashi-Ikebukuro station by foot. It's also pretty easy to find, since the big purple sign really stands out.
Bokura no Card Shop (ボクらのカードショップ)
Japan, 〒170-0013 Tokyo, Toshima City, Higashiikebukuro, 1 Chome−2−1 丸忠ビル 4F
Mon-Fri: 2pm to 9pm / Sat-Sun: 12pm to 9pm
Stock: Good
The shop itself is pretty small, but they have a good amount of stock with 6 showcases. Every time I've been here they are always full stocked with a great range of standard cards, as well as older, Expanded legal cards too. One thing to note is they regularly have sales on high rarity cards, so it's worth checking out their twitter before you head in to see if you can snag a deal.
Tournament / Duel Space: Small
They have 8 tables for tournament and free play use. Not the biggest, but still totally fine!
Competition: Strong
Quite strong, expect to face some good players if you decide to compete in an event here. The couple of times I've competed here there have been some Junior and Senior players too, so it's a good spot for all ages!
Atmosphere: Cozy and Friendly
The staff are very very friendly, they are really happy to help out and can try to chat regardless if you speak Japanese or not.
Accessibility: Great
2 minute walk from Ikebukuro station. The shop itself is a little easy to miss since its on the 4th floor of the building, and the entrance isn't super clear, but they got a fashy new sign recently, so that should make it easier too!
Dragonstar Ikebukuro (ドラゴンスター池袋店)
Japan, 〒170-0013 Tokyo, Toshima City, Higashiikebukuro, 1 Chome−30−6 セイコーサンシャインビルXII 4F
Mon-Fri: 1pm to 9pm / Sat-Sun: 10am to 9pm
Stock: Amazing
Probably the best range of SAR, AR and UR cards from what I have seen personally they seem to have multiple copies of everything that you might want to upgrade your deck, or add to your collection. As well as that have generally all Standard cards available at all times, unfortunately they don't have a ton of cards that aren't currently in the Standard format though. As good as the Pokemon section is, they only have a few showcases, and also feature cards from pretty much any other card game you could imagine.
Tournament / Duel Space: Huge
This is probably the largest duel space in the Ikebukuro area, boasting a huge 116 seats. There are multiple tournaments, usually being run at the same time, and tons of people practicing or playing with their friends. It's a vibe! As well as this, it doesn't feel cramped or dark at all, so its a great place to sit and play for the day
Competition: Strong
From competing here and speaking to other players, it's generally regarded that this is one of the strongest gyms in the Ikebukuro area. It can be a little intimidating if you are a new player looking to enjoy your first Gym Battle, but strong doesn't mean that the players aren't friendly or willing to share some tips on how to improve.
Atmosphere: Competitive and Well-run
The shop itself is always bustling with players and collectors looking to get new cards, it's never been not busy, luckily there are a lot of staff members around to help out and the shop itself is really large, so you're never fighting for space to check out what is available.
Accessibility: So-so
Dragonstar is really easy to miss if you don't already know where it is, it took me a little while to find the entrance when I first went, so I think others might have trouble too, especially since there's no sign. Other than that, it's not too far from the station so it's easily accessible by foot.
Card Rush Ikebukuro (カードラッシュ 池袋店)
Japan, 〒170-0013 Tokyo, Toshima City, Higashiikebukuro, 1 Chome−13−10 岡安園ビル 5F
Mon-Fri: 1pm to 9pm / Sat-Sun: 11am to 9pm
Stock: Great
While not Pokemon focused like Card Secret or Bokura no Card Shop, they have the majority of their store space dedicated to it with 6-7 showcases of Pokemon cards.. They have a really good selection of Standard and older cards, of all rarities. If you're looking for other choices apart from Pokemon, they have One Piece, Magic the Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh and Duel Masters too!
Tournament / Duel Space: N/A
Unfortunately their Ikebukuro store has no duel space so, no rating for this one!
Competition: N/A
Same as above, there are no tournaments held here so unfortunately it doesn't get a rating here either.
Atmosphere: Cozy...
This is probably the smallest shop I've visited so far, they have a ton of showcases so the walkways are narrow, which is fine but if you're a larger human like me and it's busy in the store it can feel a little cramped when moving around.
Accessibility: Good
About 5 minutes walk or so from Ikebukuro station on the way to Sunshine City, it can be a little hard to miss since the shop isn't on the ground floor, so keep your eye out for the sign!
BOOKOFF Ikebukuro Sunshine 60 tori Store
Japan, 〒170-0013 Tokyo, Toshima City, Higashiikebukuro, 1 Chome−22−10 ヒューマックスパビリオン
Mon-Sun: 10am to 10pm
Stock: Good
They have a good range of singles available from generally all of the recent set releases. For older and rarer cards, there is not that much unfortunately. But in saying that, they have a lot of cards to dig through in their storage area, so there could be a great find waiting! Cards are of varying qualities so make sure you check before comitting to buy.
Tournament / Duel Space: N/A
While some BOOKOFF locations have a tournament space setup, unfortunately this one does not.
Competition: N/A
Same as above, there are no competitions held at this particluar location.
Atmosphere: Bustling
The shop in general is very busy due to its huge range of used goods. The card section of the shop in particular can get super packed at certain times of the day and on weekends.
Accessibility: Great
This shop is in the heart of Ikebukuro, right on the way to Sunshine City and its really easy to spot, making it super accessable for people visiting.
Pokémon Center MEGA TOKYO (ポケモンセンターメガトウキョー)
Japan, 〒170-6002 Tokyo, Toshima City, Higashiikebukuro, 3 Chome−1−2 サンシャインシティ 専門店街アルパ 2F
Mon-Sun: 10am to 8pm
Stock: So-so
While they don't sell singles here, they always have a large amount of boosters from a number of different sets, so it's perfect if you feel like ripping packs in Japan! There are a lot of accessories that they sell as well, from Playmats to Sleeves, so it's always worth checking in and seeing if you can pick up some Japan limited items!
Tournament / Duel Space:
They have a separate Duel Space area from the Pokecenter store itself where you are able to play, it's definitely worth checking out and playing a couple of games if you can, it feels like a real Pokemon Gym.
Competition: Unsure (Im too old to play here...)
As far as I'm aware The Pokecenter here only holds tournaments for Juniors and possibly Senior players, so Masters players are out of luck if you were thinking of competing here.
Atmosphere: Bustling
The Ikebukuro Pokecenter is ALWAYS very busy, it can be a little hard to move around depending on what time you arrive, but the TCG section usuallly isnt that bad. You can really feel the love everyone has for Pokemon here, its an amazing place.
Accessibility: Great
Right in the middle of Sunshine City, it's very easy to get to. With East Ikebukuro station only being a couple of minutes away, as well as Ikebukuro station within 10 minutes by foot, it's a must visit for any Pokemon fan!
Final Thoughts
To close, Ikebukuro might not not have the fame of Akihabara, but it more than holds its own as a hub for Pokemon TCG players. With its mix of shops catering to players and collectors alike, a vibrant and welcoming community, and some of the best Tournament spaces in Tokyo, it's a must visit for anyone passionate about Pokemon Cards.
Whether you're hunting for rare collectibles, gearing up for a Gym Battle, or simply wanting to soak up the atmosphere, Ikebukuro will give you an experience that's both unique and accessible. So next time you're in Tokyo, skip the crowds in Akihabara and head to Ikebukuro. You might just find your new favourite card shop!
As always, thank you so much for using Pokecazilla, if you have any other recommended card shops around Ikebukuro, or anywhere in Japan, we want to know. Let us know in the comments
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