What Makes Playing Pokémon TCG in Japan Special?
Have you ever wondered what it's like to play Pokemon TCG in the birthplace of Pokemon itself?
The Japanese Pokemon TCG scene is vibrant, welcoming and as you might have guessed, extremely organized, offering an experience unlike anywhere in the world. From exclusive Gym Battle promos, to the sense of community that makes every match feel special, playing here is a must-try for fans of the game.
You might be asking “I go to locals all the time, what really sets Japanese events apart?”. In this article I'm going to cover the cultural elements that make Pokémon TCG events in Japan so unique. Whether you're planning a visit to Tokyo soon, or just curious about how things work here, you'll have a ton of tips to help you get started—from finding a Gym Battle to help with navigating the language barrier and creating your Pokémon Player ID.
Efficiency and Accessibility for Everyone
Participating in Pokémon TCG events in Japan is a special experience that goes beyond the game itself. From the moment you step into a card shop or event space, you’ll notice an atmosphere that is both welcoming and meticulously organized—qualities that reflect Japan’s broader cultural values.
One of the first things that stands out is how beginner friendly the majority of the events are. Whether it's your first Gym Battle or your hundredth, players and staff are eager to help. It's really not uncommon for someone to step in and guide you if you're unsure how to set up or navigate the match flow. Even if you don't speak a word of Japanese, the universal nature of the game and the community's patience make it a breeze to participate!
The organization of the events is another highlight. Pairings are really easy to navigate through the website, matches are run on time and the staff are always on hand to answer questions or resolve issues. It's this seamless structure that makes the experience really stress free, even for newcomers. You can tell that these events are all run by people who care about fostering a positive environment.
And then there are the rewards! Gym Battles in Japan offer really cool participation bonuses, such as promo cards, promo packs, promo energies and store credit coupons. These little extras add excitement to the experience and make every event feel rewarding, even if you go 0-3.
What really makes these events special though is the sense of community. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, you'll find yourself welcomed into a space where everyone shares a common passion, Players of all ages, from kids to adults, gather not just to compete, but to enjoy the game and the connection it brings.
How to Join the Action!
Joining a Gym Battle here in Japan is way easier than you might think! Here's a quick guide to help you find events, get set up and navigate the language barrier!
Finding a Gym Battle
The easiest way to locate events is through the official Pokemon Card Game event search tool (Look for イベント検索). This tool lets you filter by date, location, and event type, making it really simple to find something that fits your schedule and is closeby to your hotel, AirBnB or wherever you're staying!
If you don't read Japanese, don't fret—Google Translate can help you navigate the site really easily. Look for terms like ジムバトル (Gym Battle) シティリーグ (City League) to identify the more competitive events. Many card shops also post their schedules on their Twitter (X) accounts, so checking those out can be a really helpful alternative!
One final thing to take care of is the age division. Most of the events fall into the Open category but, in the case that you are a Masters player, you don't want to accidentally be turning up for events for Juniors or Seniors expecting to be able to play. Here are the different terms to look out for.
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ジュニア - Junior
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シニア - Senior
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マスター - Master
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オープン - Open
When you find an event you like the look of, all you need to do is turn up between 30 minutes to an 1 hour before it starts with your entry fee (usually between 200-300 yen) and you can sign up!
Making a Pokémon Player ID
Before you can join an event, you'll need to make your very own Pokemon Player ID. This ID is essential for registering and tracking your participation in events around Japan.
Again, visit the Pokemon Card Game website and look for 新規会員登録 (Create an Account), then just follow the steps to sign up, it's really easy!
One quick note about this though, you will need to enter both an Address and Phone Number to be able to make a Pokemon Players club account in Japan, so feel free to use your hotel or AirBnB address. For the phone number, you'll need a sim card that can receive SMS messages. I recommend checking out this Travel Sim article written by Tokyo Cheapo, they go over it in more detail!
Once you've gone ahead and created your Players Club ID, it's a good idea to screenshot or save it somewhere accessible, it's often required for check in at events.
What You`ll need to join a Gym Battle
Now that you have created your Players Club account and ID, next up, here's a quick checklist of what you'll need to get started!
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A Standard Regulation Deck
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In Japan, unfortunately English cards aren't usable, so you'll have to go ahead and pick up your 60 cards in Japanese. (Look out in an upcoming guide for our recommended shops to pick up singles.)
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Pokemon Player ID
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As I mentioned this ID is required for joining events, check above for how you can make one. Make sure that your phone is able to connect to the internet, so you can use this on the day.
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Card Sleeves
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Definitely recommended, but not required at Gym Battles. You can pick these up at card shops or get some really cool ones at the Pokemon Center locations across Japan. I personally use Dragon Shields, and think they are really grat to play with.
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Damage Counters and Markers
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You'll need to bring damage counters (dice are totally ok too!), condition markers (Burned/Poisoned), and also something to use as a VSTAR marker too.
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Playmat (Optional)
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While not required, you'll want to protect your brand new Japanese deck.There are a bunch of really cool Japan exclusives that you can pick up at the Pokemon Center, so this is a great excuse to pick up a new one!
That's it! With all of these, you'll be ready to jump right into the action and have a blast at a Gym Battle!
Useful Japanese Phrases for Pokémon TCG Events
Even if you don't speak Japanese fluently, learning a couple of key phrases can go a long way towards making your matches smoother and more enjoyable. Here are a few common expressions you might hear, or want to use during a Gym Battle or any other Pokemon TCG event here in Japan.
General Match Etiquette
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Onegaishimasu (お願いします): “Lets have a good game.”
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We use this at the start of a match as a greeting.
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Arigatou Gozaimashita (ありがとうございました): “Thanks for the game!”
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Used at the end of a match, regardless of if you won or lost.
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Watashi ha Mada Shoushinsha desu (私はまだ初心者です): “Im still a beginner”
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It's always nice to let your opponent know if you are new to the game, they will be able to adjust their own play accordingly too
During a Match
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Mite ii desu ka? (見ていいですか？): “May I look?”
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Very useful for when you want to confirm a card an opponent has played, or if you want to check their discard pile, etc.
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Senkou / Koukou (先攻 / 後攻): “I'll go first / I'll go second”
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After playing Rock Paper Scissors to decide who goes first or second, this is how you can express your choice.
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Serufu de ii desu ka? (セルフでいいですか？): “Is it okay if I shuffle myself”
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This phrase is useful when you want to check if your opponent is okay with you handling certain actions yourself, like shuffling your hand after playing Iono or arranging prizes when using a Hisuian Heavy Ball.
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Katto Onegaishimasu (カットお願いします): “Please cut my deck”
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After shuffling your deck, you can ask you opponent to cut or shuffle your deck this way.
For Troubles or Clarifications
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Judge o yonde kudasai (ジャッジを呼んでください): “Please call a judge.”
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Use this if you need help resolving a rule dispute or have a question during the match.
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Eigo o hanasemasu ka? (英語を話せますか？): “Do you speak English?”
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Ask this to see if someone can assist you in English.
Dive In and Experience the Magic of Pokémon TCG in Japan
Regardless if you're a complete beginner or a veteran of the game, participating in a Gym Battle here is an experience you'll never forget.
Even if you’re just visiting, with just a little bit of preparation, like setting up your Player ID and learning a tiny bit of Japanese, you can enjoy everything the Pokémon TCG community in Japan has to offer!
Good luck, and I hope to see you at an event someday!
As always, please feel free to leave any questions in the comments, or reach out via our Twitter (X) account!
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