Ikebukuro is one of Tokyo’s best neighbourhoods for otaku to visit and check out. It has a lot of different stores and experiences that cater to fans of anime, games, and more. A lot of people know that Ikebukuro is especially famous for its huge amount of Boys’ Love—but did you know it’s swiftly becoming Tokyo’s hub for all things Pokemon? This neighbourhood has turned into a great destination for Pokemon fans.
Ikebukuro has been home to the Pokemon Centre MEGA TOKYO for a few years now. When it opened, it was the biggest Pokemon Centre in the city. While it no longer holds that title, something new has opened to draw Pokemon fans back to Ikebukuro. After the extreme success of the Pokemon Cafe in Nihonbashi, Ikebukuro is now home to the Pokemon Cafe To-Go shop called Pikachu Sweets!
Pikachu Sweets Info
| Location (Ikebukuro) | Address 2F, 3-1-1 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima City, Tokyo 170-0013 Nearest train line(s) “Higashi-Ikebukuro Station” - Yurakucho Line |
|---|---|
| Cost of Admission | N/A |
| Hours of Operation | Sunday-Saturday 10:00 - 22:00 Official Website |
The Experience
Pikachu Sweets opened in late autumn 2020 due to the continuing demand at the Pokemon Cafe and the influx of other Pokemon shops in Ikebukuro’s Sunshine City shopping centre. Pikachu Sweets is aimed at carry-out customers, hoping to give even more Pokemon fans a chance to have special food and drinks based on the franchise even when getting a reservation at the big cafe is hard. The menu is limited but every item is carefully themed and presented beautifully so even the carryout experience is memorable and special. The entire cafe is also designed with a cute aesthetic of light pink and polished wood with art of various sweets and cute Pokemon all around. Plus there are Pokeball-shaped lights!
The main item menus are (at the time of this article’s writing) Pikachu Cupcakes and Pikachu Pudding. The cupcake is made in Pikachu’s image with yellow icing and cute ears, and the pudding has Pikachu’s face on the cup. Both are available for purchase in a set of two, and only two sets are allowed per customer. There are also a few drinks to choose from, including Roserade’s Matcha with rose petal tea and Pinap Berry juice. The most iconic drink on the menu is the “Get Latte,” which is served in a Pokeball mug with special latte art both for the hot and cold versions.
There are also some exclusive goods available at Pikachu Sweets! For an additional ¥550 on the price of any drink, you can add a souvenir drink sleeve of Pikachu or Eevee! There are also three different designs of tumblers to choose from. While the focus of Pikachu Sweets is on take-out, there are a few standing counters available for use if you want to enjoy your food and drinks in the cafe.
Additional info
Predictably, Pikachu Sweets is still very busy and popular. Unlike the Pokemon Cafe, it does not accept reservations since its focus is on carry-out food and drinks. If you’re looking to come on a weekend, plan to stand in a queue for upwards of an hour potentially to snag your sweets! If you don’t want to spend so much time waiting, drop by Pikachu Sweets on a weekday. Typically even in the evening, there’s little to no wait during the week these days so you can get your stuff and get going. It’s also the best time to come if you want to enjoy your food in the cafe at one of the counters!
Before or after your visit to Pikachu Sweets, don’t forget to stop by the Pokemon Centre MEGA TOKYO store and Pokemon Go Lab, both also located on the same floor of Sunshine City for all your Pokemon needs.
Final Thoughts
Whether you loved the Pokemon Cafe, couldn’t get a reservation there, are in a rush for time, or just love Pokemon, Pikachu Sweets is a great stop. The menu may not be huge, but it’s catered to appeal to most Pokemon fans with a sweet tooth and an appreciation for photogenic food and drinks. Even just the cute aesthetic of the cafe is enough to put anyone in a great mood and you can’t help but smile when you eat a Pikachu cupcake. And with how otaku friendly the rest of Ikebukuro is, it’s well worth the trip!
Have you been to Pikachu Sweets yet? What did you think? What would you love to order there? Do you have any questions about it? Drop us a question or comment!
Author: Jet Nebula
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