When I first went to Japan in 1999, I was first introduced to “Pokemon” by a friend who operated an import business. While music and anime merchandise was the big thing at the time, he began to import stuffed animals and merchandise of “Pokemon”.
While I know his child was big on “Pokemon”, personally I didn’t know much about it other than children loved it.
Needless to say, as one of the first importers of Pokemon merchandise outside of Japan, I never realized how big “Pokemon” would get.
He gave me a few stuffed animals to bring home to America and I remember winning a huge Pikachu.
While they stayed in my closet for years, I eventually saw how “Pokemon” would become popular through the video games, cards, animated series and the merchandise would become huge.
And despite having went to Japan numerous times, I have never stepped into a Pokemon Center.
So, I figured, why not purchase gifts for family and friends from the store.
I decided to head out early in the morning before the store opened but it didn’t take long once stepping inside that the whole store filled up. I’m not surprised as “Pokemon” is still huge. Many who grew up collecting, playing or watching “Pokemon” are now parents of children who now collect them.
But being there, I was there just looking and seeing what would make great gifts and suffice to say, I spent way too much that I was planning to.
Pokemon forks and spoons, chopsticks, pens, cookies, chips and different types of snacks.
If anything, I can see why the place is so packed. Not just for Japanese but there were a lot of people travelers from different countries excited when they got there and were equally purchasing a lot.
It’s not surprising considered the limited edition merchandise that you can only get in Japan. Although the Christmas limited edition merchandise was sold out weeks earlier.
But fans or parents of fans can find plenty of merchandise that fans of “Pokemon” will truly love.
But for parents who are making this place a traveling destination, just expect to spend a lot. You may go there with the best intentions to buy small for your child or for yourself but somehow, you may find yourself spending way more than you expected.
I thought I was going to be fine of setting a budget of $50 for small gifts, but things do add up and I somehow purchased way more than I expected, but since it was during the Christmas time, I was in the Christmas spirit, so it was all good.
Overall, if you are looking for small gifts to give to family, friends, co-workers or you are a huge “Pokemon” fan, then definitely visit the Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo at Sunshine City in Ikebukuro.
And one last thing, I actually did a Facebook live stream while I was at the Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo Store. You can watch it here:
