Pokémon Center Osaka and geek shops

Osaka has two official Pokémon shops that are a compulsory stop for fans of the franchise and also for those looking for original souvenirs of Japan. The Pokémon Center Osaka is located on the 13th floor of the Daimaru Umeda department store, a five-minute walk from Osaka station (JR), and offers a large selection of plush toys, stationery, clothing, collectible cards and items exclusive to the Japanese market. The Pokémon Center Osaka DX & Pokémon Café is the largest and most spectacular shop, located on the 9th floor of the Daimaru Shinsaibashi store; it also includes a Pokémon Café with themed dishes and drinks that require prior online booking. Both shops generally open from 10:00 to 20:00. Entry to the shops is free; the spending depends on what you buy, although the exclusive Japanese items (plush toys, limited-edition cards, figures) are not easily found outside the country. If you are also interested in anime in general, combine the visit with an excursion to Den Den Town in Nipponbashi, the pop-culture district of Osaka.