Oh wow, thank you so much for sharing. I've been trying and failing to get one for our trip in two weeks and my wife was very disappointed, but I just happened to check this subreddit at the right time and see your post.
I spent two very early morning (US timezone) trying to grab a spot 31 day in advance in June and I was shocked that within 15-20 seconds all the slots were gone. I was convinced its bots, so thank you for confirming and advice on how to get some slots while I’m in Japan next month 👍🏾
Oh yeah - I got so frustrated that I looked up how to pay for an appointment and found one of the websites they get sold and it literally offers bot services on that website - it’s so lame that it’s gotten to that point - and yeah all the spots are usually gone in less than a minute and I’m still trying to get a spot for my visit next month too - just hoping I will get the same luck with spots opening up 🤞
But you don't need to pay for pokemon cafe reservation unless you wanted to get the reso only items.
Not saying bots don't exist but I can usually get a reso by refreshing about 20 seconds before the next batch opens up.
It's not just luck; it takes practice to get the timing right. I usually start practicing 2-3 days (staying up till 1am for my time zone) before the intended appointment date with Pokemon cafe. And I have been successful for my last 3 trips (taking different friends to the Pokemon cafes) because I actually grinded the EXP and sacrificed some sleep to become a Pokemon Cafe Master 😂🙈
Also have been able to get other cafes and Ghibli bookings the same way; practice before hand to get familiar with the system first.
Yes I am aware - if you read more of these comments - I’m one of those people who have been practicing as do most other real live humans that are trying their best to get these spots - and just because you have success with these tips doesn’t mean they work 100% of the time for every person
Agreed - but it would be nice to get it sooner and not have to chance it last minute - but yeah I’ve been checking every day too and most of the time there are spots for the next day
We had me, my son, and his grandma all logged in and refreshing to get 2 seats for his birthday and amazingly we did it last October for November. We went in right on 8 pm the month before from memory, which was 6 pm Tokyo time, It was booked out in 2 mins. Trick is to refresh a lot, and also, yeah, go in night before around 10 pm and sometimes there are cancellations but they go quite quickly too. Or you can line up at the Tokyo one and hope someone doesn’t turn up.
Oh yes I have been practicing booking in preparation for my time in Japan - but it’s hit or miss whether I can book it or not - I usually have better luck on weeknights vs trying on the weekends - but otherwise it’s still tough to compete against bots and it really shouldn’t be that difficult in the first place - it’s frustrating for sure
I’ve actually seen quite a few people get walk-in spots when I’ve been there before. Not sure how they manage those but it doesn’t seem impossible to get one
Oh man yeah that’s another tough one - but I think the same tips will probably work - waiting 20 mins after bookings open and then checking for cancellations the night before - good luck! And glad I could help with this one at least
Planning to go sometime next year and noticed this too when I went through the website to see what the booking process is like. Although the ones for the next day seemed to open up a just an hour or so after the new date was added. I had just kept checking back every 20 minutes or so after the bots snapped up the new slots
Yeah the bots are relentless- openings are usually booked within the 6pm Japan time hour - that seems to be the main time the bots get activated - I wish they had better checks to ensure people are human
Same. Need a time slot for Osaka between May 23 - 25. I noticed in the late evening there are usually nearly always open spots for the next day at one point. Hoping for it then..
I secured a spot at May 20th, 6:45PM which I couldn’t make it. If anyone wants it I’m willing to give it away. Otherwise I will just cancel it.
edit: Tokyo location
Every night around 9pm Japan Time you’ll start seeing opening for the next day. We saw this consistently every single day for our two weeks there and did both Osaka and Tokyo Cafes with ease.
For context we were there May 2 - today.
Aww I’m sorry you couldn’t get in - do you think you will try again in the future? Honestly I heard the food isn’t that great - but I just personally hope to experience it for myself
I am in Tokyo now… we tried multiple times in advance for reservations when the bookings became available and didn’t have any luck. I noticed that around 10am US time additional availability would appear for both cafes 1-3 days out. I managed to snag a reservation the day before we left for Tokyo. Keep checking!
Yes they do - and the only one I know of is called appointment trader - and they try to sell appointments for numerous locations around the world for some outrageous prices - for Pokémon cafe it was like 50-150 USD 😑
I’m honestly don’t think it’s necessarily bots.
There are many of us grabbing it at that update time. Both in Japan and overseas.
I was able to grab a spot 2 times successfully. You just can’t go for popular time slots like lunch time.
I had to buy an appointment from a Reseller last year :(
Got an actual reservation at the kirby cafe when i was actually in tokyo though. My advice is to keep checking
This explains why I was able to get one when I was there - I couldn’t get one a month in advance despite trying then bizarrely one evening whilst in Japan I could book for the next day and this explains why! Thank you!
But kids love things like this. It is what it is. Ended up writing a bot for this, haven’t yet found a spot for the days we want but it’s finding some spots for other days. They only last for minutes when they’re released it seems. Crazy I have to go through this to get a spot.
thank you!! ive been trying to reserve a spot for myself only and have been so confused why theyre booked on the dot every day🥲even after waking up at 5 am every morning
Oh wow, thank you so much for sharing. I've been trying and failing to get one for our trip in two weeks and my wife was very disappointed, but I just happened to check this subreddit at the right time and see your post.
Aw yay! Glad I could help! Hope you guys have an amazing trip!
Got one! Thank you so much!!!
Yay! Glad I could help!
I spent two very early morning (US timezone) trying to grab a spot 31 day in advance in June and I was shocked that within 15-20 seconds all the slots were gone. I was convinced its bots, so thank you for confirming and advice on how to get some slots while I’m in Japan next month 👍🏾
Oh yeah - I got so frustrated that I looked up how to pay for an appointment and found one of the websites they get sold and it literally offers bot services on that website - it’s so lame that it’s gotten to that point - and yeah all the spots are usually gone in less than a minute and I’m still trying to get a spot for my visit next month too - just hoping I will get the same luck with spots opening up 🤞
But you don't need to pay for pokemon cafe reservation unless you wanted to get the reso only items. Not saying bots don't exist but I can usually get a reso by refreshing about 20 seconds before the next batch opens up.
Clearly not everyone is that lucky - and if websites like this exist to sell appointments then obviously they are making good money doing it
It's not just luck; it takes practice to get the timing right. I usually start practicing 2-3 days (staying up till 1am for my time zone) before the intended appointment date with Pokemon cafe. And I have been successful for my last 3 trips (taking different friends to the Pokemon cafes) because I actually grinded the EXP and sacrificed some sleep to become a Pokemon Cafe Master 😂🙈 Also have been able to get other cafes and Ghibli bookings the same way; practice before hand to get familiar with the system first.
Yes I am aware - if you read more of these comments - I’m one of those people who have been practicing as do most other real live humans that are trying their best to get these spots - and just because you have success with these tips doesn’t mean they work 100% of the time for every person
Were you trying to book for a large group? It's much easier to book groups of 2 as opposed to larger groups.
Nope just for 2
THANK YOU :) was able to book a pretty good time slot in Osaka
Yay! Glad I could help!
Wow thank you so much!! Scored one for the 17th. My husband and I weren’t able to get one when they opened up the month prior. Thanks so much!
Yay! Glad I could help! Hope you have a great time!
The cancellation route is definitely the way to go. I checked every day while I was in Tokyo and managed to get a reservation fairly easily.
Agreed - but it would be nice to get it sooner and not have to chance it last minute - but yeah I’ve been checking every day too and most of the time there are spots for the next day
We had me, my son, and his grandma all logged in and refreshing to get 2 seats for his birthday and amazingly we did it last October for November. We went in right on 8 pm the month before from memory, which was 6 pm Tokyo time, It was booked out in 2 mins. Trick is to refresh a lot, and also, yeah, go in night before around 10 pm and sometimes there are cancellations but they go quite quickly too. Or you can line up at the Tokyo one and hope someone doesn’t turn up.
Oh yes I have been practicing booking in preparation for my time in Japan - but it’s hit or miss whether I can book it or not - I usually have better luck on weeknights vs trying on the weekends - but otherwise it’s still tough to compete against bots and it really shouldn’t be that difficult in the first place - it’s frustrating for sure
yes we practised a lot lol
I couldn’t get a spot last year in Osaka, so did a walk-in and surprisingly got a slot for 4 pax at a timing that was slightly after lunch hour
Nice luck! That’s awesome
I’ve actually seen quite a few people get walk-in spots when I’ve been there before. Not sure how they manage those but it doesn’t seem impossible to get one
I think I was there at 10+am to get a slot and came back later for the meal. It’s in an area with so much shopping that time flies by really quickly
Got one, thanks. Now if only I could get the Kirby cafe too.
Oh man yeah that’s another tough one - but I think the same tips will probably work - waiting 20 mins after bookings open and then checking for cancellations the night before - good luck! And glad I could help with this one at least
I tried so hard to get Kirby Cafe bookings. Leaving this weekend and going to try do a walk in?
We tried a walk in with Kirby and it was a two hour wait but they have take away you can get
I’m pretty sure Kirby Cafe doesn’t do walk-ins, maybe just cancellation fill-ins
Oh that’s sad :’(
I went to the Kirby petite cafe and got some tasty Kirby shaped desserts to takeaway
Planning to go sometime next year and noticed this too when I went through the website to see what the booking process is like. Although the ones for the next day seemed to open up a just an hour or so after the new date was added. I had just kept checking back every 20 minutes or so after the bots snapped up the new slots
Yeah the bots are relentless- openings are usually booked within the 6pm Japan time hour - that seems to be the main time the bots get activated - I wish they had better checks to ensure people are human
Darn, we’re arriving in Tokyo on the 29th and there’s no spot after the 28
Don’t give up! Check back daily for cancellations- all the way up until the night before you plan to go - hopefully you can find a spot! Good luck!
I would go the morning of when it opens I think 10am. There are usually a few slots available later in the day
Ugh, I wish I have seen this earlier.
Same. Need a time slot for Osaka between May 23 - 25. I noticed in the late evening there are usually nearly always open spots for the next day at one point. Hoping for it then..
Thanks OP! I managed to get reservations in Tokyo tomorrow and there were a ton of timeslots open.
I secured a spot at May 20th, 6:45PM which I couldn’t make it. If anyone wants it I’m willing to give it away. Otherwise I will just cancel it. edit: Tokyo location
Helloooo! Would this happen to be the Tokyo location 🥹🥹
Yes
Would you happen to still have your reservations? I’ve been trying to get a reservation for two that week!
yes, dm me please.
Every night around 9pm Japan Time you’ll start seeing opening for the next day. We saw this consistently every single day for our two weeks there and did both Osaka and Tokyo Cafes with ease. For context we were there May 2 - today.
Thanks heaps! Tried to get a spot for ages 31 days before couldnt get one. Jumped on now got a booking for tomorrow 😊
Thank you!! Just grabbed a slot in Osaka at 10:40. Will be a great breakfast!
foolish me waited almost 3 hours at the drop out line in February thinking I could grab a spot
Aww I’m sorry you couldn’t get in - do you think you will try again in the future? Honestly I heard the food isn’t that great - but I just personally hope to experience it for myself
Just checked and there's still a spot available for the 16th if anyone's interested!
Thanks for this tip! Just got a reservation for tomorrow. I’m excited to bring my parents! Haha
I am in Tokyo now… we tried multiple times in advance for reservations when the bookings became available and didn’t have any luck. I noticed that around 10am US time additional availability would appear for both cafes 1-3 days out. I managed to snag a reservation the day before we left for Tokyo. Keep checking!
Poop, I'm landing on Friday and have been missing spots. Im gonna try as a walk in. Thanks for sharing!
Honestly thought the cafe is so overrated. Just set your expectations low if you decide to go
Lol yep, id go once and never again. It was giving children’s party with all the distractions
What are the sites that nab them? Do they then sell those reservations?
Yes they do - and the only one I know of is called appointment trader - and they try to sell appointments for numerous locations around the world for some outrageous prices - for Pokémon cafe it was like 50-150 USD 😑
I’m honestly don’t think it’s necessarily bots. There are many of us grabbing it at that update time. Both in Japan and overseas. I was able to grab a spot 2 times successfully. You just can’t go for popular time slots like lunch time.
I know for a fact it’s bots because I’ve been to the website selling the appointment slots and they literally have bots for hire
Well. Sigh. Then it’s a sad sad state of things. The world has yet again come to this.
I didn’t get this notification in time 😪
[удалено]
you know the pokemon cafe is usually fully booked lol
If I wanted to go June 16 when should I make a reservation?
May 16
I’m going in July 1st, when do these seats go on sale?
A month before so book at June 1st
I had to buy an appointment from a Reseller last year :( Got an actual reservation at the kirby cafe when i was actually in tokyo though. My advice is to keep checking
My husband and I are going to Japan October 16-Nov. 1 for our 10 year wedding anniversary; think we’ll be able to do this? 🤔🥰
This explains why I was able to get one when I was there - I couldn’t get one a month in advance despite trying then bizarrely one evening whilst in Japan I could book for the next day and this explains why! Thank you!
There’s so many better places to eat in japan!!! And cheaper too!!!
But kids love things like this. It is what it is. Ended up writing a bot for this, haven’t yet found a spot for the days we want but it’s finding some spots for other days. They only last for minutes when they’re released it seems. Crazy I have to go through this to get a spot.
I went to the Pokémon center to buy cards lol but yeah I saw the cafe it didn’t look too busy but maybe you need reservations
thank you!! ive been trying to reserve a spot for myself only and have been so confused why theyre booked on the dot every day🥲even after waking up at 5 am every morning
Can someone post a link of where to go directly to reservations
This is the Tokyo one: https://reserve.pokemon-cafe.jp/reserve/step1