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Pokemon Center is a hot Japanese tourist destination

by Griffin McElroy on Apr 10th 2009 6:30PM

There's plenty of essential sightseeing spots and activities any tourist must partake in during a visit to Japan, such as hitting up the local jumbo-sized arcades, dropping by the beautiful Sensoji Temple, and falling in love with a washed-up actor in a luxurious hotel. However, according to travel site TripAdvisor.com's Top 20 most popular Japanese tourist destinations in 2008, the third-hottest locale for visitors was Tokyo's Pokémon Center store.

It seems a little silly that a retail outlet dedicated to Poké-merch was so outrageously popular amongst Japan-bound travelers last year. Then again, where else are you supposed to heal your sick or injured pokémon -- the veterinary hospital? Don't be ridiculous.

[Via Kotaku]

Source

Tags: game-freak, japan, nintendo, pokemon, pokemon-center-tokyo, tokyo, tourism, travel

Reader Comments (14)

It's because everyone wants to see the Chansey! Chansey are kinda rare in the wild.

Psh, everyone's there for Nurse Joy.

People wish they could find Nurse Joy in the wild.

I bet the Pokemon Center in New York would be flourishing right how if it just could've held out a few more years. Can't say I blame 'em for shutting down during the Ruby/Sapphire era, though.

i loved that joint, i never walked out of there without spending at least a hundred dollars.

but then again, you must retrieve them in their entirety.

It's nice to know there's at least a Pokemart in the vicinity too.

I dunno about you guys, but I get creeped out when Nurse Joy says "We hope to see you again" every time I heal my Pokemon.

So true. If I'm coming back to the pokemon center it means my pokemon are hurt. What kind of sick bastards are these people that they want to see my pokemon injured again.

Hey man, I go in there to chat with Nurse Joy. That's why she hopes to see me again.

I don't know why, but I always have at least one nightmare per year about a group of Chansey and Nurse Joys holding a syringe in their hands. The fact that they all appear to look exactly the same does not help either.

IT'S A CONSPIRACY!

Magikarp says:

I swear to Arseus, when I evolve, I'm going to kill you all!

I know I'm visiting the Pokemon Center when I go.

I'm studying abroad and we'd been to the slightly smaller one in Nagoya within a matter of days, its the best kind of nostalgia!

If you ever need a banana shaped case to hold that banana you've been saving (with Pikachu emblazoned on it.) You know where to go.

its so true. i went to TWO different pokemon centers in tokyo... one in Daimon and i forget the other place...

mmm...is it true that if I bring my "pikachu" there Nurse Joy will "take care" of IT?

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Pokemon Center is a hot Japanese tourist destination

Reader Comments (14)

Posted: Apr 10th 2009 7:11PM rTwelve said

Posted: Apr 10th 2009 8:14PM blahblah55 said

Posted: Apr 10th 2009 7:27PM maxchain said

Posted: Apr 10th 2009 9:22PM MatisyahuSerious said

Posted: Apr 10th 2009 7:46PM STiger said

Posted: Apr 10th 2009 8:00PM DonaldMick said

Posted: Apr 10th 2009 8:20PM zerokku said

Posted: Apr 10th 2009 8:36PM STiger said

Posted: Apr 10th 2009 10:40PM Alilatias said

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Posted: Apr 11th 2009 12:03AM Harrishun said

Posted: Apr 11th 2009 12:29AM dannydesugmailcom said

Posted: Apr 11th 2009 7:55PM FUNKaLISMO said

Posted: Apr 12th 2009 10:33PM (Unverified) said

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