When Do Pokémon Cafe Reservations Open? (2026 Release Schedule)
Most Pokémon Cafe slots are taken on release day, so knowing exactly when reservations open is the single most useful thing you can do. Here's how the release schedule works as of October 2026.
Last checked against the official site: 16 October 2026
The monthly release
Both Tokyo and Osaka currently release a whole month at once. Every slot for the following month opens at 18:00 Japan time (UTC+9) on the 1st of the month before.
- November 2026 slots: opened 1 October 2026, 18:00 Japan time.
- December 2026 slots: expected 1 November 2026, 18:00 Japan time, if the schedule stays the same.
The cafe announces each release on its official reservation site and can change the date or time. Check the notice before release day rather than relying on the pattern.
18:00 Japan time in your time zone
- Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila: 17:00 the same day.
- Bangkok, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City: 16:00 the same day.
- Seoul: 18:00 the same day.
- UTC: 09:00 the same day. Add or subtract your own offset from UTC for Europe and the Americas, remembering daylight saving time.
When cancelled seats come back
Guests can cancel online until 22:00 Japan time the night before their visit. Every cancellation puts that seat back on the reservation site, so seats reappear at unpredictable times throughout the month.
Because guests can cancel right up to the night before, a sold-out date isn't final. Checking regularly in the days before your visit gives you more chances to catch a released seat.
The last moment you can book
Online bookings close at 08:00 Japan time on the day of the visit. After that, the only option is the cafe entrance, where seats from same-day cancellations are offered when there are any.
