Miyagi is home to Pokémon Center Tohoku, the only permanent Pokémon Center in the Tohoku region, as well as two Lapras Parks you won’t find anywhere else in Japan. You can also hunt for Poké Lids (Pokémon manhole covers) and ride a city bus covered in Lapras artwork.
This guide is written by a Sendai-based writer who has visited these spots with his kids. It covers what you need to plan your visit: location, access, prices, and tips.
*Information is current as of October 2026. Hours, fares, and schedules may change, so please check the official websites before you go.
日本語版はこちら：仙台・宮城のポケモン観光スポット完全ガイド
Pokémon Spots in Sendai & Miyagi at a Glance
The first three spots are all within easy reach of Sendai Station and fit into a couple of hours between Wild Area sessions.
| Spot | Area | From Sendai Station | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pokémon Center Tohoku | Near Sendai Station | 3-min walk | Free entry |
| Poké Lid (Ichibancho) | Near Sendai Station | 12-min walk, or 17 min by Chokotto bus | Free |
| “Chokotto” Lapras Bus | Near Sendai Station | Departs from Bus Stop No. 3 | ¥150 (cashless only) |
| Lapras Park in Sendai | Sendai suburbs | 40 min by city bus | Free |
| Lapras Park in Kasenuma | Rifu Town | 18-min walk from JR Shin-Rifu Station | Free |
Getting to Sendai
- From Tokyo: About 1.5 to 2 hours by the Tohoku Shinkansen.
- From Sendai Airport: As little as 17 minutes to Sendai Station on the Sendai Airport Access Line.
Source: Lapras + Miyagi Meguri (Miyagi Prefecture, Japanese)
Pokémon Center Tohoku (ポケモンセンタートウホク)
The official Pokémon store inside Sendai PARCO. Since its renewal in March 2025, the store’s interior has been themed around Tohoku’s traditional summer festivals.
Store Information
| Address | Sendai PARCO1 3F, 1-2-3 Chuo, Aoba-ku, Sendai |
| Hours | 10:00–20:00 |
| Closed | Follows Sendai PARCO’s closing days (a few days a year) |
| Entry | Free |
| Access | 3-min walk from JR Sendai Station (West Exit) |
Highlights
- Near the registers, you’ll find Pikachu and Victini styled after Aomori’s famous Nebuta festival floats.
- Pokémon Card Station, a space to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game, is located inside the store.
- Don’t miss Pokémon Center Tohoku Garden on the 2nd floor, in front of PARCO’s main entrance. It features a Pikachu topiary and makes a great photo spot.
To get a feel for the store’s interior, check out the official renewal page.
Source: Pokémon Center Tohoku renewal page (Pokémon official, Japanese)
From a parent’s point of view, the store is a hit with kids, and the staff are exceptionally friendly. Plan a little more time than you expect, because adults tend to get absorbed too.
Can You Buy Pokémon Cards at Pokémon Center Tohoku?
Sometimes, yes. Pokémon cards are sold in two ways: regular sales and lottery sales.
ポチップ
Regular Sales
Starter decks are usually on the shelves in the card section. Expansion packs are sometimes available too, with a notice posted above the shelves, but they often sell out.
In my experience, packs were available on only one of three visits, on a weekday around 14:00. There was a limit of 20 packs per person, and they were sold as loose packs at the register, not in boxes, even when two people asked together.
Lottery Sales
For popular new releases, the store often runs a lottery, announced on the official news page. Entry requires linking a LINE account, which may be difficult for short-term visitors. Winners receive a ticket through LINE and line up in a dedicated queue at the register at their assigned time.
Example: Lottery for Pokémon TCG products released September 16 (Pokémon official, Japanese)
Source: Pokémon Center Tohoku news (Pokémon official, Japanese)
Tips for Visiting
- On busy days, such as new product release dates, entry may be limited by advance lottery. Check the news page before visiting.
- Popular items can sell out.
Source: Pokémon Center Tohoku official site
Lapras Parks: Only in Miyagi
Lapras Parks are playgrounds themed around Lapras, Miyagi’s official supporting Pokémon. There are just two in Japan, both in Miyagi, and both have their own Poké Lid. Entry is free.
If you play Pokémon GO, try GO Snapshot inside either park. Lapras will photobomb your picture once a day (until November 30, 2027 in Kasenuma and May 24, 2028 in Sendai).
Source: Lapras Park in Kasenuma / Lapras Park in Sendai (Pokémon Daisuki Club, Japanese)
Lapras Park in Sendai (ラプラス公園 in せんだい)
Opened in April 2026 inside Kaigan Park (Fujitsuka area). It features Lapras play equipment and a Poké Lid, so you can enjoy both in one trip.
| Address | Fujitsuka, Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai |
| Hours | Open 24 hours (park office 9:00–17:00) |
| Entry | Free |
| Bus | From Sendai Station Bus Stop No. 5, take the Sendai City Bus bound for 海岸公園藤塚・ラプラス公園. Get off at 海岸公園・ラプラス公園 (about 40 min). |
| Car | About 25 min from Sendai Station / 15 min from Sendai Airport |
- The park is near the coast and can be windy and cold in November. Dress warmly.
- Check the bus timetable before you go, as buses are not frequent.
Source: Bus timetable to Lapras Park (Sendai City Transportation Bureau, Japanese) / Lapras Parks (Miyagi Prefecture, Japanese)
Lapras Park in Kasenuma (ラプラス公園 in かせぬま)
Located inside Kasenuma Park. I’ve brought my kids here many times. Besides the Lapras equipment, the park has a large playground, a zipline, and areas for toddlers, and food trucks often come on weekends. It’s a great half-day trip for families.
- Hours: 8:00–17:00 (October–March), closed December 29–January 3
- Note that it closes at 17:00 in November.
Source: Morilin Kasenuma Park (Japanese)
Poké Lids: Pokémon Manhole Covers
Poké Lids are manhole covers decorated with Pokémon artwork. In Miyagi, they’re installed in all 35 cities and towns, with Lapras appearing on most designs. Each one reflects the local area’s nature, festivals, or specialties.
Jirachi Poké Lid (Ichibancho, Sendai)
The easiest one to reach from Sendai Station features Jirachi. It’s in the middle of the Sun Mall Ichibancho shopping arcade, near the entrance to Iroha Yokocho, about a 12-minute walk from the station.
This arcade is decorated with huge streamers every August for Sendai Tanabata, the city’s famous star festival where people write wishes. Jirachi, the Wish Pokémon, is a natural fit, and has appeared in Pokémon’s collaborations with Sendai before.
Source: Jirachi (Pokémon Zukan, Japanese)
仙台七夕まつりの開催にあわせて、ポケモンセンタートウホクで、幻のポケモン「ジラーチ」を、キミの『ポケットモンスター サン・ムーン』にプレゼント中！ https://t.co/ML3wMTeO7x #ポケモンセンター https://t.co/Al5nVXeEdW
— ポケモン公式 (@Pokemon_cojp) August 6, 2017
In 2017, for example, Pokémon Center Tohoku gave away Jirachi in the games to celebrate Sendai Tanabata.
Ditto-as-Lapras Poké Lid (Shichigahama)
Further out on the coast, Shichigahama’s Poké Lid shows a Ditto transformed into Lapras, with a delightfully relaxed face.
You can find every location on the official map: Poké Lids: Miyagi Prefecture (official)
Tip: Poké Lids are on roads and sidewalks, so watch out for cars and pedestrians when taking photos.
“Chokotto” Lapras Bus (まちのり「チョコット」withラプラス)
A loop bus around central Sendai, decorated with Lapras and Electric-type Pokémon. It’s a regular city bus, so no reservation is needed. There are two designs:
- Bus 1: Lapras with Electric- and Water-type Pokémon
- Bus 2: Lapras with Electric- and Ice-type Pokémon
The interior is Pokémon-themed too, so it’s worth riding even for a short trip.
| Boarding | Sendai Station West Bus Pool, Stop No. 3 |
| Fare | Adults ¥150 / Children ¥80 per ride |
| Payment | Cashless only: IC cards (Suica, PASMO, etc.), credit cards, QR code payments |
| Hours | Departs Sendai Station 9:00–17:40, generally every 20 min |
| Loop time | About 21 min |
- Cash is not accepted. Credit cards work, so you can ride even without an IC card.
- There are no departures from late 11:00 to 12:30, or from about 14:10 to 16:00.
- On maintenance days, a regular bus may run instead of a Lapras bus.
Source: Miyagi Kotsu: Chokotto with Lapras (Japanese)
Pokémon GO Wild Area: Sendai • Tohoku
| Dates | November 6–8, 2026 |
| Hours | 10:00–18:00 JST |
| Ticket | ¥4,000 per day (or the equivalent in your local currency) |
| Area | In-person activities in Sendai, gameplay across Miyagi Prefecture |
Gameplay features are for ticket holders only. As Miyagi’s supporting Pokémon, mighty Lapras can appear for ticket holders in Sendai, so pair the event with a visit to a Lapras Park or a Poké Lid.
Source: Pokémon GO Wild Area: Sendai • Tohoku (official)
Sample Route: 90 Minutes Around Sendai Station
This route uses the time before Pokémon Center opens at 10:00.
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 9:40 | Board the Chokotto Lapras Bus at Sendai Station Bus Stop No. 3 |
| 9:57 | Get off at Aobadori Ichibancho Station and walk 2 min to the Jirachi Poké Lid |
| 10:17 | Board the Chokotto again at Aobadori Ichibancho Station |
| 10:21 | Arrive back at Sendai Station |
| 10:30–11:30 | Shop at Pokémon Center Tohoku and take photos at the Garden on PARCO’s 2nd floor |
Bring a credit card or IC card for the bus, as cash is not accepted.
Summary
- About 2 hours: Pokémon Center Tohoku, the Lapras Bus, and the Jirachi Poké Lid
- Half a day: Add Lapras Park in Sendai
- Full day: Add Lapras Park in Kasenuma
Hours and schedules can change, so check the official websites before heading out. Enjoy your Pokémon adventure in Miyagi!
