Restocks & lottery sales in Japan (2026): what overseas & tourist buyers need to know
Last updated: September 2026 · Rules change often — confirm on the retailer's page before you rely on this.
30th Anniversary lottery schedule
Snapshot as of 2026-09-18 · times are JST · always confirm on the retailer's own page before applying — dates change and this is a manual translation.
| Enter by | Store | Result → Buy window | Product | Apply | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 20 | C-labo | Result: Sep 21–27 Buy: Sep 28–Oct 11 (pre-order) |
30th Card Set | In-store (QR) | In-store |
| Sep 20 | Ito-Yokado | Result: late Sep Buy: Oct 9–11 |
Mega Brave · Mega Symphonia | In-store | In-store |
| Sep 20 | Pokémon Center | Result: Sep 22, 12:00+ Buy: Sep 24–30 |
30th Pack | App | In-store |
| Sep 20 | PAO | Result: Sep 24+ Buy: Sep 27–30 |
30th Pack · Mega Brave · Mega Symphonia | Web | In-store |
| Sep 20 | Hobby Station | Result: Oct 2 Buy: Oct 5–11 |
Storm Emerald | Web | In-store |
| Sep 20 | Aeon Hokkaido e-shop | Result: Sep 25, 8:00+ Buy: Sep 26–30 |
30th Pack · 30th Deck Set | App | In-store |
| Sep 21 | Aeon Style Online | Result: by Oct 10 Buy: online |
Mega Brave · Mega Symphonia | Web | Web / ship |
| Sep 22 | Toreca Plaza 55 | Result: Sep 24–25 Buy: by Sep 28 |
30th Pack · 30th Deck Set · more | Web | Web / ship |
| Sep 27 | Toys "R" Us | Result: Oct 14, noon Buy: Oct 16–18 |
30th Card Set | In-store (QR) | In-store |
| Sep 30 | Hareruya2 (mail order) | Result: Oct 5 Buy: Oct 5–9, 15:00 |
Storm Emerald | Web | Web / ship |
| Opens Sep 18 | Hobby Search | Entry: from Sep 18, 21:00 |
30th Pack · 30th Deck Set | Web | Web / ship |
| Sep 23–Oct 4 | Sanyodo Shoten | Result: Oct 14 Buy: Oct 16–18 |
30th Card Set | Web | In-store |
| Sep 28–Oct 1 | GEO | Result: Oct 14 Buy: Oct 16–18 |
30th Card Set | Web | In-store |
| Sep 28–Oct 1 | GEO (restock) | Result: Oct 22 Buy: Oct 24–25 |
30th Pack (restock) | Web | In-store |
Web-apply + web-ship draws (Aeon Style Online, Toreca Plaza 55, Hareruya2, Hobby Search) are the realistic ones for overseas buyers; in-store pickup draws need someone in Japan. Many official draws also require the Players Club / My Number account — see below.
The two ways cards are sold
- Regular stock / restocks — normal shelf and online stock. No account or ID needed. This is where most of your buying will happen. Restock waves are frequent but unannounced; popular items vanish fast.
- Lottery (抽選 / 予約抽選) — for high-demand limited sets, retailers run a draw: you apply during a window, winners get the right to buy. This is increasingly the only way to get the newest sets at retail price.
The 2026 Players Club / My Number rule
Since around August 2026, many official lottery sales require a Pokémon Card Game Players Club account verified with a Japanese My Number card. Because a My Number card is issued only to residents of Japan, this effectively locks out short-term tourists and overseas buyers from those specific draws.
What this means for you:
- If you live outside Japan or are visiting: you generally cannot enter the My-Number-gated official lotteries yourself.
- You can still buy regular restocks, secondary-market listings (Rakuten, Amazon JP, card shops), and products at physical stores.
- Some third-party retailers run their own lotteries with lighter requirements — worth watching.
Tax-free shopping change (from Nov 1, 2026)
Japan's tax-free shopping system for tourists is changing on November 1, 2026. The long-standing rule was: spend over ¥5,500 in one transaction, show your passport, buy tax-free. The mechanics of how the exemption is applied are being revised — check the current procedure at the store, and keep your passport on you.
How to actually get cards without the lottery
- Watch restocks on Rakuten and Amazon JP — use our live price tool to spot in-stock sealed product.
- Buy on the secondary market — slightly above retail, but no lottery. Reputable Rakuten and card-shop listings are usually safe.
- Use a proxy / forwarding service if you're overseas — see the buy guide.
- Join the alerts below so you hear about restock waves in time.
Restock & lottery alerts, in English
We post windows and restock waves in the LINE OpenChat as they happen.
Join free →This page is general information, not official guidance. Rules and dates change; always verify with the retailer or official source before acting.