Among Japanese Pokémon collectibles, few items are as sought after as a Pokémon Center Special Box. They are made for a single store, often sold by lottery, and rarely make it out of Japan. In this guide we explain what a Special Box is, what is inside and what to look for before you buy one.
What is a Pokémon Center?
Pokémon Centers are the official Pokémon stores in Japan, run by The Pokémon Company. There are stores in major cities across the country, from Sapporo to Fukuoka, plus the Pokémon Center Online web shop. Many products sold there are never released in Europe.
What is a Special Box?
When a Pokémon Center opens, moves or reopens, a Special Box is often released for that location. Each box has its own design, usually showing Pikachu in a theme linked to the city or region, and comes with a promo card that only exists in that box.
What is inside?
The contents differ per box, but typically include:
- one or more exclusive promo cards, often a Pikachu made for that store
- booster packs, in some boxes
- deck sleeves with the same artwork
- a deck box and/or a card storage box
The regional boxes of Tohoku, Hiroshima and Fukuoka, for example, each contain a mirror foil Pikachu promo (260/SV-P, 261/SV-P and 289/SV-P), 64 deck sleeves, a deck box and a long card storage box. The Kanazawa Special Box from 2020 came with three promos, including Kanazawa's Pikachu 147/S-P, plus booster packs.
Why are they so hard to get?
Special Boxes are produced in limited numbers and are usually only sold in Japan. Recent boxes were sold through an online lottery on Pokémon Center Online, which is only open to customers with a Japanese address. Once a box has sold out, it is not restocked, so supply only goes down over time.
Sealed or opened?
Most collectors keep a Special Box factory sealed, because a sealed box is complete and worth more. Others buy one to use the sleeves and display the promo card. If you want to keep the value, leave the seal intact and store the box away from direct sunlight.
Tips before you buy
- Check that the shrink wrap is intact and factory applied, without tears or loose ends.
- Look up the promo number, such as 261/SV-P, so you know exactly which box and card you are buying.
- When buying from outside the EU, import VAT and handling fees can be charged on delivery. Buying from a shop that ships from within the EU avoids this.
Special Boxes at M-District
We source Special Boxes in Japan and ship them from the Netherlands, carefully packed and tracked. See our Pokémon Center Special Boxes & promos, including the complete set of Tohoku, Hiroshima and Fukuoka. New to Japanese cards? Read Japanese vs. English Pokémon cards.