Pokémon’s 30th Anniversary in 2026: A Guide to Exploring Shibuya, from Art Experiences and Japanese Culture to Street Karting
2026 marks Pokémon’s 30th anniversary.
For Pokémon, which has been loved around the world since its debut in 1996, 2026 is a special anniversary year.
Many people, both in Japan and abroad, are likely thinking, “I want to visit Japan, where Pokémon was born,” or “I want to enjoy Pokémon in Tokyo.”
One neighborhood you should definitely visit on your 2026 trip to Tokyo is Shibuya.
Shibuya is home to a wide range of cultures that symbolize modern Tokyo, including Pokémon, gaming, anime, fashion, music, gourmet food, art, and Japanese culture.
But if you’re going to visit Shibuya, it would be a shame to do nothing more than see the famous sights.
For sightseeing in Tokyo in 2026,
move from “seeing Tokyo” to “experiencing Tokyo.”
Why not create a trip to Tokyo all your own by combining experiences that can only be had in Shibuya?
Marking Pokémon’s 30th anniversary, we’re introducing ideas for enjoying a full day in Tokyo’s Shibuya, from classic sightseeing to art and Japanese culture.
1. 2026 Marks Pokémon’s 30th Anniversary! Japan Draws Attention from Around the World
Pokémon was born in 1996.
And in 2026, Pokémon will reach the major milestone of its 30th anniversary.
The generation that played with Pokémon as children has grown up, and today, it’s not uncommon to see parents and children enjoying Pokémon together.
With fans not only in Japan but all around the world, Pokémon can now be considered one of Japan’s leading cultural icons.
And 2026, the year Pokémon turns 30,
is set to be a special year for Pokémon fans around the world planning a trip to Japan.
Tokyo has many Pokémon-related spots, but Shibuya is one of the easiest areas to enjoy alongside sightseeing in Tokyo.
2. Shibuya: A Must-Walk for Anyone Sightseeing in Tokyo
Step out of Shibuya Station and a massive city unfolds before you.
From the world-famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing, the city is filled with iconic Tokyo sights, including giant screens, shops, cafes, restaurants, fashion, music, and art.
For first-time foreign tourists visiting Tokyo,
it’s one of the easiest places to feel,
“I’ve arrived in TOKYO!”
Whether you’re walking across the Shibuya Scramble Crossing to take photos, exploring the city, or enjoying some shopping.
Of course, that alone is enough to make sightseeing in Shibuya enjoyable.
But lately, more and more travelers visiting Tokyo are looking for more than just seeing famous places;
they want to cherish
“what they experienced in Japan.”
That’s why we recommend combining sightseeing in Shibuya with hands-on experiences.
3. After Enjoying Pokémon, Create a Lasting Memory of Tokyo All Your Own
Buy Pokémon merchandise.
Take photos.
Bring home your favorite items as souvenirs from Japan.
Of course, that’s a wonderful way to remember your trip.
But there’s something else entirely satisfying about bringing home something you made yourself in Tokyo.
That’s exactly what you can do at Art and Cafe in Tokyo’s Shibuya.
4. Experience Art at Shibuya’s “Art and Cafe”
Art and Cafe is an experiential art cafe
themed around ART × MUSIC × CAFE.
It’s not a typical cafe, nor is it a formal art school.
It’s a place where you can enjoy art more freely and casually.
“I’ve never painted before.”
“I’m not artistic.”
“I haven’t painted since art class.”
If that’s you, don’t worry.
Art and Cafe offers a variety of workshops that even art beginners can enjoy.
5. Choose Your Favorite Art Experience and Create a Piece All Your Own
At Art and Cafe, you can choose your favorite workshop from a variety of art experiences.
For example, try “Pouring Art,” where you can enjoy the colors and patterns that emerge as paint flows.
Try “Texture Art,” where you use three-dimensional materials to create a piece while exploring the bumps, shadows, and textures.
Try “Alcohol Ink Art,” with its beautiful, translucent colors.
Try “Sand Texture Art,” which incorporates a sand-like texture.
Try “Boho Art,” which is easy to coordinate with your home décor.
Try “Blower Pouring Art,” where you use air to move the paint.
Try “Bear Art,” where you layer colors on a three-dimensional bear to create your own design.
There are also Western painting series inspired by masterpieces by Van Gogh, Monet, and Renoir, as well as contemporary art series, large-canvas series, and premium series.
The most important thing is
not to paint well, but to enjoy art.
Choose your favorite colors and move your hands freely as you complete a piece all your own.
6. Also Recommended for Couples and Groups of Friends Traveling in Tokyo
If you’re traveling in Tokyo with a partner or friends, spending time creating art together is also highly recommended.
Even if you choose the same theme, the finished pieces will be completely different.
“I like that color.”
“This might be more interesting.”
The time you spend creating your piece while having conversations like these will become a memory of the trip itself.
The large-canvas series also lets you enjoy creating a single piece together.
Every time you look at the finished piece,
you’ll remember, “We made this together in Tokyo.”
It will be a lasting memento of your trip to Tokyo, different from a photograph.
7. An Art Experience Recommended for Foreign Tourists
Art and Cafe offers services in English so that foreign tourists can also enjoy the art experience.
Art is something that can be enjoyed beyond words.
Choose your favorite colors, move the paint, and create a piece freely.
Even if you don’t speak Japanese, you can spend a special time in Tokyo through art.
When you take your finished piece home,
it will be a special souvenir you made yourself,
bearing the words “MADE BY ME IN TOKYO.”
8. For an Authentic Japanese Cultural Experience, Try “Edo Saryo”
If you want to enjoy an even more authentically Japanese experience in Shibuya, Edo Saryo is highly recommended.
Visiting shrines, temples, and Japanese gardens is also a wonderful part of sightseeing in Tokyo.
But at Edo Saryo, you can not only “see” Japanese culture, but also
make and enjoy it yourself.
You can enjoy this kind of experience.
9. Create Your Own Tea Set with “Edo Nuri”
One of the experiences you can enjoy at Edo Saryo is “Edo Nuri.”
You will create an original piece all your own by layering colors and patterns on a tea set.
No advanced art skills are required.
Choose your favorite colors.
Paint.
Layer.
Then, complete a tea set unlike any other in the world.
Once it’s finished, enjoy matcha and Japanese sweets with the tea set you made yourself.
Enjoying an art experience and a Japanese cultural experience at the same time is one of the unique charms of Edo Saryo.
Buying a ready-made tea set as a souvenir from your trip to Japan is also wonderful,
but a “tea set you made yourself in Tokyo”
will surely make that memory even more special.
10. Enjoy the City Itself with a “Street Kart Experience”
The Shibuya area offers unique experiences beyond art and Japanese culture.
One of the experiences attracting attention from foreign tourists looking for an impactful experience on their trip to Tokyo is street karting.
It is characterized by allowing you to enjoy the streets of Tokyo from a different perspective than usual.
Unlike “Tokyo experiences you make yourself” at Art and Cafe or Edo Saryo, this is an option where you “enjoy the city of Tokyo itself as an activity.”
If you plan to participate, be sure to check the driver’s license, international driver’s license, age, clothing, and safety rules set by each operator in advance.
11. A “One-Day Shibuya Sightseeing Plan” to Enjoy Pokémon’s 30th Anniversary
Since you’re going to visit Shibuya, why not enjoy it all day instead of leaving after visiting just one spot?
For example, spend the morning exploring the area around the Shibuya Scramble Crossing.
Enjoy the quintessentially Tokyo cityscape while taking photos and shopping.
Afterward, enjoy Pokémon and other Japanese games, anime, and character culture.
After lunch, head to Art and Cafe.
Spend about two hours creating a piece all your own while enjoying cafe drinks.
If you want to experience more Japanese culture, head to Edo Saryo.
Spend time experiencing Japanese culture while enjoying tea set making, matcha, and Japanese sweets.
Then, from evening to night, explore the streets of Shibuya or enjoy restaurants and bars.
If you want to enjoy Tokyo actively, you can also add experiences like street karting to your itinerary.
POKÉMON × SHIBUYA × ART × JAPANESE CULTURE
This way, it won’t just be a trip where you “went to Shibuya,”
but a trip where you “played in Shibuya all day.”
You can pack a variety of “TOKYO” experiences into a single day.
For those who want more than a typical sightseeing trip to Tokyo,
move from seeing Tokyo to experiencing Tokyo.
2026 marks Pokémon’s 30th anniversary.
Why not create a trip to Tokyo all your own in Shibuya?
🎨 ART AND CAFE｜Art and Cafe
ART × MUSIC × CAFE
🍵 EDO SARYO｜Edo Saryo
ART × JAPANESE CULTURE × MATCHA
Beginners welcome.
No need to bring anything.
English available.
Book through each official website.
