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| Watch | Streaming Guide
In Japan, there are a bunch of different
streaming services that host Pokémon
related content. Keeping track of which service has what can be a bit
of a daunting task, and so this page
breaks down what Pokémon content is available on each service.
This page was last updated on August 2nd, 2026.
This page breaks down the Japanese websites and services that currently provide official, legal uploads of the Pocket Monsters TV series, movies, and specials. Non-Japanese sites and illegal uploads are not covered by this guide.
While this list is for Japanese services intended for users actually in Japan, those of you outside the country should also able to access the content on the sites, in theory. Many of them will require a VPN service, a Japanese credit card, a Japanese mailing address, or some combination of the three, but it shouldn't be impossible. There are plenty of guides online that provide step-by-step instructions on how to set these up, if required.
To start off, I've compiled a list of each TV series, movie, etc. and which streaming service(s) they're currently available. That master list can be found here:
For a more detailed breakdown of each individual service, see below:
Overview
Amazon Prime was the first site to have every single Pocket Monsters TV series all in one place. While there have been periods where this isn't true (the majority of the Pocket Monsters series were removed in June 2024, only to make a return to Amazon Prime in February 2025) as of now the site has the following:
Overview
As of this writing, U-Next has the largest selection of Pocket Monsters related content out of all the streaming services in Japan. This includes, but is not limited to:
U-Next is also the most expensive of the streaming services on this list.
Overview
The official Japanese Pokémon YouTube channel features over 2,500 videos, and among those are select episodes of the Pocket Monsters animated series.
Every week a "In Case Ya Missed It! Stream" (見逃し配信) of the newest episode of the animated series is uploaded to the official YouTube site. The episodes are taken down and replaced with the newest episode as soon as they air.
There's also an "AniPoké Selection" playlist that contains official uploads of around seven episodes per series.
Other animated series include PokéToons, Pokémon Generations, Pokémon Evolutions, and Twilight Wings. The Pokémon Kids TV shorts, meanwhile, have their own dedicated channel.
Finally, the live action movie Pokémon: Detective Pikachu is available to rent or buy.
This page was last updated on August 2nd, 2026.
| Overview |
This page breaks down the Japanese websites and services that currently provide official, legal uploads of the Pocket Monsters TV series, movies, and specials. Non-Japanese sites and illegal uploads are not covered by this guide.
While this list is for Japanese services intended for users actually in Japan, those of you outside the country should also able to access the content on the sites, in theory. Many of them will require a VPN service, a Japanese credit card, a Japanese mailing address, or some combination of the three, but it shouldn't be impossible. There are plenty of guides online that provide step-by-step instructions on how to set these up, if required.
| The List |
To start off, I've compiled a list of each TV series, movie, etc. and which streaming service(s) they're currently available. That master list can be found here:
 |
For a more detailed breakdown of each individual service, see below:
| Service Name |
Abema |
| Website | https://abema.tv/ |
| Cost | Abema
is a free service with ads, though some content is locked behind a
paywall. There are multiple plans that range in cost from 770 JPY
($4.89 USD) a month to 1,640 JPY ($10.42 USD) a month. |
Overview
Abema is a free streaming service (though payment options do exist) that offers Pocket Monsters content on a rotating basis. If you're low on money and don't need access to every single episode at all times then Abema might be a good fit for you. As of this writing, the Pocket Monsters episodes up on the service are:
The service also offers "channels" where certain episodes are streamed "live," just like regular TV. So if you don't want to have to choose which episode to watch you can always hop into a channel and just watch whatever happens to be playing at that particular moment.
Abema is a free streaming service (though payment options do exist) that offers Pocket Monsters content on a rotating basis. If you're low on money and don't need access to every single episode at all times then Abema might be a good fit for you. As of this writing, the Pocket Monsters episodes up on the service are:
- Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation Episodes 105 - 192
- Pocket Monsters Diamond
& Pearl Episodes 001 - 014
- Pocket Monsters Best
Wishes! Episodes 001- 007
- Pocket Monsters (2019) Episodes 069 - 147
- Pocket Monsters (2023)
Episodes 001 - 144
The first episode and the newest episode are both free, but every other episode requires a premium membership to view.
- Pocket Monsters Beyond the Blue Sky
- PokéToon
"Zuruggu and Mimikkyu" is free to watch, but all other episodes require a premium membership to view
- Twilight Wings
- After-School Breath
The service also offers "channels" where certain episodes are streamed "live," just like regular TV. So if you don't want to have to choose which episode to watch you can always hop into a channel and just watch whatever happens to be playing at that particular moment.
| Service Name |
Hulu |
| Website | https://www.hulu.jp/ |
| Cost | A
Hulu membership is 1,026 JPY ($6.52 USD) a month. You can also get a
Hulu | Disney+ package that includes subscriptions for both services;
the Standard Set Plan is 1,890 JPY ($12.00 USD) a month while the
Premium Set Plan is 2,150 JPY ($13.66) a month. |
Overview
Back in the day, the Japanese Hulu site used to be the place to watch the various Pocket Monsters TV series, but as time went on they slowly took those down, leaving only the current Pocket Monsters (2023) series up on the site. Hulu does, however, get first dibs on the newest episodes -- they appear on the service within minutes of their TV-Tokyo broadcasts -- making it great for those who are looking to watch the latest episode right away.
Overview
One of the nice things about Netflix is that a single Netflix account can be used to access multiple countries' catalogs, negating the need to set up a separate Japanese account the way you would for sites like Hulu or Prime Video. If you have an American Netflix account, for example, all you need to do is set your VPN service to Japan and voila! -- you now have access to the Japanese version of Netflix as well. That version of the service currently has the following:
Back in the day, the Japanese Hulu site used to be the place to watch the various Pocket Monsters TV series, but as time went on they slowly took those down, leaving only the current Pocket Monsters (2023) series up on the site. Hulu does, however, get first dibs on the newest episodes -- they appear on the service within minutes of their TV-Tokyo broadcasts -- making it great for those who are looking to watch the latest episode right away.
| Service Name |
Netflix |
| Website | https://www.netflix.com/ |
| Cost | Netflix
Japan has three monthly plans: Standard with ads: 890 JPY ($5.65 USD) a month Standard: 1,590 JPY ($10.10 USD) a month Premium: 2,290 JPY ($14.55 USD) a month |
Overview
One of the nice things about Netflix is that a single Netflix account can be used to access multiple countries' catalogs, negating the need to set up a separate Japanese account the way you would for sites like Hulu or Prime Video. If you have an American Netflix account, for example, all you need to do is set your VPN service to Japan and voila! -- you now have access to the Japanese version of Netflix as well. That version of the service currently has the following:
- Pocket Monsters (1997): Kanto and Orange Islands only
- Pocket Monsters (2019): All episodes
- Pocket Monsters (2023): Episodes 001-089 (all the pre-timeskip episodes)
- The movie Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution
- The Netflix
original Pokémon Concierge
| Service Name |
Prime
Video |
| Website | https://www.amazon.co.jp/ |
| Cost | "Prime Video" is a service that comes with an Amazon Prime membership. Amazon Prime membership is either 600 JPY (about $3.81 USD) a month or 5,900 JPY (about $37.48 USD) for a year. |
Overview
Amazon Prime was the first site to have every single Pocket Monsters TV series all in one place. While there have been periods where this isn't true (the majority of the Pocket Monsters series were removed in June 2024, only to make a return to Amazon Prime in February 2025) as of now the site has the following:
- All eight TV series (Pocket Monsters (1997) ~ Pocket Monsters (2023))
- All 23 animated films (plus most of the Pikachu shorts)
- The Amazon Prime exclusives Pocket Monsters "The Arceus Who is Known as a God" and Pocket Monsters (2023) Episode: Mega Evolution.
| Service Name |
U-Next
(ユーネクスト) |
| Website | https://video.unext.jp/ |
| Cost | A
U-Next subscription is 2,189 JPY ($13.90) a month. |
Overview
As of this writing, U-Next has the largest selection of Pocket Monsters related content out of all the streaming services in Japan. This includes, but is not limited to:
- All eight TV series (Pocket Monsters (1997) ~ Pocket Monsters (2023))
- All 23 animated films (plus most of the Pikachu shorts)
- TV specials like "Pocket Monsters Crystal: Raikou, The Legend of Thunder" & "The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon"
- The Pikachu's Winter Holiday OVAs
- The ANA Pikachu Specials
- Pocket Monsters Side Stories
- Web specials like Pokémon Generations, Twilight Wings, and PokéToons
- The live-action TV series "Cram Adventures Into a Pocket"
U-Next is also the most expensive of the streaming services on this list.
| Service Name |
YouTube |
| Website | https://www.youtube.com/@PokemonCoJp/
(Pokémon Japan) https://www.youtube.com/@pokemonkidstvJP (Pokémon Kids TV) |
| Cost | Free |
Overview
The official Japanese Pokémon YouTube channel features over 2,500 videos, and among those are select episodes of the Pocket Monsters animated series.
Every week a "In Case Ya Missed It! Stream" (見逃し配信) of the newest episode of the animated series is uploaded to the official YouTube site. The episodes are taken down and replaced with the newest episode as soon as they air.
There's also an "AniPoké Selection" playlist that contains official uploads of around seven episodes per series.
- Pocket Monsters (1997): 15 episodes
- Pocket Monsters Advanced
Generation: 7 episodes
- Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl: 7 episodes
- Pocket Monsters Best Wishes!: 7 episodes
- Pocket Monsters XY(Z): 7 episodes
- Pocket Monsters Sun & Moon: 7 episodes
- Pocket Monsters
(2019): 7 episodes
Other animated series include PokéToons, Pokémon Generations, Pokémon Evolutions, and Twilight Wings. The Pokémon Kids TV shorts, meanwhile, have their own dedicated channel.
Finally, the live action movie Pokémon: Detective Pikachu is available to rent or buy.
Found an error or omission? Please help me keep this page current and error-free by e-mailing me with a description of the issue.
