How Rare Are Japanese Pokémon Cards?

Whether you love compiling new deckbuilding strategies or hope to grow your collection to honor your favorite characters, hunting for ultra rare Pokémon cards can be exhilarating. If you are from North America or Europe, Japanese rare Pokémon cards offer an additional challenge in your collecting journey.

But how rare are Japanese Pokémon cards outside of Asia, really? Whether you are looking to buy or sell Pokémon cards, understanding the rarity of these cards is critical. 

Here at Danireon, we’ve created this guide to Japanese rare Pokémon cards to help you maximize your investments. As North America’s best supplier of Pokémon TCG cards and accessories, we constantly track the value of rare Pokémon cards.

With the help of our guide, you will learn how to tell if Japanese Pokémon cards are rare and gain a rare Japanese Pokémon cards list to help you while shopping. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s jump right in!

Overview of Japanese Pokémon Cards

So, how rare are Japanese Pokémon cards? Before exploring rarity, you should understand what Japanese Pokémon cards are, especially compared to their English counterparts.

At their core, most Japanese Pokémon cards you will find in any given set are nearly identical to their English versions. One of the key differences is that most rare Japanese Pokémon cards will contain alternate holofoil designs or slightly tweaked art, making them a collector’s item when contrasted against their international releases.

Another factor contributing to the value of Japanese Pokémon cards in the Western world comes from their scarcity outside of Japan. Most rare Japanese Pokémon cards are from limited promotional releases that never reach the primary Western market.

Additionally, many Japanese starter decks or booster boxes contain cards or pull rates different from their international releases. While most Japanese rare Pokémon cards are similar to their rare English counterparts, their unique features and scarcity make them highly valuable. But how rare are Japanese Pokémon cards in the Western world, really?

How Rare Are Japanese Pokémon Cards?

Outside of promotional releases and alternate art cards, learning how to tell if Japanese Pokémon cards are rare can be tricky. You must do the proper research to avoid the wrong valuation, which can be costly whether you buy or sell Japanese cards.

Japanese Pokémon cards sit at a crossroads in the Western market. Within the borders of Japan, Pokémon cards are common and quite affordable. However, importing these cards can quickly raise prices due to low supply.

Are Japanese Pokémon Cards Rare?

Importing Japanese cards can cause prices to skyrocket since rare cards do not hit the secondary market often. Take trainer gallery cards, for example. In the Western world, these cards are rare since you can only expect one in every booster box.

But how rare are trainer gallery cards from Japan? Booster packs in Japan only contain 5 cards, unlike the 10 found in English packs. While the pull rates are modified to compensate for fewer cards, the odds of a Japanese super rare card are closer to 1 in every 2 booster boxes.

So, if you are hunting for a specific super-rare card from Japan, you need a perfect storm of luck. You either have to purchase a bulk amount of Japanese booster boxes to hunt for an individual card or hope that someone who has imported rare cards from Japan has the individual one you are searching for.

Rarity Classifications

An important part of learning how to tell if Japanese Pokémon cards are rare is to understand the rarity classification system. While the system has gone through small tweaks during the 25+ years of the TCG,  you’ll find this list as a helpful baseline:

• Common (C)
• Uncommon (U)
• Rare (R)
• Ultra Rare (noted as RR)
• Secret Rare (SR)
• Hyper Rare (HR)
• Ultra Rare (UR)
• Character Rare and Character Super Rare, the equivalent of English Trainer Gallery cards (CHR or CSR)
• Amazing Rare (AR), featuring varying textures or art

Factors Contributing to Rarity

We now know that Japanese Pokémon cards are rare in the Western world, but why is that the case?

First, importing Japanese Pokémon cards can be difficult. Most Japanese Pokémon cards are not marked for resale to the Western world, restricting imports to individual collectors or suppliers who are able to travel to Japan.

Secondly, we need to look at how many packs are in a Pokémon booster box from Japan. Most sets in the modern era will contain around 20 packs, each with 5 cards. While these boxes contain a few guaranteed rare cards, importing a Japanese booster box means you are only getting a few rare cards out of 100 for the price.

Lastly, those factors aren’t considering Japan-exclusive cards in the mix. Japanese Pokémon TCG sets frequently come paired with promotional releases at local Japanese stores or starter decks with rare cards not found in the Western world. In addition to these unique cards, other cards with English releases may have Japan-exclusive alternate art versions.

Overall, how rare are Japanese Pokémon cards? While a Common or Uncommon rarity card may be prevalent enough to find its way onto the secondary market in the West, rarer Japanese cards can quickly become expensive due to the factors we’ve discussed.

With that, let’s switch gears in our discussion. We know how and why Japanese Pokémon cards are rare, but how can you tell which ones are truly valuable?

How to Tell if Japanese Pokémon Cards Are Rare: Tips on Finding the Rarest Cards in the Game

Learning how to tell if Japanese Pokémon cards are rare can seem daunting at first, but the process is simple once you learn the ins and outs. Pokémon TCG collectors across the world have compiled several resources, including rare Japanese Pokémon card lists, guides on visual cues, and pricing guides for you to use.

Visual Indicators

There are a few vital visual indicators to remember that separate common Japanese cards from truly rare ones.

If you refer to our rarity guide above, you’ll see that each rarity comes with a letter-based symbol. You can find this symbol next to a card’s set number. 

Take, for example, Japanese Bronzong from VMAX Climax. This card is similar to English trainer gallery cards, featuring gym leader Jasmine with one of her signature steel-type Pokémon. In the bottom left of the card, you can see “CHR” next to the set number 208/184, indicating this card is a Character Rare.

You may be wondering why the set number is higher than the total set number of ‘184’. This is also a sign of rarity! Like English rare cards, Japanese cards of higher rarity usually have a set number higher than the ‘total’ since they are intended as add-on cards.

Cards may also feature alternate art or varying textures, such as the Japanese Clay Burst Heracross card. Like with Bronzong, you can denote the higher set number (72/71) and the rarity symbol of AR in the bottom corner.

Research and Resources

Research is your best friend when shopping for Japanese cards. We highly recommend consulting with community resources. You can find price guides across the internet, allowing you to preview Japanese cards to ensure what you are buying or selling matches with community consensus regarding pricing.

Another helpful tip is to find an equivalent English card. The Japanese Heracross we discussed above has an English counterpart in Paldea Evolved Heracross, an Illustration Rare in English. This can help you double-check that a card is universally rare rather than only paying higher prices because a card is Japanese.

If you are looking for a Pokémon TCG community but aren’t sure where to start, consider the Danireon Discord server! We’ve grown a friendly and helpful community of Pokémon TCG enthusiasts who love to discuss rare cards.

Rare Japanese Pokémon Cards List

One of the best ways to learn how to tell if Japanese Pokémon cards are rare is to study famous examples. Generally speaking, vintage Pokémon cards dominate this list, as their Japanese versions are extremely rare in the Western World., Let’s look at a list of the most rare Japanese Pokémon cards:

• Pikachu Illustrator, sold for $5.275 Million in 2021
• 1998 Promo Kangaskhan sold for $175,000 in 2023
• Extra Battle Day Lillie, a full art event card from 2019, valued at $108,000 as of 2023
• 1996 Japanese Holographic Charizard card, valued around $25,000

The good news is that most rare Japanese Pokémon cards are significantly more affordable than these unique examples. Here are a few examples that won’t totally break the bank:

• Japanese Pokémon 151 Mew EX, an Ultra Rare card valued at around $130
• Japanese Triplet Beat Mewoscarada, a Special Art Rare for around $70
• Japanese Duraldon V, a Super Rare card valued at $11.06

As you can see, Japanese cards can vary wildly in the Western market. As long as you shop wisely with the help of community resources, you should be able to find amazing deals that allow you to grow your collection.

Speaking of, there’s one other factor to maximize your investment: where you choose to shop for your cards.

Where Can You Find These Japanese Rare Pokémon Cards?

In lieu of planning an exciting vacation to Japan, you’ll need to find a reliable place to purchase Japanese Pokémon cards if you live in the West. Unfortunately, many second-hand markets are plagued by fake Pokémon cards and unreliable merchants, so you’ll want to do some research.

The Importance of Finding a Reputable Seller

Avoiding fake VMAX Pokémon cards and exorbitant high prices is critical. Finding a reputable seller can seem difficult, but once you do, you’ll be able to maximize your investment in Japanese Pokémon cards.

We recommend avoiding unreliable marketplaces like eBay and Amazon. These sites have no real safety net to protect against scammers or fake cards, leaving you vulnerable to scams.

Conversely, a reliable seller can grant you peace of mind knowing your purchases are authentic while providing a diverse inventory of Japanese cards you may not be able to find elsewhere!

So where can you find a supplier like that, anyway?

Trust Danireon for the Most Rare Pokémon Cards!

Your search for a reliable Pokémon card store concludes right here at Danireon! Whether you are looking to buy Japanese Pokémon cards or sell unwanted cards, we’ve got you covered.

Throughout the years, we’ve strived to be a reliable seller with a reputation for authenticity. 

Our mission is to provide a fair and authentic place for Pokémon TCG collectors and battlers to enjoy the wonders of the game without worrying about fake cards or scams.

From VMAX Pokémon cards to unique Japanese releases, we are constantly rotating our inventory with exciting options. As players and collectors ourselves, our team also loves discussing cards, making our customer support team a helpful resource to assist you on your journey.

If you’ve struggled to manage how to organize Pokémon cards and want to ditch the DIY Pokémon card binder, we also have several Pokémon binders for sale. This includes Toploader options, universally favored as the best binders for Pokémon cards.

Final Thoughts on How to Tell if Japanese Pokémon Cards Are Rare

Overall, Japanese Pokémon cards can be rare finds in the Western world, especially if you are hunting for individual copies of limited releases. With the help of community resources and rare Japanese Pokémon card lists, you should be able to find proper value for your investment.

We recommend beginning your journey in the world of Japanese Pokémon Cards with the support of a reliable community. Join the Danireon Discord server to start connecting with other collectors and learn more about the market.

If you’re ready to invest in Japanese Pokémon booster boxes in Canada and North America, you’re in the right place. Browse our inventory here at Danireon, or reach out to our support team to get started!