In Japan, February is usually a interval of quiet reflection, a month outlined by winter festivals in Sapporo’s snowy mountains and staving off the chilly in steaming scorching springs. Historically, worldwide vacationers begin to arrive with the blossoms in spring – however thanks to the opening of Pokémon’s first ever amusement park on 5 February, this 12 months, they are probably to come earlier.
Not like the rollercoaster-filled thrills of Tokyo Disney Sea or Common Studios Japan in Osaka, PokéPark Kanto is basically a forest populated by fashions of the creatures from the perennially widespread video games. Nestled in the quiet Tokyo suburb of Inagi, half an hour from the metropolis centre, the park is a walkable forest with greater than 600 Pokémonin it. The place the Mario-themed Tremendous Nintendo World slots neatly into the large Common Studios Japan, PokéPark Kanto is hidden in the again of the much less glitzy, funfair-esque Japanese theme park Yomiuri Land.
Taking on 26,000 sq metres, the family-friendly attraction is divided into two foremost areas: Pokémon Forest and the plaza-esque Sedge City. Tickets for the park are purchased through a lottery system – and at present bought out for the subsequent three months – ranging between ¥7,900 (£38) for the standard grownup ticket and ¥14,000 (£66) for a queue-skipping precedence go.
The park’s inventive route has been overseen by one among the unique Pokémon creators, Junichi Masuda. Guests roam a sequence of explorable habitats, plagued by endearingly lifelike statues of a whole bunch of Pokémon, organized in enjoyable tableaus the place varied species are interacting with one another. Strolling via PokéPark Kanto feels akin to turning into a Pokédex-clutching David Attenborough, a re-creation of what it could be like to observe these fantastical creatures in the wild. Beaver-esque Bidoofs use their two entrance enamel to lower down an actual tree. Worm-like Diglett burrow above the soil to greet a smiling Eevee.
Every Pokémon is offered in full scale too, making the bigger creatures particularly awe-inspiring. From a lorry-sized re-creation of the rocky behemoth Onix to a herd of rhinoceros-sized Rhyhorns lining the foremost path, every habitat is a pleasure to behold, with hidden creatures dotted all through the bushes and grass as a reward for eagle-eyed youngsters.
In some ways, it’s stunning it has taken this lengthy for a everlasting Pokémon theme park to be erected. With Pikachu and buddies celebrating their thirtieth anniversary this 12 months, Pokémon is nonetheless comfortably the highest-grossing media model in the world: its whole estimated lifetime income of $150bn comfortably surpasses Disney properties similar to Star Wars and Marvel. The Pokémon firm’s revenue rose to ¥70.3bn in the 12 months ending February 2025 – roughly £337m – and with a spread of recent video games, merchandise and the new theme park, its income in 2026 are solely probably to enhance.
After clearing the Pokémon forest, guests are greeted by a Pokémon parade in Sedge City sq., the place there are additionally Pokémon-themed variations of fairground video games similar to ring toss, Pokémon-themed meals, and an Eevee-themed carousel. Guests can even stroll right into a real-life Pokémon Centre (an iconic constructing from the video games and anime) and seize a seat at a gymnasium the place they’ll watch a reside Pokémon battle that blends human performers with cutting-edge animatronics.
The Pokémon Firm has quite a few Pokémon Centre outlets throughout Japan promoting unique merchandise. PokéPark Kanto will proceed this profitable pattern, promoting plushies and clothes that folks can have to journey there to personal. Video video games are large enterprise in Japan, one among the nation’s foremost cultural exports – however theme parks primarily based on the nation’s digital stars are a more recent phenomenon. Since Tremendous Nintendo World first opened its doorways at Common Studios Japan in 2021, it has been transplanted to Common’s parks in Hollywood and Florida, with all places serving to to drive multi-billion dollar quarterly revenues.
Thanks to a weak yen post-pandemic, current years have seen vacationers flock to Japan. Whereas it has been a boon to the financial system, the flood of incomers has led to pressure. From phone-camera-weilding influencers behaving badly, to overcrowded streets inconveniencing locals, the 42 million guests who arrived in Japan in 2025 have come alongside a notable nationwide rise in anti-foreigner sentiment. Newly appointed prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, is already doubling down on anti-tourist laws. It’s secure to say that PokéPark Kanto, with its family-friendly worldwide enchantment, will solely enhance guests to Japan’s overcrowded capital.
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