New Pokemon theme park to open in Japan in early 2026
PokePark Kanto will be the first permanent outdoor facility themed around Pokemon.
Entertainment company Yomiuri Land and Japanese newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun announced on July 22 that PokePark Kanto, an outdoor facility to be built within the Yomiuriland amusement park, will open in spring 2026.
It will be the first permanent outdoor facility themed around Pokemon.
It will be operated by PokePark Kanto LLC, an enterprise jointly established between The Pokemon Company, Yomiuri Land, and The Yomiuri Shimbun.
Advance ticket sales are expected to begin in late 2025.
Yomiuriland straddles Inagi, Tokyo, and Kawasaki in the lush green Tama Hills.
PokePark Kanto , which is to be accessed through Yomiuriland, will cover an area of about 2.6ha .
Yomiuriland straddles Inagi, Tokyo, and Kawasaki in the lush green Tama Hills.
PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM POKEMON/YOUTUBE
It will feature more than 600 Pokemon across Pokemon Forest, an area which makes use of the surrounding natural environment, and Sedge Town, where visitors will be able to enjoy activities including meet-and-greets with Pokemon and parades.
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Sedge Town, where visitors will be able to enjoy activities including meet-and-greets with Pokemon and parades.
PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM POKEMON/YOUTUBE
Pokemon Forest will have walking trails spanning 500m where visitors can observe the expressions and movements of Pokemon living there up close.
It features various terrains including hilly paths, tall grass, tunnels, rocky trails, where visitors can observe a wide variety of Pokemon as they run, battle and share food.
Pokemon Forest, an area which makes use of the surrounding natural environment.
PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM POKEMON/YOUTUBE
Sedge Town will feature two attractions and give fans, both from around Japan and overseas, opportunities to gather and interact with each other.
The area contains a Pokemon Trainers' Market full of merchandise , as well as the Pokemon Center, Poke Mart, Sedge Gym, a Pokemon parade, and two other attractions.
The area contains a Pokemon Trainers' Market full of merchandise, as well as the Pokemon Center, Poke Mart, Sedge Gym, a Pokemon parade, and two other attractions.
PHOTO: POKEMON WEBSITE
Junichi Masuda, chief creative fellow at The Pokemon Company, said that 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the release of the first Pokemon video games in Japan.
The park was created to 'repay the fans who have loved Pokemon for 30 years,' he said, adding that 'it would be fun to have a place where Pokemon are always there'.
The park features creatures that are 'really there' that visitors can touch in an outdoor setting, which was chosen to highlight Pokemon in their natural environments.
'They fly through the sky and move around freely. (In the forest), you can feel the wind blowing and smell flowers, and Pokemon are there too. I thought that being in nature is very important for living creatures,' said Mr Masuda.
'There are over 600 Pokemon in PokePark Kanto, and we have created a story for each and every one of them.'
The park's facilities will continue to evolve, with available Pokemon changing depending on the weather or season, he said.
Yomiuri group companies and The Pokemon Company have already collaborated in various fields.
The Yomiuri Shimbun began running an educational column for children in its morning edition in 2009.
The Pokemon Ryuosen — a Pokemon gaming event named after the Ryuo, the most prestigious championship in shogi — was held for the first time in 2014.
Tickets for the new facility are scheduled to go on sale around autumn, and further details will be announced at a later date. THE JAPAN NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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