Called PokéPark Kanto, the 2.6-hectare park will be the first permanent outdoor facility that’s Pokémon-themed.
Since its launch in 1996, Pokémon has never been not relevant. Toy, game, and character trends have come and gone, but the Japanese franchise’s staying power is unquestionable. From trading cards to video games, toys to whatever it is that features a Pokémon character, fans are sure to gobble them up. Trust me, I have a Pokémon fan for an only child.
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Last July 22, a most welcome news dropped which surely put a smile on every Poké fan out there, my son included. Yomiuri Land Co. and its newspaper arm The Yomiuri Shimbun (The Japan News) announced that PokéPark Kanto (stylized in all caps), an outdoor facility to be built within the Yomiuriland amusement park, is set to open in spring 2026. The launch coincides with the 30th anniversary of the release of the first Pokémon video games, “Pokémon Red” and “Pokémon Green” (sold as “Pokémon Blue” overseas).
The 2.6-hectare park will be the first permanent outdoor facility that’s Pokémon-themed. It will be operated by PokéPark Kanto LLC, an enterprise jointly established between The Pokémon Company, Yomiuri Land Co., and The Yomiuri Shimbun.
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Two nature-centric sections
Yomiuriland is MASSIVE. It straddles two prefectures, Kanto and Kanagawa, and three cities, namely Tokyo, Kawasaki, and Inagi. Considered one of Japan’s largest amusement parks, it’s also among the greenest, nestled snugly on verdant Tama Hills.
PokéPark Kanto will contain two sections, the first of which is Pokémon Forest, an area which makes use of the surrounding natural environment. It maximizes its outdoor location, with walking trails spanning 500 meters, something Pokémon fans and nature lovers will surely appreciate.
In an interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun, Junichi Masuda, chief creative fellow at The Pokémon Company and who also leads the development of PokéPark Kanto, describes Pokémon Forest as a place where you will “encounter many Pokémon, most of which are wild.” With this concept, Masuda hopes guests will feel as if they’re real Pokémon trainers.
The second area, meanwhile, is called Sedge Town, which will function similarly to Disney parks’ Main Street. It is also inspired by the Pokémon Trainers’ Market where you can shop merchandise—something the franchise does exceedingly well. This is where visitors will be able to enjoy various activities, including meet-and-greets with their favorite Pokémon and character parades. Sedge Town will also hold events where fans, both from around Japan and overseas, will have opportunities to gather and interact with one another.
“We also created a Pokémon Center, Poké Mart and Gym (modeled on those) that appear in the games,” Masuda added. “I was impressed when I saw the Pokémon Center.”
Though Masuda didn’t mention it, there *might* be a very cute Pikachu flying merry-go-round, too, based on the preview illustration above. We’re keeping our fingers (and toes) crossed on this!
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Harnessing the appeal of nature
Speaking about the inspiration behind PokéPark Kanto, Masuda shared that they “deliberately separated” the project from digital technology and focused on the idea of “a world where Pokémon exist” and “can be touched.” Some Pokémon are so huge you have to look up at them, while the small and shy ones need more watchful eyes, as they hide quietly in the dirt and vegetation.
Masuda said that with PokéPark Kanto, they are pursuing the appeal of the outdoors. “The reason for choosing an outdoor setting is that wild Pokémon live in forests and other natural environments,” he continued. “They fly through the sky and move around freely. [In the forest,] you can feel the wind blowing and smell flowers, and Pokémon are there too. I thought that being in nature is very important for living creatures.”
He shared there are over 600 Pokémon in the park, and that he and his team have created a story for each and every one of them. “For example, if it’s shy, it might be looking downward a little,” he explained. “We want (visitors) to pay attention to what each Pokémon is looking at, where its gaze is directed.”
Masuda added that guests should also pay attention to the Pokémon’s mannerisms, as these are all different, too. “If two are standing side by side, they might be friends. If they have their backs turned to each other, they might be fighting,” he said.
He also said the PokéPark Kanto was designed with young ones in mind. “I think that children today don’t have many opportunities to play in the woods or touch the soil,” Masuda lamented. “In the woods, their feet may get dirty, but I want children to enjoy that.”
“We hope that visitors will enjoy this facility in a way that is different from previous Pokémon experiences.”
The Yomiuri Group is no stranger to collaborations with The Pokémon Company. The Yomiuri Shimbun, for example, ran an educational column for children titled Pokémon to Issho ni Oboeyo! Kotowaza Daihyakka (Let’s memorize a proverb encyclopedia with Pokémon!) in its morning edition in 2009. In 2014, it also held for the first time “The Pokémon Ryuosen,” a Pokémon gaming event named after the Ryuo, the most prestigious championship in the traditional Japanese game called shogi.
Tickets for PokéPark Kanto are scheduled to go on sale around autumn, and further details will be announced at a later date. Check the official website for updates.
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Watch the preview here:
