Pikachu and his pals go wild: Pokemon theme park opens in Tokyo | games

IIn Japan, February is typically a period of quiet contemplation, a month marked by winter festivals in the snow-capped mountains of Sapporo and staving off the cold in steaming hot springs. Traditionally, international tourists start arriving as the flowers bloom in spring, but thanks to the opening of the first Pokémon theme park on February 5 this year, they’ll likely come early.

Unlike the rollercoaster-filled thrills of Tokyo DisneySea or Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Pokepark Kanto is essentially a forest inhabited by creature models from the enduringly popular rides. Located in the quiet suburb of Inagi in Tokyo, half an hour from the city centre, the park is a walkable forest that is home to more than 600 Pokémon. Where the Mario-themed Super Nintendo World is neatly housed in the massive Universal Studios Japan, PokéPark Kanto is hidden in the back of Japan’s less attractive Yomiuri Land theme park and amusement park.

The family-friendly attraction covers an area of ​​26,000 square metres, and is divided into two main areas: the Pokémon Forest and the field-themed Sedge Town area. Park tickets are purchased via a lottery system – and are currently on sale for the next three months – priced between 7,900 yen (£38) for a standard adult ticket and 14,000 yen (£66) for a priority ticket to skip the queue.

The park’s creative direction was overseen by one of Pokémon’s original creators, Junichi Masuda. Visitors wander through a series of explorable habitats, filled with lifelike statues of hundreds of Pokémon, arranged in fun panels where different species interact with each other. Walking through PokéPark Kanto feels akin to becoming David Attenborough holding a Pokédex, a re-creation of what it would be like to observe these fantastical creatures in the wild. Beaver Bidoofs use their front teeth to cut down a real tree. The worm-like Diglett burrows above the soil to greet the smiling Eve.

Each Pokémon is presented on a large scale as well, making the larger creatures particularly impressive. From a recreation of the truck-sized rock giant Onix to a herd of rhinoceros-sized Rhyhorns lining the main path, each habitat is a joy to behold, with hidden creatures scattered throughout the trees and grass as a bonus for eagle-eyed children.

In many ways, it’s surprising that it took so long for a permanent Pokémon park to be established. As Pikachu and company celebrate their 30th anniversary this year, Pokémon remains the highest-grossing media brand in the world: its estimated lifetime total revenue of $150 billion comfortably dwarfs Disney properties like Star Wars and Marvel. The Pokémon Company’s profits rose to 70.3 billion yen in the year to February 2025 – roughly £337 million – and with a host of new games, merchandise and a new theme park, its profits are likely to increase in 2026.

After clearing the Pokémon Forest, visitors are greeted by a Pokémon Parade at Sedge Town Square, where there are also versions of Pokémon-themed fairground games such as ring toss, Pokémon-themed food, and an Eevee-themed carousel. Visitors can also enter the real-life Pokémon Center (an iconic building from the games and anime) and grab a seat in the gym where they can watch a live Pokémon battle that mixes human performers with the latest animation technology.

The Pokémon Company has several Pokémon Center stores across Japan that sell exclusive merchandise. PokéPark Kanto will continue this lucrative trend, selling plush outfits and clothing that people will have to travel there to own. Video games are big business in Japan, and are one of the country’s major cultural exports — but theme parks based on the country’s virtual stars are a more recent phenomenon. Since Super Nintendo World first opened its doors at Universal Studios Japan in 2021, it has been relocated to Universal parks in Hollywood and Florida, with all locations helping generate billions of dollars in quarterly revenue.

Thanks to the weak yen after the pandemic, recent years have seen an influx of tourists to Japan. Although it was a boon to the economy, the influx of arrivals led to tension. From the antics of influencers making poor use of phone cameras, to crowded streets annoying locals, the 42 million visitors arriving in Japan in 2025 have been accompanied by a marked rise in anti-foreign sentiment nationwide. Newly appointed Prime Minister Sanae Takaishi is already stepping up her efforts on anti-tourism legislation. It’s safe to say that PokéPark Kanto, with its international, family-friendly appeal, will only bring more visitors to Japan’s busy capital.