Pokémon to open world’s first theme park in Japan next year

Published: 14 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

The world’s first permanent outdoor theme park dedicated entirely to the Pokémon universe is set to open in Japan next year, giving fans of all ages a rare chance to step directly into the vibrant world of the iconic franchise. The announcement marks a major milestone for The Pokémon Company as it continues to expand its global presence and deepen its connection with generations of enthusiasts who grew up capturing, trading, and battling Pokémon across games, television series, films, and trading card collections.

The new park, officially named PokéPark Kanto, will open within Yomiuriland, one of Tokyo’s longstanding amusement destinations located in the scenic Tama hills west of the city centre. According to details published on The Pokémon Company’s official website, the outdoor park will span roughly 26,000 square metres of forested landscape and small-town themed environments, combining imaginative world-building with natural terrain to create an immersive experience unlike anything fans have seen before.

The decision to name the park after the fictional “Kanto” region is far from incidental. Kanto was the setting of the first pair of Pokémon games released in Japan in 1996—Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green—and its geography was itself inspired by the real-life Kantō region surrounding Tokyo. By grounding the park in both virtual and real-world history, developers are tapping into the nostalgia that has long fuelled the franchise’s enduring popularity.

For weeks, speculation had circulated online after The Pokémon Company released a brief promotional video teasing hand-drawn concept art, a whimsical illustrated map, and a short trailer showcasing fragments of the planned environment. These early glimpses included animated woodland scenes and village-style structures that mirror the spirit of the original games. On Thursday, the company confirmed the project in full, revealing the park’s layout and the attractions that will welcome guests once the gates open.

Visitors will begin their journey at the Pokémon Research Lab, a gateway modelled after the places where trainers traditionally receive their first companion Pokémon. From there, guests will enter the park’s two primary zones: Pokémon Forest and Sedge Town. Each section has been designed to feel like a living chapter of the Pokémon world, blending interactive elements, performance arts, and hands-on engagement suitable for both children and adults.

Pokémon Forest is set to be a highlight for families, featuring an expansive woodland trail populated by more than 600 Pokémon placed carefully within the natural terrain. Many of the figures are built at a scale that will allow children to sit on or “ride” them, creating a tactile connection that echoes the playful sense of discovery at the heart of the series. The trail has been crafted to encourage exploration, with hidden creatures, environmental storytelling, and scenic pathways that bring to life the journeying spirit familiar to fans of the games and animated series.

Sedge Town, by contrast, will offer a more structured environment—a walkable settlement animated by themed performances, interactive displays, and character appearances. The town will also house a fully realised Pokémon Center, the franchise’s famous in-world medical hub where trainers recover their Pokémon. Though no battling mechanics have been announced, the Pokémon Center will provide themed retail spaces, special events, and likely serve as one of the main photo spots within the park.

In promotional materials, The Pokémon Company describes PokéPark Kanto as “a Pokémon-packed Trainer’s Area, where Pokémon Trainers can embark on the unforgettable adventure through forest and town alike.” The language suggests an experience that blends narrative immersion with the open exploration fans have long associated with the games.

To manage the anticipated surge of interest, especially among international visitors, ticketing will begin through a lottery and pre-sale system starting 21 November 2025. Two primary ticket categories have been announced: the Trainer’s Pass and the Ace Trainer’s Pass. Both passes will grant access to the main zones of the park, but the premium Ace Trainer option includes extra benefits such as priority entry, reserved seating for live shows, and exclusive merchandise available only to top-tier ticket holders. Such tiered offerings reflect the enormous global fanbase and the expectation of high demand during the park’s initial months of operation.

Pokémon’s cultural legacy is impossible to overstate. Since its debut nearly three decades ago, the franchise has evolved into one of the most recognisable entertainment properties in the world. What began as a pair of Game Boy titles in the mid-1990s grew swiftly into a multi-platform phenomenon spanning video games, animated series, blockbuster movies, trading cards, toys, fashion collaborations, and global events. Few other franchises have maintained the same degree of multi-generational appeal, drawing in audiences that range from young children to adults in their thirties and forties who grew up with the original games.

This new theme park is not Pokémon’s first venture into real-world environments—but it is the franchise’s first permanent one. Earlier attempts include temporary PokéParks that opened in Nagoya in 2005 and in Taiwan in 2006. Those short-lived attractions drew sizable crowds but closed after only a few months, leaving fans worldwide wishing for a long-term destination. The creation of PokéPark Kanto appears to be a direct response to that demand, offering a fixture designed to endure and evolve alongside future generations of fans.

For Japan, the opening of PokéPark Kanto is poised to become one of the country’s major tourism events of 2026. Both domestic and international visitors have already taken to social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok to express their excitement and share speculation about what creatures and characters might appear within the park. Fan forums have also been buzzing with theories about whether the park will expand into other Pokémon regions in the future, from Johto and Sinnoh to newer settings introduced in modern games.

For now, however, PokéPark Kanto stands as a bold, celebratory return to where it all began—a tribute to the region, the characters, and the stories that sparked a cultural revolution. As anticipation builds toward its opening next year, the park is poised not only to entertain but also to reignite the sense of adventure that has defined Pokémon for nearly thirty years.