PokéPark Kanto, the first permanent Pokémon amusement park, opens on 5 February in the quiet Tokyo suburb of Inagi, half an hour from the city centre. Unlike typical thrill rides, the park is a walkable forest populated by more than 600 lifelike Pokémon statues, covering 26,000 square metres.
The park is divided into two main areas: Pokémon Forest and Sedge Town. Visitors can observe full-scale models of creatures such as a lorry-sized Onix and rhinoceros-sized Rhyhorns, arranged in interactive tableaus. The creative direction was overseen by original Pokémon creator Junichi Masuda.
Tickets are sold via a lottery system and are currently sold out for the next three months. Prices range from ¥7,900 (£38) for a standard adult ticket to ¥14,000 (£66) for a priority pass. The park also features Pokémon-themed fairground games, food, an Eevee carousel, and a live Pokémon battle with animatronics.
Pokémon remains the highest-grossing media brand globally, with an estimated lifetime revenue of $150bn. The Pokémon Company’s profit rose to ¥70.3bn (£337m) in the year ending February 2025, boosted by new games, merchandise, and the new theme park, which is expected to drive further growth.
Japan has seen a surge in tourism post-pandemic, with 42 million visitors in 2025, leading to some anti-foreigner sentiment. However, the new park aims to attract even more international visitors, capitalising on the popularity of Pokémon ahead of its 30th anniversary.
