ICYMI: A Real Pokémon Airport Is Actually Opening in Japan This July

(SPOT.ph) Don’t tell Team Rocket, but a real-life Pokémon airport is opening on Japan’s Noto Peninsula on July 7.

It’s not every day that airports are anything more than bustling transit hubs for travelers. But for Pokémon trainers, this one is shaping up like an actual destination. Noto Satoyama Airport is getting a Pokémon-themed glow-up, spanning the lobby and atrium to the observation deck and even the airport restaurant.

Now rebranded as the Noto Satoyama Pokémon With You Airport, the entire four-story building will be covered in pocket monsters and Flying Pikachu decorations. As a collaboration between Ishikawa Prefecture and the Pokémon With You Foundation, the project aims to cheer up children affected by the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake while boosting tourism in the region.

Here’s your first look inside this limited-time Pokémon takeover in Japan.

The moment you pull up outside the Noto Airport, everything is just a bit more colorful and cheerful than your usual transit experience.

Pillars outside the terminal showcase various pocket monsters, and as soon as you step through the doors, you’re greeted by a massive mural featuring Pikachu, Plusle, and Minun in Noto nature.

But the real showstopper is the second-floor atrium. It's completely redecorated to transport travelers to the Pokémon universe. A giant Pikachu balloon riding an airplane hovers overhead, while the lofty walls depict Flying Pokémon soaring through the skies. Ready your Poké Balls: every single Flying-type discovered as of this year is right here—all 111 of them!

Trust us when we say you’ll definitely want to budget some extra time before your flight to explore. You wouldn't want to miss all the adorable Pokémon Easter eggs, like the army of Pikachus taking over the observation deck, or airport-exclusive content. Even the airport restaurant is joining in, with themed menu items that include pancakes and drinks.

Don't wait too long to hit up Noto, as this airport takeover is only temporary. The Pokémon Airport will be running from July 7, 2026, until September 2029. There's more than enough time to plan and save up for that trip to Japan.

Now, here’s the catch for Pinoy travelers who want a piece of the Poké-action: there are no direct flights from Manila to Noto. In fact, Noto Satoyama Airport flies exclusively to and from Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport via All Nippon Airways (ANA). That means you’ll have to book a flight to Tokyo first, and then catch a quick, one-hour domestic flight to the city of Wajima on the Noto Peninsula.

It’s an extra leg beyond our usual Japan stops, but it’s not like the sightseeing ends when you step outside the terminal gates. Fortunately for Pokémon fanatics, there’s plenty to explore across the peninsula—and some of them even keep the Poké-fun going.

As part of the whole initiative, Ishikawa Prefecture is also launching two Pokémon-designed sightseeing buses. One connects Noto Airport and Wajima City to the prefecture’s capital, Kanazawa City. The route caters to travelers who want to explore the historic city, famous for exceptionally preserved Edo-era districts and the beautiful Kenroku-en Garden.

On weekends and holidays, you can hop on another themed sightseeing bus plying a new route across the Noto Peninsula. This special route links the airport to exclusive Pokémon landmarks scattered across the peninsula. While this route is still being finalized, some highlights have already been confirmed: a Pokémon-themed footbath in Nanao City’s historic Wakura Onsen, and the “Sylveon with LOVE” monument in the coastal Suzu City.

Other attractions on the peninsula include the Shiroyone Senmaida, a hillside of over 1,000 terraced rice paddies cascading down to the edge of the Sea of Japan. It’s also worth visiting the Wajima Morning Market for fresh produce, seafood, and lacquerware. While a fire raged at the original centuries-old market site, it still operates, relocated to Power City Wai Plaza.

Pokémon trainer, fan, or not, the new airport is the perfect excuse to fall in love with yet another part of Japan.

Also Read: 

LOOK: Japan's Pokémon Theme Park Is Now Open—Here's What to Expect

How to Apply for a Japan Visa at the New Visa Application Center