Pokémon fanatics will have a new reason to visit Japan soon. As announced yesterday by The Pokémon Company, Yomiuri Land Co., and The Yomiuri Shimbun, a new Pokémon-themed entertainment park will be built within the Yomiuriland amusement park in the Tama Hills section of the Kanto region of Japan. Dubbed PokéPark Kanto, this exciting new getaway will be where visitors can enjoy the natural greenery of Japan with a Pokémon twist.
If that name sounds familiar, it’s because the first Pokémon games (Red and Green in Japan, Red and Blue in North America) were set within the fictional Kanto region. Based on Japan’s own Kanto, which is situated between Tokyo and Kawasaki, the two companies saw fit to create this new park in what could be considered the mecca of Pokémon.
A press release from The Pokémon Company states, “We will create a space where Pokémon fans from all over the world can gather in this area rich in nature, experience Pokémon, and have fun together, transcending national, regional, and language barriers.” What that entails is not known yet, but it will obviously involve some kind of Pokémon theming.
If this sounds like a random collaboration between two different brands, it’s actually another in a longstanding joint effort between The Pokémon Company and the Yomiuri group. As the Japan News notes, back in 2009, The Yomiuri Shimbun started running an educational column for children called “Pokémon to Issho ni Oboeyo! Kotowaza Daihyakka.” That roughly translates to “Let’s memorize a proverb encyclopedia with Pokémon!” Another outdoor attraction titled “Pokémon Wonder” was launched in 2021 by the company that allowed visitors to search for Pokémon within the confines of Yomiuriland.
There is no stated opening date for PokéPark Kanto, but it seems likely that the venue will open in 2024.
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
