Meta description: A first-hand PokéPark Kanto review — Pokémon’s first permanent outdoor park in Japan. Discover Route 1, the Pikachu & Eevee Forest, thrill rides, and booking tips for 2026.
What Is PokéPark Kanto?
PokéPark Kanto opened its gates on February 5, 2026, marking a milestone as Pokémon’s first-ever permanent outdoor attraction. Launched during Pokémon’s 30th anniversary year, the park recreates the world of the original Pokémon Red and Green games, letting visitors walk through a living, breathing Kanto region filled with roughly 600 Pokémon.
Unlike a typical theme park, PokéPark Kanto is designed as an immersive nature walk — a forest trail dotted with hidden Pokémon, interactive attractions, and a fully themed town square. It runs on a fully reservation-based system, meaning entry times are fixed in advance and tickets must be booked through the official website before your visit.
Arriving at the Park: Pokémon Everywhere
From the moment you step through the entrance, PokéPark Kanto immerses you completely. Every guest receives a Research Notebook at check-in, a nice touch that ties into the park’s exploration theme. Given the park’s popularity, securing an entry slot can be tricky — booking early is strongly recommended, especially for the highly sought-after evening sessions.
Route 1: A Nostalgic Walk Through the Original Games
The journey begins at Route 1, tucked inside the area known as Pokémon Forest. Tall grass lines the path, and if you look closely, you’ll spot Pokémon hiding among the leaves — a nod to the random encounters from the original Game Boy titles. Signboards along the trail even warn visitors about wild Nidoran♂ and Nidoran♀, complete with poison-type cautions, echoing the classic game’s flavor text.
With around 600 Pokémon living throughout the park, walking down Route 1 genuinely feels like stepping into the world of Pokémon Red and Green. It’s an especially emotional experience for longtime fans who grew up with the first generation.
Pikachu & Eevee Forest: The Cutest Section in the Park
Next up is the Pikachu and Eevee Forest, arguably the most photogenic corner of PokéPark Kanto. As the name suggests, the area is filled with Pikachu figures in dozens of different poses and expressions — some guarding berries, some looking startled, some simply smiling. A Ditto disguised as Pikachu is also hidden somewhere nearby for eagle-eyed visitors to find.
The adjoining Eevee Forest is just as charming, populated with Eevee alongside Diglett and Oddish. Fair warning: this section alone can easily eat up 30 minutes of your visit, since it’s nearly impossible to walk past without stopping for photos.
Diglett’s Dig Site and Other Ground-Type Habitats
Continuing along the trail leads to Diglett’s Dig Site, home to Ground-type Pokémon from across the generations, including newer additions like Drilbur and Excadrill alongside classic Diglett and Cubone. The path is full of uphill sections and stairs, so comfortable shoes are a must — PokéPark Kanto stretches roughly 500 meters through a forested hillside based in the Kanto region.
Other highlights along Route 1 include the Yungoos Rest Stop and Bidoof’s Gnaw Point, where multiple Bidoof figures show off their signature oversized front teeth, gnawing endlessly on wood and stone. A rare Goomy — often cited as the weakest Dragon-type — also makes an appearance further down the trail.
Rhyhorn Racing at Charge Hill
One of the park’s few interactive touch points is Charge Hill, where visitors can actually climb onto a life-sized Rhyhorn model. It’s the only spot in the park offering this kind of hands-on experience, and nearby you can also find Geodude and Wurmple tucked into the scenery.
A short tunnel walk through Onix Pass leads past a towering Onix model and, further in, a striking Steelix — a nostalgic nod to the Johto-era Pokémon games. Photo opportunities with Charmander and Charizard round out the forest section before visitors reach the Flower Garden, where the park’s Pokémon residents gather for a final send-off as guests exit Pokémon Forest.
Kayatsuri Town: The Park’s Bustling Center
Beyond the forest lies Kayatsuri Town, PokéPark Kanto’s central hub. A Water-type-themed fountain greets visitors at the entrance, and the town houses a Pokémon Center and Friendly Shop packed with exclusive merchandise, food, and drinks. Look up and you might spot Dratini or even a life-sized Charizard soaring overhead.
Food options include the Pikachu Onigiri Shop, serving rice balls, pork soup, and fried chicken, and the Eevee Café, which offers latte art drinks and popsicles themed around Eevee and its evolutions. Elsewhere in town, statues of the Legendary birds — Zapdos, Articuno, and Moltres — stand alongside Squirtle, Wartortle, and Blastoise near the café.
2026 marks Pokémon’s 30th anniversary, and the celebration is woven throughout the park’s décor and merchandise.
Pika Pika Paradise: The Signature Ride
The undisputed highlight of PokéPark Kanto is Pika Pika Paradise, a ride attraction where guests board one of eight Pikachu-shaped vehicles — powered by more than 30 Electric-type Pokémon — for a scenic loop above Kayatsuri Town. Riders choose their favorite Pikachu-mounted seat (Galar’s Morpeko is also available as an option) before soaring over the town, especially spectacular during the evening light-up sessions.
Buipui Voyage: The Eevee Carousel
Closing out the experience is Buipui Voyage, a whimsical carousel ride featuring Eevee and its evolutions — Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, along with Ponyta and Rapidash — riding balloon-tethered “flying chairs” through a dreamlike, fantasy-styled journey. It’s one of the park’s most magical attractions and a perfect way to end the visit.
Tips for Visiting PokéPark Kanto
- Book early: The park is fully reservation-based, and popular time slots — especially evening sessions with light-up effects — sell out quickly.
- Wear comfortable shoes: The trail includes stairs and inclines across roughly 500 meters.
- Allow extra time: Between photo stops in Pikachu & Eevee Forest and the rides in Kayatsuri Town, a single loop can easily take over three hours.
- Go for the evening slot if possible: The lighting transforms Kayatsuri Town after dark, adding another layer of atmosphere.
Final Thoughts
PokéPark Kanto offers something genuinely different from a conventional theme park — a slow, immersive walk through the world of the original Pokémon games, populated by hundreds of lifelike figures and capped off with two standout rides. For longtime fans of the franchise’s 30-year history, it’s a nostalgic, deeply satisfying experience well worth planning a trip around.
Location: PokéPark Kanto (POKÉPARK KANTO) — fully reservation-based; advance booking through the official website is required.
https://www.pokepark-kanto.co.jp/ppark/top/index?languageKind=en_US
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