Surrounded by 600 Pokémon
I held my husband's hand tightly. Around us was a real forest—trees, trails, rocks. And from behind every stone, someone familiar from childhood peeked out.
Pikachu sat on a stump. Snorlax snoozed in the grass. Eevee soared somewhere above.
We’re adults, yet we stood there smiling like kids.
Here’s how it works—and how to visit before tickets sell out.
PokéPark KANTO: The world’s first Pokémon park, already sold out months ahead
On February 5, 2026, PokéPark KANTO opened as the world’s first permanent outdoor Pokémon park. It’s located within Yomiuriland, an amusement park nestled in the Tama Hills in western Tokyo.
Covering 2.6 hectares, the park is divided into two zones: Pokémon Forest—a 500-meter nature trail featuring over 600 Pokémon in recreated natural habitats—and Kayatsuri Town, a mini-city with a Pokémon Center, Gym, attractions, parades, and a Trainer’s Market.
Tickets are selling like hotcakes. As of January, many dates through the end of March were already marked as "sold out."
But don’t panic—read on for tips.
Getting there: The gondola is key
Yomiuriland (よみうりランド) 📍 4015-1 Yanokuchi, Inagi-shi, Tokyo (東京都稲城市矢野口4015-1) 🚇 25 minutes from Shinjuku to Keio-Yomiuriland Station (Keio Sagamihara Line) → Sky Shuttle gondola (~5 min, ¥300 one way) / Odakyu bus (~5 min)
Yomiuriland is about 25 minutes from Shinjuku—take the Keio Sagamihara Line to Keio-Yomiuriland Station.
From there, you have options. We arrived at 9:30, thinking we’d make it in by 10:00. Not quite—the line for the gondola stretched down the hill. We quickly switched to the bus.
Our advice: On weekdays or with kids, the gondola is delightful. On weekends during peak season, go straight for the bus—no hesitation. Both options take the same amount of time, but the bus skips the queue.
Tickets: Three types, each offering different access
Elite Trainer’s Pass: Adult from ¥14,000 / Child from ¥11,000. Includes Pokémon Forest + Kayatsuri Town + Yomiuriland.
Trainer’s Pass: Adult from ¥7,900 / Child from ¥4,700. Includes Forest + Kayatsuri Town + Yomiuriland.
Town Pass (available summer 2026): Adult from ¥4,700 / Child from ¥2,800. Access to Kayatsuri Town only.
For international visitors, there’s a dedicated booking platform on the official website in English. For Japan residents, tickets are distributed via lottery from the 1st to the 12th of the month, three months before the visit. Overseas tourists follow a "first-come, first-served" system—refresh the page daily.
Important: You cannot enter without a pre-purchased ticket. Tickets for PokéPark KANTO are only available in advance on the official website—there are no sales at the gate.
Even more important: Download the PokéPark KANTO app ahead of time. It’s essential for lottery entries for Sedge Gym shows, shop slots, and priority access. Available in English for iOS and Android. Download it 2–3 days before your visit—it’s a must.
Pokémon Forest: 500 meters inside the game
Pokémon Forest is a 500-meter trail with varied terrain—hills, tall grass, tunnels, rocky paths. Pokémon from Kanto and other regions inhabit the area, running, battling, and sharing berries.
We walked slowly—deliberately. Every ten meters brought a new discovery. Charmander by volcanic rocks. Squirtle by a small pond. Bulbasaur in fern thickets.
Note: Due to the challenging terrain, children under 5 and their guardians cannot enter Pokémon Forest. For them, there’s Sedge Town.
Sedge Town: When a Pokémon Center becomes real
Sedge Town features a Trainers’ Market with exclusive merchandise, a Pokémon Center, Poké Mart, Primarina Fountain, and Sedge Gym with the Pika Pika Sparks! show several times a day.
Sedge Town attractions:
Pika Pika Paradise—a ride featuring Pikachu and over 30 Electric-types in the air.
Vee Vee Voyage—a carousel with Eevee and Ponyta for the little ones.
Both cost ¥1,200 for adults and ¥800 for children—purchase separately at the Trainer’s Market via mobile kiosk.
At the Trainers’ Market, you’ll find hats, T-shirts, pins, and stickers. A special highlight: a random pin in a Poké Ball for ¥1,200. If you want a different Pokémon, check the pins on staff uniforms and ask to trade—it’s an unofficial ritual, and it works.
Daisuki Shop—entry only via first-come, first-served tickets in the app. If you miss out, there are other shops throughout Sedge Town.
Food in the park: Pikachu and Eevee popsicles are signature snacks. Themed dishes are available across Sedge Town. We tried Pikachu ramen at the café near the Gym—it was delicious, funny, and nostalgic.
Yomiuriland: What to do before PokéPark opens or after
Yomiuriland Amusement Park (よみうりランド) 📍 Same address—4015-1 Yanokuchi, Inagi-shi, Tokyo 🕐 10:00–20:30 (seasonal hours) 💴 One-Day Pass (entry + all rides): ¥5,900 adult / ¥4,700 teens / ¥4,100 kids and seniors Included with any PokéPark KANTO ticket
Yomiuriland is one of Tokyo’s oldest and most beloved amusement parks. Beyond roller coasters, it offers seasonal events: pools in summer, light shows in winter, and cherry blossoms in spring.
The main coaster is Bandit—a steel roller coaster with steep drops. Sky Shuttle—a gondola with scenic views. In bad weather, there are plenty of indoor areas.
Our itinerary: Arrived at 9:45, entered PokéPark at 10:00, explored until 2:00 PM. Afterward, we enjoyed Yomiuriland rides until closing. It was a packed but manageable day.
Where to stay: Two hotels near the park
The logic: Don’t spend an hour commuting back and forth each day. Stay nearby and be first in line at the park.
Toyoko Inn Tokyo Fuchu Nambu Line Minamitama Station (東横INN東京府中南武線南多摩駅前)
📍 3-1-1 Yoshikata, Inagi-shi, Tokyo 206-0803 (東京都稲城市矢野口3-1-1) 🚇 1-minute walk from Minamitama Station (JR Nambu Line)—15 minutes from Yomiuriland ⭐ 3 stars / rating 8.3/10 💴 From ¥7,500–12,000 (~$49–79) per night in April 2026
The most popular hotel near Keio-Yomiuriland Station according to Trip.com. Toyoko Inn Fuchu Nambu Line Minamitama Station is 3–4 km from Yomiuriland, offering 263 rooms with refrigerators and flat-screen TVs.
Daily free breakfast buffet from 6:30 to 9:00 AM—crucial for park visits. Leave well-fed by 9:00 and arrive by 9:45—the perfect plan.
Transport chain: Minamitama Station → JR Nambu Line → Tachikawa → Keio Sagamihara Line → Keio-Yomiuriland Station. About 30 minutes. With an early breakfast, it all fits.
Hotel Nobes Chofu (ホテルノーブス調布)
📍 2-24-1 Fuda, Chofu-shi, Tokyo 182-0024 (東京都調布市布田2-24-1) 🚇 1-minute walk from Chofu Station (Keio Line) ⭐ 3 stars / rating 8.6/10 💴 From ¥12,000–19,000 (~$79–125) per night in April 2026
Hotel Nobes Chofu is 15 minutes by car from Yomiuriland. Chofu Station on the Keio Line offers direct access to Keio-Yomiuriland Station without transfers.
31 rooms, private bathrooms with showers and toilets, free parking. Nearby are grocery stores, restaurants, and convenience stores. A quiet residential area.
Travel time: Chofu → Keio-Yomiuriland = 2 stops, about 15 minutes. Ideal for those driving—free parking.
What else to do in the Tama area—beyond PokéPark
Sanrio Puroland (サンリオピューロランド) 📍 1-31 Ochiai, Tama-shi, Tokyo 206-8588 (東京都多摩市落合1-31) 🚇 Tama-Center Station (Keio Sagamihara & Odakyu Tama Lines) 🕐 10:00–17:00 (Mon–Fri) / 10:00–19:00 (Sat–Sun); closed Wednesdays 💴 ¥3,300–4,400 depending on the day 8.2 km from Yomiuriland—Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, Kuromi in an indoor theme park. Perfect for families—two days, two parks. PokéPark + Puroland = ultimate kids’ Japan.
Mount Takao (高尾山) 📍 2176 Takaomachi, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo (東京都八王子市高尾町2176) 🚇 45 minutes from Shinjuku via Keio Line to Takaosanguchi Station 💴 Hiking is free / cable car ¥490 one way In April, cherry blossoms bloom on Mount Takao, offering clear views of Mount Fuji on sunny days. One of the best spots for nature and iconic Japanese scenery.
Jindaiji Temple & Chofu (深大寺・調布) 📍 5-15-1 Jindaiji Motomachi, Chofu-shi, Tokyo (東京都調布市深大寺元町5-15-1) One of Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temples (733 AD), surrounded by famous soba noodle shops in charming wooden establishments. From the park, it’s a 15-minute train ride to Chofu. In April, visit for thousand-year-old cherry blossoms at the temple gates.
Tokyo Racecourse (東京競馬場) 📍 1-1 Hiyoshi-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo (東京都府中市日吉町1-1) 4 minutes from the nearest Toyoko Inn. Japanese horse racing in April isn’t just a sport—it’s a national celebration. We stumbled upon it and spent two hours there. The roar of the crowd, the scent of stables, kimonos in the audience.
Total cost for April 2026
With Toyoko Inn: ≈ ¥65,000–90,000
With Hotel Nobes Chofu: ≈ ¥74,000–104,000
In Chinese yuan ¥ (CNY) for April 2026:
Exchange rate: 1 JPY ≈ 0.049 CNY
With Toyoko Inn Minamitama: ≈ 3,185–4,410 ¥ CNY for two
With Hotel Nobes Chofu: ≈ 3,626–5,096 ¥ CNY for two
What we realized as we left the forest
We exited Pokémon Forest after 90 minutes. My husband carried a bag with an Eevee figurine—the one I accidentally dropped on the trail and didn’t want to go back for. He returned for it himself.
"It’s Eevee," he said. As if that explained everything.
But you know what? It did.
PokéPark KANTO isn’t just an amusement park. It’s a place where, for two hours, you become who you were at eight years old. Without shame, without irony.
And maybe that’s the best gift travel can offer.