For travelers who have ever wanted their flight to include a scavenger hunt, the world’s first Pokémon airport is set to open in Japan on July 7, 2026. Noto Satoyama Airport in Ishikawa Prefecture will reopen under the limited-time name “Noto Satoyama Pokémon With You Airport,” with the collaboration scheduled to run until September 2029.
The project turns the regional airport into a large themed attraction, mixing giant character displays, special food, exclusive merchandise and sightseeing experiences with a broader tourism and recovery push for the Noto area.
What will visitors see inside the airport?
According to the translated announcement, all 111 Flying-type Pokémon, excluding regional variants and Mega forms, will be placed around the airport for visitors to find. The decorations will appear across the entrance, boarding bridges, walls and signage, so yes, even walking to your gate may now require light creature-spotting discipline.
The most visible centerpiece will be in the second-floor atrium: a giant floating Pikachu paired with an airplane balloon, surrounded by Flying-types overhead. It is subtle in the way a giant airborne Pikachu in an airport can be subtle.
The theme will also extend to the observation deck, where multiple Pikachu figures will be arranged in a countryside-style landscape. More hidden Pokémon will be tucked into the scene for fans who prefer their airport viewing decks with homework.
How does the project connect to Noto’s recovery?
The collaboration is not only a character takeover. The first-floor arrivals lobby will feature a large-scale version of “Akarui Mirai,” or “Bright Future,” a themed artwork created in 2024 to support reconstruction efforts in Noto after the earthquake that struck the region.
Pikachu, Plusle and Minun, who appear in that artwork, have also been made into full 3D monuments to welcome travelers inside the airport.
That recovery context is central to the project. The Pokémon Company has been supporting tourism efforts in the region over the long term, and organizers say more attractions and travel experiences will be added before the airport opens.
What else is planned for fans?
The airport will include an original animated show that visitors can watch on their smartphones while they are inside the building. Details are still being kept fairly quiet, but one confirmed episode is titled “Fly, Bagon!”
That episode follows Bagon, a Pokémon known for dreaming of flight, as it trains beneath a Salamence monument located at the airport. It is a tidy bit of character logic, and also a reminder that this project has been built for fans who will absolutely notice the choice of Pokémon.
Special sightseeing buses are also part of the planned travel experiences tied to the collaboration, giving visitors another way to move through the region while staying inside the theme.
What merchandise and food will be available?
The airport’s souvenir store will sell exclusive merchandise featuring original artwork built around Flying-type Pokémon, rainbows, travel and hope. Items announced so far include:
- T-shirts
- Keychains
- Luggage tags
- Suitcase belts
The food side is also getting the expected treatment. Visitors will be able to buy Pokémon pancakes and themed drinks, which should help anyone who needs fuel between checking departure times and searching for every hidden character.
The Pokémon Company has also opened a themed footbath in the same region as part of its wider local support effort. That attraction features Water-type favorites including Gyarados, Vaporeon, Psyduck, Poliwag and Quaxly, giving visitors a place to soak their feet while surrounded by Pokémon who are, at least in theory, more suited to water than airport terminals.
How long will the attraction run?
“Noto Satoyama Pokémon With You Airport” is currently planned as a limited-time collaboration from July 7, 2026, through September 2029.
For Ishikawa Prefecture, the attraction is designed to do more than create photo opportunities, though there will clearly be many of those. It is meant to draw visitors back to Noto, support regional travel and connect a globally recognized franchise with a place still working through recovery.
That gives the project a slightly different weight than the average themed pop-up. There are giant balloons, pancakes and souvenir suitcase belts, but there is also a clear hope that fans will bring attention, spending and time to a region that has been trying to rebuild.
