Visiting Japan is the ultimate dream for any pop culture fan, but the travel experience is about to level up. Starting July 7, 2026, the facilities of the Noto Satoyama Airport in Ishikawa prefecture will change their name and appearance to become the world’s first Pokémon-themed terminal. This ambitious project promises to transform a boring waiting area into a huge interactive exploration zone that will welcome tourists the moment they get off the plane.

A paradise filled with flying creatures

The main attraction greeting travelers will be a giant floating Pikachu suspended in the central atrium alongside a hot air balloon. However, the real fun lies in the interior design, as creators strategically hid the 111 flying-type species throughout the halls, boarding bridges, and observation areas. The idea is for passengers to turn their free time into a genuine visual hunt to find all the hidden creatures in the building’s corners, giving a dynamic twist to long waits between flights.

But this colorful initiative has a much more human and important background. The project by The Pokémon Company was born as a long-term effort to boost tourism and support the economic recovery of the Noto region, which suffered severe damage from an earthquake in 2024. In the main lobby, passengers will be welcomed by beautiful three-dimensional monuments of Plusle and Minun, inspired by illustrations originally created to deliver a message of hope to residents during the toughest moments of the local reconstruction.