Pokémon is marking its 30th anniversary in a pretty unexpected way, by becoming the first franchise in the world to have an airport named after it. Starting July 7, 2026, Japan’s Noto Satoyama Airport in Ishikawa Prefecture will officially reopen as “Noto Satoyama Pokémon With You Airport.”
The rename is part of a collaboration between Ishikawa Prefecture and the Pokémon With You Foundation, with the goal of supporting tourism and community rebuilding following the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake. The airport is set to operate under its new identity through September 2029, giving visitors a few years to experience what’s shaping up to be one of the more ambitious themed travel destinations in recent memory.
Inside the terminal, the design goes all in. A giant Pikachu-and-airplane balloon will hang in the building’s two-story atrium, with Flying-type Pokémon decorating the surrounding space. All 111 Flying-type Pokémon discovered as of May 2026 will appear throughout the airport in various displays and installations.
The first-floor arrival lobby will feature “A Bright Future,” a reconstruction support artwork originally created in 2024 following the earthquake. Pikachu, Plusle, and Minun — the central figures in that piece — will also appear as large-scale monuments greeting travelers as they arrive in Noto.
Beyond the lobby, the airport includes illustrated walls depicting Pokémon airport life from around the world, themed signage, and a rooftop observation deck called “Pikachu’s Village,” which recreates a miniature satoyama landscape inspired by the rural scenery the airport is named after.
Visitors can also watch three airport-exclusive short films through their smartphones while inside the terminal. One of the featured stories, “Fly, Bagon,” follows a Bagon dreaming of flight, and connects directly to an in-airport monument showing the Pokémon looking up at a Salamence.
To mark the opening, a new original artwork called “Sky of Hope” will debut — featuring Pokémon soaring through rainbow-filled skies. The artwork will appear across airport decorations, merchandise, and specially wrapped buses running throughout the Noto Peninsula.
Inside the airport, Restaurant Annon will serve Pokémon-themed pancakes and drinks, and the Serendipity gift shop will carry exclusive merchandise like apparel, luggage tags, and travel accessories made specifically for the location.
The experience also extends outside the airport. Later in the summer, Pokémon-wrapped buses will begin running across Ishikawa Prefecture, including a sightseeing route connecting visitors to spots like the Wakura Pokémon Footbath and the “Sylveon with LOVE” monument in Suzu City.
Noto Satoyama Pokémon With You Airport opens July 7, 2026, and runs through September 2029. It’s a project that blends pop culture, regional recovery, and travel in a way that feels genuinely thoughtful rather than just a branded gimmick. For more updates on culture, fashion, and everything in between, stay tuned to VZN.
