Japan is set to open a one-of-a-kind aviation hub where travel, pop culture, and recovery efforts come together. On July 7, Ishikawa Prefecture will relaunch Noto Satoyama Airport as the world’s first Pokémon-branded airport, officially named the Noto Satoyama Pokémon With You Airport. The project is a partnership between local authorities and the Pokémon With You Foundation, and it is closely tied to rebuilding efforts after the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, which caused widespread damage across the region.
Inside the terminal, the design is fully themed around Pokémon, especially Flying-type characters. All 111 Flying-type Pokémon appear throughout the airport in murals, signage, and installations, turning the building into an interactive experience for visitors.
One of the main highlights is a giant Pikachu balloon display suspended in the central atrium, while the observation deck features a detailed countryside-style scene filled with Pikachu figures and hidden Pokémon for fans to discover. The airport also includes art installations directly connected to recovery efforts. A major piece titled “Bright Future,” originally created after the earthquake, has been expanded into large 3D displays featuring Pikachu, Plusle, and Minun as welcoming figures in the arrivals area.
Another artwork, “Sky of Hope,” appears across decorations, airport buses, and merchandise, reinforcing themes of rebuilding and optimism across the entire space. Visitors will also be able to watch an original animated series on their smartphones while inside the airport. One episode, “Fly, Bagon!”, follows a young Pokémon training to fly beneath a Salamence monument, tying storytelling directly into the airport’s environment.
The project goes beyond entertainment. It is part of a long-term initiative that began after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, when the Pokémon With You Foundation was created to support communities affected by disasters. The foundation is now extending that mission to Noto, where the 2024 earthquake left significant damage.
The airport experience also includes themed merchandise such as clothing, luggage items, and collectibles, along with a restaurant serving Pokémon-inspired food and drinks.
The Pokémon-themed airport will remain active through 2029 as part of ongoing regional revitalization efforts.
