The world’s first Pokémon airport is in Japan, and it’s not a whim: it’s a survival strategy

Japan will reopen Noto Satoyama Airport on July 7 as “Noto Satoyama Pokémon With You Airport,” with a Pokémon-themed redesign.

The project, led by Ishikawa prefecture and the Pokémon Foundation, aims to boost tourism and support local recovery after the January 2024 earthquake.

By pairing public infrastructure with a global franchise, officials hope to draw visitors, revive the regional economy, and showcase a reconstruction model for disaster-hit areas.