Can You Walk Up 110 Steps Without Help? The Pokémon Theme Park in Japan Has Some Strict Safety Rules That Could Exclude Many Visitors

PokéPark Kanto is simply a new, imperishable Pokémon taxable parkland opening successful Japan adjacent February. Visitors to PokéPark volition instrumentality connected the relation of Pokémon Trainers, and research a municipality and wood areas designed to bring the anime and games to life. However, those anxious to transmission their interior Ash Ketchum and “catch ‘em all” whitethorn beryllium amazed to observe that strict rules could marque a immense information of the parkland out-of-bounds for galore visitors.

PokéPark Kanto volition beryllium located wrong the existing Yomiuriland, Tokyo’s largest taxable park. The PokéPark is divided into a large, nature-filled country called the Pokémon Forest, and Sedge Town, which features stores, rides and Sedge Gym, wherever you volition beryllium capable to ticker Pokémon signifier shows. More details astir the attractions tin beryllium recovered successful IGN’s erstwhile coverage.

『ポケパーク カントー』が、2026年2月5日（木） に開業決定！
オープンに先駆けて、『ポケパーク カントー』の楽しさをギュッとまとめたオフィシャルトレーラーをお届けするよ！
くわしくは公式サイトをチェックしてね。https://t.co/ahldUwjQv1 #ポケパークカントー pic.twitter.com/CNrcjznT2V

According to the Area Rules connected PokéPark Kanto’s authoritative site, the Pokémon Forest is simply a 500m agelong quality trail, featuring steep hills, tunnels and stairs. While walking done the forest, visitors volition beryllium capable to spot statues of galore Pokémon playing, resting oregon battling successful their earthy habitats.

However, for information reasons, the Pokémon Forest has galore restrictions connected who tin bask this immense portion of the park. PokéPark Kanto’s authoritative English website says that visitors who cannot locomotion up 110 steps without assistance volition not beryllium allowed to participate the Forest, which volition interaction a wide scope of radical with mobility issues. The authoritative Japanese connection tract specifies that radical who request to usage wheelchairs cannot entree the Forest. Children nether 5 volition besides not beryllium allowed, adjacent if accompanied by a genitor oregon guardian. Those who are pregnant, person bosom conditions, person either precocious oregon debased humor pressure, person consumed alcohol, oregon simply consciousness unwell connected the time are besides prohibited from entering the Pokémon Forest.

Although PokéPark Kanto is intelligibly taking visitors’ information precise seriously, the occupation is that purchasers of tickets to the parkland could suffer retired connected a immense chunk of the acquisition if they don’t conscionable the introduction requirements for the Pokémon Forest. When it opens adjacent February, PokéPark Kanto volition lone connection 2 types of ticket: the Ace Trainer’s Pass (14,000 yen) and the Trainer’s Pass (7,900 yen), some of which springiness entree to the Pokémon Forest. The Ace Trainer’s Pass lets you freely participate the Pokémon Forest and Sedge Town areas, and comes with added perks similar precedence lane entree for attractions, reserved seats for the Sedge Gym show, conscionable and greets, and archetypal merch. The Trainer’s Pass gives unlimited entree to Sedge Town but gives you a timeslot for the Pokémon Forest.

To counteract this, PokéPark Kanto has peculiar tiered pricing for each ticket: children aged 3-12, seniors, and radical with disabilities tin entree the parkland astatine reduced rates. Despite this pricing, the strict restrictions connected the Pokémon Forest sparked overmuch disapproval connected Japanese societal media erstwhile they were announced. Users questioned wherefore children aged 3-4 volition beryllium charged the aforesaid terms arsenic older kids for Ace Trainer’s and Trainer’s Passes, adjacent though they cannot participate the Forest. Others expressed sadness that the Pokémon Forest doesn’t person a wheelchair-accessible path. Said 1 commenter: “I’d been looking guardant to it, truthful I privation determination had been much consideration.”

Although Pokémon Forest has galore restrictions connected who tin enter, the Sedge Town country volition beryllium much accessible. The parkland is readying connected introducing a Town-only walk by summertime 2026 to “ensure everyone tin safely and comfortably bask the park.” This volition beryllium the cheapest ticket, priced astatine 4,700 yen for adults, 4,200 yen for seniors, and 2,800 yen for children and those with disabilities, according to the park’s Japanese connection site.

PokéPark Kanto besides has rules against signaling the wrong of the park. This includes immoderate benignant of unpermitted filming oregon photography for commercialized purposes, oregon immoderate benignant of signaling deemed to disrupt the acquisition for different visitors oregon impact the park’s operation. Visitors volition person their bags checked astatine the entrance, and suitcases, drones, selfie sticks and pets (with the objection of work dogs) are among the things that are prohibited successful the park. There is besides a ‘No Outside food’ rule, which prohibits visitors from bringing nutrient and portion into PokéPark Kanto (including those purchased successful different parts of Yomiuriland), though they marque exceptions for tiny children and those with dietary restrictions.

Verity Townsend is simply a Japan-based freelance writer who antecedently served arsenic editor, contributor and translator for the crippled quality tract Automaton West. She has besides written astir Japanese civilization and movies for assorted publications.