Japanese Permanent Pokémon Park!
Tokyo, Feb 5 (EFE).-
The first permanent theme park dedicated to the popular Pokémon video game franchise opened its doors Thursday inside Yomiuriland, an amusement park in the city of Inagi, west of Tokyo.
The venue, called PokéPark Kanto, features three themed areas, exclusive merchandise, rides and special shows, according to information posted on the park’s official website.
“Here, Pokémon Trainers can embark on an unforgettable adventure while exploring a forest and a town filled with more than 600 Pokémon,” the website says.
All tickets had sold out through Apr. 4 — the latest date currently available for purchase — even before the park’s opening, according to the ticketing section of the website.
The park is divided into an Entrance Plaza, a Pokémon Forest and an artificial village known as Sedge Town, which houses several of the main buildings, including a Pokémon Center and a PokéMart.
There are also two rides: Pika Pika Paradise, a spinning attraction where visitors ride a giant Pikachu through the air, and Vee Vee Voyage, a carousel featuring Eevee, Rapidash and other characters.
Hundreds of life-size Pokémon sculptures are scattered throughout the park, especially in the Pokémon Forest. Players of the mobile game Pokémon Go can also catch special virtual versions of the creatures at different times of the year.
Above all, the park emphasizes merchandise. Dozens of plush toys, figurines, colorful drinks and Pokémon-themed hats are on offer, a selection that appears extensive in images released by media ahead of the opening.
Some shops and shows, however, require additional passes that are distributed through a lottery system.
Tickets are sold by access level. The cheapest option, which allows entry only to Sedge Town, will not be available until May. Prices start at JPY4,700 (about $32), with costs varying by date, according to the website.
The Trainer Pass, which grants access to all areas of the park, starts at JPY7,900 (about $53), though separate tickets are required for rides.
The Star Trainer Pass, priced from JPY14,000 (about $94), includes access to all areas, rides and a show inside the Pokémon Gym in Sedge Town.
All tickets also include admission to Yomiuriland, Tokyo’s largest amusement park. Opened in the 1960s, it also houses the Yomiuri Giants Stadium, one of the training fields of Japan’s popular professional baseball team. EFE
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