Japan’s Noto Airport (Ishikawa Prefecture) is changing its identity. From July 7, 2026, to September 2029, the airport will officially be known as Noto Satoyama Pokémon with You Airport, according to fastcompany.com.
The goal of the major rebranding is to restore tourism to the region devastated by an earthquake.
The city of Noto, located 300 miles northwest of Tokyo, relies heavily on tourism. In 2024, the region experienced a powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake, which caused significant infrastructure damage and led to the temporary closure of the local airport.
Air travel has now been partially restored, and the integration of the popular Pokémon franchise is intended to accelerate the prefecture’s economic recovery.
The redesign is being implemented in partnership with the Pokémon With You Foundation. It was created after the devastating 2011 earthquake (magnitude 9.1) and has since funded disaster relief programs across Japan.
Pokémon characters will appear on virtually every surface of the terminal. As part of the project, murals depicting the pocket monsters against local landscapes will be installed on the stairwells. Furthermore, the space will be transformed into a “sanctuary” with figures and illustrations of popular Pokémon. Themed decor will appear on signs, entrances, exits, and even inside the jet bridges. The airport’s mascot will be Pikachu, riding a cartoon airplane.
Limited-edition souvenirs will be available for sale at the airport for travelers and fans of the franchise. The selection will include branded T-shirts and tote bags, themed luggage tags, key chains, and other commemorative accessories.
Organizers hope that “Pokémon urbanism” will transform the regional airport into a standalone tourist attraction and attract both Japanese and international visitors to Ishikawa.
