Noto Satoyama airport Pokémon July 7

Ishikawa Prefecture and the Pokémon With You Foundation are set to rename Noto Satoyama Airport on July 7, 2026, as part of a broader tourism-recovery push in the Noto region after the 2024 peninsula earthquake. The facility will become “Noto Satoyama Pokémon With You Airport,” according to recent coverage of the project. The airport is being positioned as the first official Pokémon-themed airport, with themed decorations, character installations and special artwork tied to Noto’s rebuilding effort. ### Why is this airport changing its name on July 7? July 7, 2026 is the announced start date for the rebrand at Noto Satoyama Airport in Ishikawa Prefecture. Coverage of the project says the initiative is a joint effort between Ishikawa Prefecture and the Pokémon With You Foundation, and that it is intended to attract visitors to the region as local authorities continue recovery-focused tourism measures. (essential-japan.com) The Noto region has already been the focus of separate tourism support programs. Ishikawa Prefecture’s “Ima Ikeru Noto” campaign says it is subsidizing group travel to 12 municipalities in Noto from March 1 through July 31, 2026, excluding the Golden Week holiday period, with bus subsidies and shopping coupons for participants. ### What, exactly, will travelers see at the airport? (essential-japan.com) The renamed airport is slated to feature large Pokémon-themed decorations across the terminal, including a two-story atrium display and installations built around Flying-type Pokémon. One report says all 111 currently identified Flying-type Pokémon, excluding certain variants, are being incorporated into the facility’s design. (imaikeru-noto.pref.ishikawa.jp) The first-floor arrivals area is also expected to include a large “Bright Future” illustration created to support Noto’s recovery in 2024, along with a monument featuring Pikachu, Plusle and Minun. The observation deck is being redesigned as “Pikachu’s Satoyama,” and visitors will be able to watch original short videos on their smartphones while moving through the airport. (essential-japan.com) ### How does this fit into Pokémon’s local tourism work in Japan? The Pokémon Company’s Local Acts program says it works with local governments to promote regions of Japan through Pokémon selected to match local characteristics. The program’s English-language site describes the effort as a collaboration with localities to publicize regional attractions through events, goods and other projects. (essential-japan.com) That makes the Noto airport project part of a broader template rather than a one-off character licensing exercise. In this case, the airport installation is being tied directly to a named locality and to recovery messaging in Ishikawa. ### Why Noto, instead of Tokyo or Osaka? Noto Satoyama Airport serves a region that local officials have been actively trying to support through targeted visitor campaigns. (local.pokemon.jp) Ishikawa’s current group-tour program is focused specifically on Noto’s 12 municipalities and offers incentives for paid attractions, restaurants and souvenir stops in the area. Recent travel coverage has framed the airport rebrand as part of an effort to draw travelers beyond Japan’s biggest city centers and into Ishikawa this summer. (essential-japan.com) That push comes as Japan faces heavy demand in major tourism corridors and as regional authorities look for ways to spread visitor spending more widely. (imaikeru-noto.pref.ishikawa.jp) ### What happens next? July 7, 2026 is the date visitors are expected to begin seeing the new “Noto Satoyama Pokémon With You Airport” branding in place. The airport project will open while Ishikawa’s separate Noto group-travel support campaign remains active through July 31, 2026. (essential-japan.com) (lifestyleasia.com)