Inside Pokemon Theme Park in Japan

Every Pokémon fan’s childhood dream has come true: PokéPark Kanto, a sprawling Pokémon world, has come to life in Tokyo’s Yomiuri Land amusement park, complete with hundreds of life-sized Pokémon, two rides and countless hidden secrets to discover.

Opening Feb. 5, PokéPark Kanto is the world’s first permanent outdoor Pokémon facility. It leads visitors through the Pokémon Forest, crawling with realistic Pokémon you can touch, and into the fictional Sedge Town, home to several stalls with food, games and rides. The first of its kind, PokéPark Kanto puts fans into the video games they grew up with, and its attention to detail and variety of Pokémon would make any casual trainer want to catch ’em all.

After moving through the entrance, fans will instantly recognize Prof. Oak’s lab before setting foot into PokéPark Kanto. The lab is complete with a PC, healing station and three Poké Balls housing starter Pokémon, ripped straight from the original “Red” and “Blue” games. From there, you’re transported to the Pokémon world. After stepping through a giant wooden door, tall grass teems with wild Pokémon, adorable critters strike charming poses and battles break out between fierce opponents. Every tiny detail transports you into a fully realized Poké-universe.

Pikachu and Eevee take center stage in the first area that visitors can explore. Dozens of the fan-favorite Pokémon reside in the grassy habitat, and fans can go off the main path to touch and take photos of the cute creatures. A squad of Pikachus chase each other through the grass, while others stuff themselves with berries or balance them on their tails. One Eevee poses cheek-to-cheek with a Pikachu, another rolls on its back and others share a meal in a circle. There are so many picture-worthy moments in PokéPark Kanto that visitors will want to stroll through slowly and keep their eyes peeled for Pokémon hiding off the beaten path. In just this area, there is a Raticate and Gloom facing off in battle, Bellsprouts sunning their leaves, Starlys roosting in trees, Charjabugs spooking a Pikachu, Aipoms climbing on branches, and much, much more.

Ground-type Pokémon take over the next area as the terrain grows a bit more rugged. Digletts pop their heads out of underground holes, as Drilburs and Excadrills burrow in the hillside. A single Cubone stands off on its own, ever the loner. Squirrel-like Skwovets and Greedents hoard their berries and jam their cheeks with food as a Fearow flaps its wings overhead.

Past the Pokémon Forest, a pack of Bidoof and Bibarel turn the trees into their stomping — and chomping — grounds. They gnaw on branches and build dens for themselves, even crashing through the wooden path that visitors walk on at one point. After a short detour, visitors will find some cute photo ops with the beavers and even more Pokémon creeping onto the main trail. Slimey Goodras ooze across the route, with some Shroomishes and a Sudowoodo watching from the bushes.

A stampede of Rhyhorns invades the path next, causing visitors to walk around them — or hop on their spiny backs for photos. Rock types, like Geodude and Graveler, smash through next, and a dark tunnel filled with (of course) Zubats awaits. There’s also a Carkol, a minecart-like creature, and a Sableye hoarding some jewels, plus some Pokémon fossils for eagle-eyed explorers. With Sedge Town closing in, Pokémon like Sentret, Furret, Charmander, Charizard, Zorua, Bellossom, Roselia and Budew help bid you farewell to the forest.

The fun doesn’t stop in Sedge Town, though. Even more Pokémon call the town home, and it has two kid-friendly rides, a gym, Pokémon Center and Poké Mart waiting inside. A fountain with water-type starters, including Squirtle, Totodile, Mudkip, Piplup, Oshawott and Froakie, surrounding a Primarina, greets you as you enter. A Chansey is ready to heal wounded creatures inside the Pokémon Center, and a group of Psyducks look confused as Sprigatito and Litten climb their way on top of the Poké Mart. You’ll have to look high and low as Pokémon like Abra, Espurr and Altaria hang out on rooftops, and Shinx, Exeggcute and Vulpix stay close to the ground — there’s even a Kecleon blending into the fence.

There are two rides in PokéPark Kanto: Eevee’s Vee Vee Voyage carousel and Pikachu’s Pika Pika Paradise spinner. Guests can choose to ride their favorite of Eevee’s evolutions, plus Ponyta and Rapidash (and their Galarian forms), on the carousel, and every adorable electric-type powers Pikachu’s spinning ride. Pichu, Raichu, Plusle, Minun, Pachirisu, Emolga, Dedenne, Togedemaru, Morpeko and Pawmi lend their electricity and allow riders to move their cart up and down as they gently spin around.

Next to Pika Pika Paradise is a colorful birthday cake filled with Alcremie, and a Kangaskhan and Dragonite battle as a Fidough chases Eevees nearby. There are plenty of scenes to discover, like Machops lifting beams with Applins on them, a Greninja striking an epic pose against graffiti painted by a Smeargle, a Snivy and Grookey playing on a rooftop, Jigglypuff smiling with a microphone, a Squirtle squad with a Wartortle and Blastoise and many more.

There are a couple more surprises at the end of Sedge Town, including a gym that houses a Pikachu dance show with performers dressed as the lovable mascot. There are 300 seats in the gym, and fans will recognize that each spot has the image of its corresponding Pokémon from the Pokédex. Outside the gym, there’s an epic double battle: a Gyarados and Raichu versus a Garchomp and Tyranitar. The four Pokémon square off against each other, cracking the pavement beneath their feet. Finally, a gift store with exclusive merchandise and hundreds of plushies lies at the very end.

PokéPark Kanto is a Pokémon fan’s wildest dream come to life. It’s almost like playing “Pokémon Go” in real life, with hordes of new creatures to discover just a few steps away — and it’ll feel like “Pokémon Snap” with how many photos you’ll want to take. Tickets have dynamic pricing for different dates, ages and park access, ranging from ￥4,700 to￥16,500, once PokéPark Kanto opens on Feb. 5. Everyone from longtime Pokémon trainers who have caught ’em all to casual fans still learning the names of the 1,025 creatures will find something to love in PokéPark Kanto.