A giant Gyarados, seaside Pokefuta, and the surprisingly fun art of looking down
A Pokémon-themed footbath is opening in Noto — and yes, there’s a giant Gyarados nearby.
Japan’s cult-favorite Pokémon manhole covers, known as Pokefuta (ポケふた), have officially landed on the Noto Peninsula for the first time, appearing across beaches, parks, train stations, and seaside towns in Ishikawa Prefecture. The installations are part of a support initiative tied to recovery efforts following the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake.
If you’ve traveled around Japan lately, you may have spotted Pokefuta before: brightly illustrated manhole covers featuring different Pokémon depending on the location. Coastal areas get water-type characters. Snowy regions lean icy. No two designs are the same. Since launching in 2018, the project has expanded to more than 300 spots nationwide, quietly turning sidewalks into fan destinations.
The new covers are spread across six municipalities including Nanao, Wajima, Suzu, Shika, Anamizu, and Noto Town. Many will also appear as PokéStops in Pokémon GO, adding another reason to wander a little farther than planned.
Wakura Pokemon Ashiyu ©Pokémon. ©Nintendo/Creatures Inc. /GAME FREAK inc.
The standout is the new Wakura Pokemon Ashiyu (わくらポケモン足湯) in the Wakura Onsen area of Nanao City. The renovated free footbath opens May 12 at noon, with a nearby Pokefuta featuring Gyarados, Poliwag, and Politoed. It’s a very specific kind of Japanese travel moment: soaking your feet while staring at Pokémon in the pavement.
In Suzu City, Mitsuke Beach gets Sylveon and Luvdisc alongside the existing “Ninfia with LOVE” monument in an area known as “Enmusubīchi (えんむすびーち)”, a local nickname playing on the Japanese word for matchmaking. Meanwhile, Anamizu Station has unveiled new decorations linked to the Noto Railway (のと鉄道) POKÉMON with YOU Train, adding even more color to the station area.
In Noto, even checking the sidewalk suddenly feels like part of the itinerary — and the official Pokefuta website makes it dangerously easy to plan the next stop.
Pokefuta official website
https://local.pokemon.jp/en/manhole/
