Japan's Newest Pokémon Attraction Is a Free Footbath in Ishikawa, And It's Open Now
Checks off the bucket list experience you didn't know you had.
Japan keeps finding new ways to make us book flights, and this latest one is genuinely charming. A Pokémon-themed footbath has just opened in Wakura Onsen, a beloved hot spring town in Ishikawa Prefecture on Japan's coast, and it does not cost a single yen. Read on for pictures and ways to work it into your itinerary.
Also read: 10 Tips for Shopping in Tokyo, According to Locals and Frequent Travellers
What is the Wakura Pokémon Footbath?
Image credit: Nanao City via PR Times
Picture this: you are sitting outdoors, feet dipped in warm spring water, surrounded by Pokémon characters at every turn.
Image credit: Nanao City via PR Times
That's what awaits you at Yuttari Park, where the public footbath area has been given a full Pokémon makeover. The Pokémon With You Foundation partnered with Nanao City to bring this to life as part of ongoing efforts to draw visitors back to the Noto Peninsula after the devastating 2024 earthquake.
Image credit: Nanao City via PR Times
Beyond the footbath, keep your eyes on the ground as you wander around the city. "Poké Lid" manhole covers dot the streets, each one featuring fan-favourite characters like Gyarados, Poliwag, and Politoad. It turns a casual stroll into a bit of a treasure hunt, which makes it even more fun for kids and adults alike.
Opening Hours
Image credit: Ishikawa Prefecture via Japan Travel
The footbath runs daily from 7am to 7pm, which gives you plenty of flexibility to slot it into your morning routine or wind down with it in the early evening.
Part of a growing Pokémon trail in Ishikawa
Image credit: Ishikawa Prefecture via PR Times
This footbath is just the beginning of a bigger Pokémon travel trail spanning the entire Ishikawa prefecture. The headline act arrives in July 2026, when the world's first Pokémon-branded airport is set to open, shaping up to be a proper pilgrimage destination for fans.
Why Ishikawa Should Be On Your Travel Radar
Image credit: JNTO
Ishikawa has long flown under the radar compared to Tokyo or Osaka, but the world is starting to take notice: BBC Travel just named it one of the 20 best places to visit in 2026. The prefecture sits along the rugged Sea of Japan coastline, offering dramatic scenery that feels worlds away from Japan's busier tourist corridors.
Kanazawa, its main city, is often called "Little Kyoto" for its well-preserved geisha districts, traditional gardens, and samurai neighbourhoods without the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.
Image credit: JNTO
Kenrokuen, one of Japan's most celebrated gardens, is reason enough to make the trip on its own. Beyond that, Ishikawa has a thriving world of traditional crafts: visitors can step inside gold-leaf workshops and make their own silk-dyed Kaga Yuzen piece to take home.
Add the Pokémon trail to the mix, and you have a destination that works equally well for families, craft enthusiasts, and first-time visitors.
Other Activities In The Area
Image credit: JNTO
The area around the footbath punches well above its weight, whether you are into food, culture, or just soaking in beautiful surroundings.
Food Worth Trying
Wakura Onsen sits in one of Japan's most celebrated seafood regions, so look out for these in particular:
Noto Torigai. Oversized cockles prized for their satisfying crunch and natural sweetness, often served fresh as sushi or sashimi
Noto Fugu. Pufferfish prepared in more than ten varieties, including a pickled pufferfish ovary dish you can only find in Ishikawa
Kano-gani. Premium male snow crab from the Ishikawa coast, quality-tagged with a blue label from its home fishing port
Iidako. Small octopus caught fresh at Wakura Port each autumn, typically served boiled or stirred through rice
Nearby attractions
Beyond food and footbaths, the area offers a solid mix of cultural and scenic stops:
Notojima Glass Art Museum. Glass art installations on Notojima Island
Hanayome Noren Museum. Traditional noren fabric displays tied to Noto bridal customs
Sukunahikona Shrine. A historic Shinto shrine in the heart of the area
Seven Gods of Good Fortune Tour. A traditional pilgrimage-style walking route around the town
Also read: 10 Must-Visit Prefectures in Japan That Are Waiting for You to Discover
Getting to Ishikawa
There is no direct flight from Singapore to Kanazawa, so most travellers connect through major Japanese hubs. From Tokyo (Haneda or Narita), the Hokuriku Shinkansen brings you directly to Kanazawa in roughly two and a half hours. If you are routing through Osaka (Kansai), the Thunderbird limited express covers the same destination in about two hours and 15 minutes.
Image credit: Kanazawa City Tourism Association.
From Kanazawa Station, board the Noto Kagaribi Limited Express train and you will pull into Wakura Onsen in about an hour. Travelling by car? Exit the Noto Satoyama Kaido highway at Wakura IC, and you are roughly five minutes from town.
With the world's first Pokémon airport also set to open nearby in July 2026, this corner of Japan is only going to get more exciting. So why not make Ishikawa your next Japan destination before everyone else catches on?
About Author
Her motto is "experience everything at least once". An adrenaline junkie at heart, she is always down for spontaneous adventure, especially to exotic destinations. She finds the most meaningful aspect of travel is cultural immersion, and talking to locals is an underrated travel hack.