Take Off with Pikachu: Japan’s Character-Themed Airports
Explore the Japanese airports that have incorporated famous characters in their names, from Pokémon to Hello Kitty.
Japan's airports boast a unique tradition of adopting popular characters as their names, with 97 airports in the country participating in this initiative. From July to September 2029, Noto Satoyama Pokémon with You Airport in Ishikawa Prefecture is adopting the name of the beloved Pokémon franchise and its mascot Pikachu, in an effort to boost tourism and provide comfort to children impacted by the January 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake.
This airport, which opened in 2015, is named after Momotarō, a legendary figure in Japanese folklore who defeated ogres alongside a dog, monkey, and pheasant. The region is also home to the Tottori Sand Dunes and Detective Conan, a manga series created by Aoyama Gōshō. The airport was previously named after Gegege no Kitarō, a yōkai manga series, and after Sakamoto Ryōma, a historical samurai figure.
In 2025, the airport briefly became Ōita Hello Kitty Airport to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Sanrio Character Park Harmonyland attraction in nearby Hiji town. Visitors can now expect to see Pokémon characters throughout the airport, alongside other iconic figures, and can purchase exclusive airport merchandise.
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