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If you are planning a trip to Japan, there is a very high chance that Pokémon is somewhere on your itinerary. Most international visitors flock to the same well-trodden destinations: the massive Pokémon Centers in Tokyo and Osaka, the Nintendo store in Shibuya PARCO, or the card shops of Akihabara and Den-Den Town. These are incredible experiences, but they represent a very urban, consumer-focused side of the franchise.
What most foreign tourists have absolutely no idea about is an expansive, official, and entirely free government-backed initiative that stretches across the furthest reaches of the Japanese countryside. It is called Pokémon Local Acts (ポケモンローカルActs).
Run officially by The Pokémon Company, this regional tourism-promotion program pairs specific Japanese prefectures with their very own designated "Ambassador Pokémon" (推しポケモン, oshi Pokémon). To help revitalize local economies, encourage domestic travel, and support disaster recovery, The Pokémon Company specifically waives the famously strict licensing fees for these designated Pokémon. The result? Entire rural prefectures covered in official Pokémon manhole covers, regional airports wrapped in character decals, specialty local merchandise, and even massive, permanent Pokémon-themed playgrounds.
If you are a repeat visitor to Japan, a traveler building a non-Tokyo itinerary, or a die-hard fan looking for the ultimate real-world scavenger hunt, Pokémon Local Acts is the greatest off-the-beaten-path adventure you can embark on. Here is your ultimate, exhaustive guide to experiencing the Pokémon Local Acts program across Japan in 2026.
What Exactly is "Pokémon Local Acts"?
Launched as a way to use Japan's most powerful cultural export to boost regional tourism, Pokémon Local Acts is fundamentally a revitalization project. Rural Japan faces challenges with depopulation and a lack of inbound tourist revenue, as the vast majority of visitors never leave the Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka "Golden Route."
By assigning a specific Pokémon to a prefecture, local governments and businesses can legally use that character's likeness to promote their region without paying the crippling licensing fees usually required for such a massive IP. In return, tourists—both Japanese and international—travel to these quieter towns, buy local agricultural products, stay in local ryokan (inns), and ride local trains just to see their favorite characters.
The Ambassador Roster
The exact number of participating prefectures has grown since the program launched, and different sources online don't always agree on the current total — your safest bet before a trip is to check the official Local Acts website for the current full list. As of this writing, at least these prefectures have a confirmed, officially-announced Ambassador Pokémon. They are carefully selected based on clever Japanese puns, geographic similarities, or historical ties between the prefecture and the Pokémon.
- Hokkaido: Vulpix & Alolan Vulpix
- Iwate: Geodude
- Miyagi: Lapras
- Fukushima: Chansey
- Fukui: Dragonite
- Mie: Oshawott
- Tottori: Sandshrew & Alolan Sandshrew
- Kagawa: Slowpoke
- Kochi: Quagsire ("Kochi Daisuki Pokémon," announced November 2024)
- Nagasaki: Ampharos ("Nagasaki Mirai Ouen Pokémon," announced June 2024)
- Miyazaki: Exeggutor & Alolan Exeggutor
- Okinawa: Growlithe ("Okinawa Ouen Pokémon," announced August 2024, separate from the unrelated "Flying Pikachu" livery project at Okinawa's airports)
The Art of the "Poké Lid" (Poké Futa) Hunt
The crown jewel of the Pokémon Local Acts program is the Poké Lid (ポケふた, Poke Futa). These are heavy, cast-iron manhole covers, each featuring a completely unique, one-of-a-kind design of a Pokémon playing, sleeping, or interacting with the local scenery.
Each lid is hand-cast and hand-painted in Saga Prefecture before being shipped to its permanent home. Because no two designs are alike, they have become massive tourist attractions. Hunting them down is completely free, makes for incredible photos, and is a fantastic way to explore neighborhoods you would otherwise never visit.
How Many Are There?
The exact nationwide count of Poké Lids is a moving target. Different fan-tracking sites and regional news outlets report slightly different numbers because new lids are constantly being installed. We can confidently state that the count is currently in the several-hundred range and actively growing.
While we won't list the exact GPS street addresses of every lid here—part of the fun is the hunt—you should always check the official Pokémon Local Acts website or a dedicated fan-maintained map right before your trip to get the most up-to-date locations.
It's Not Just Photos — Poké Lids Actually Work in the Pokémon GO App
If you play Pokémon GO, there's a concrete, gamified reason to go stand next to these manhole covers in person, not just photograph them from a car window. Each Poké Lid is registered as a real in-game PokéStop, and Niantic runs an official "Poké Lid Stamp Rally" feature inside the app: open your PokéStop menu at a Poké Lid location and you can press a virtual stamp of that specific lid's design onto a collectible stamp sheet.
This started as a regional feature (first rolled out for Poké Lids in Kyushu and Okinawa) before Niantic expanded it to cover every Poké Lid nationwide in a staged rollout confirmed complete by mid-February 2026. The mechanic: collect two stamps from different Poké Lids within the same prefecture, and you unlock an encounter with a special Pikachu wearing that prefecture's location-themed background — a nice side incentive on top of the ambassador Pokémon themselves. You'll need Trainer Level 5 or higher, and the game automatically gives you a stamp sheet the first time you open the app while physically in Japan.
One quirk worth knowing before you go: you can send stamps you've collected to in-game friends as gifts, but a gifted stamp does NOT count toward your own two-per-prefecture reward progress — Niantic's own help center is explicit that only stamps you personally press at the real-world location count. So gifting is a nice way to share the fun, but it's not a shortcut to the Pikachu reward; you still have to actually show up.
Prefecture-Wide Coverage
Poké Lids can be found scattered across various parts of Japan (including a handful in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hokkaido), but several Ambassador prefectures — Iwate, Miyagi, Fukui, Mie, Tottori, Kagawa, and Miyazaki among them — are reported to have particularly dense, near-comprehensive Poké Lid coverage spanning many or all of their municipalities. Exactly which prefectures have hit full 100% coverage changes as new lids keep being installed, so treat any specific "complete the whole prefecture" claim (including ones you see elsewhere online) as a moving target and double-check current counts on the official site before planning a dedicated completionist road trip.
If you are a completionist, several of these prefectures are compact enough to realistically road-trip across in search of their full Poké Lid set, taking you deep into the heart of rural Japan, through mountains, along coastlines, and into tiny agricultural villages.
(Traveler Tip: Manhole hunting means spending a lot of time walking outside. If you are doing this in the intense Japanese summer, make sure you are prepared. Check out our guide on the Best Japanese Sunscreens 2026 | TOP5 for Western Travelers to protect yourself while scanning the sidewalks.)
Deep Dive: 9 Ambassador Prefectures Worth Building a Trip Around
Below is a breakdown of nine of the Local Acts prefectures with the richest, most verifiable on-the-ground detail — why their Pokémon was chosen, what you can find there, and specific locations to bookmark for your trip. (Kochi, Nagasaki and Okinawa are also confirmed Ambassador prefectures — see the shorter section after this one.)
1. Hokkaido & Vulpix / Alolan Vulpix (Rokon)
The Connection: Hokkaido is Japan's northernmost, coldest prefecture, famous for its heavy winter snowfall, ski resorts, and native red foxes. Because of this, it was assigned a dual-ambassador: the standard Fire-type Vulpix (representing the red fox) and the Ice-type Alolan Vulpix (representing the snow).
What to Do: Hokkaido is massive, so Vulpix is highly integrated into the region's transportation hubs. You will find massive Vulpix statues, themed photo spots, and even Air Do airplanes wrapped in Vulpix liveries flying into Hokkaido. The Poké Lids here often feature Alolan Vulpix playing in the snow alongside other Ice-type Pokémon.
Where to Go: New Chitose Airport (CTS) If you are flying into Hokkaido, your journey starts at New Chitose Airport. The airport is a destination in itself, featuring a Pokémon Store where you can buy exclusive Hokkaido Vulpix merchandise, from plushies dressed in snow gear to local white chocolate biscuits featuring the fox's face. Access: A 40-minute rapid train ride from Sapporo Station.
2. Iwate & Geodude (Ishitsubute)
The Connection: This is one of the best linguistic puns in the program. In Japanese, the kanji for Iwate Prefecture is 岩手, which literally translates to "Rock" (Iwa) and "Hand" (Te). What is Geodude? A literal rock with hands! To make matters even funnier, in the official Local Acts mascot costume suits, Geodude's "floating" legs are hilariously covered in a transparent checkerboard pattern to simulate a PNG transparency background, becoming a viral joke among fans.
What to Do: Iwate's rugged, rocky coastline perfectly matches Geodude's aesthetic. The prefecture has dense Poké Lid coverage spanning most of its municipalities, many featuring Rock-type Pokémon like Onix and Aerodactyl alongside Geodude. The Sanriku Railway, which runs along the breathtaking Pacific coast, occasionally runs specially wrapped Geodude trains.
Local Goods: Look for "Ishitsubute" branded local rock sugar candies, black sesame senbei (rice crackers) designed to look like rocks, and traditional southern ironware (Nambu Tekki) teapots.
3. Miyagi & Lapras (Rapurasu)
The Connection: Miyagi Prefecture's coastline was devastated by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Lapras, the Transport Pokémon known for safely ferrying people across the water on its back, was chosen as a symbol of maritime recovery, safety, and hope.
What to Do: Lapras has brought a wave of joy back to Miyagi. In addition to a full suite of Poké Lids across the prefecture, Miyagi is famous for its Lapras pedal boats. At the Michinoku Park in Kawasaki town, you can rent and ride giant Lapras-shaped pedal boats across the lake.
Where to Go: Sendai Station Sendai is the capital of Miyagi and the easiest entry point via the Tohoku Shinkansen. The station is constantly rotating Lapras promotional materials, and the nearby Pokémon Center Tohoku frequently stocks Local Acts merchandise, including Lapras-branded kamaboko (fish cake), a Miyagi specialty. Access: Located directly in central Sendai, roughly 90 minutes from Tokyo via the Hayabusa Shinkansen.
4. Fukushima & Chansey (Lucky)
The Connection: Fukushima's name translates to "Lucky Island." Chansey's Japanese name is literally "Lucky." Like Miyagi, Fukushima was heavily impacted by the 2011 disasters. Chansey, a Pokémon known for bringing happiness and healing the sick, was the perfect ambassador to spread good fortune to the recovering region. Fukushima is also famous for its sweet peaches, which loosely match Chansey's pink, round design.
What to Do: Fukushima boasts one of the most incredible physical installations in the entire Local Acts program: Lucky Park (Chansey Park). Located at a highway rest stop (Michi-no-Eki), this is a massive, permanent children's playground entirely themed around Chansey and other pink Pokémon. It features a colossal multi-story Chansey slide, Lickitung swings, Cleffa and Igglybuff bouncy toys, and Happiny sandboxes.
Where to Go: Lucky Park at Michi-no-Eki Namie A must-visit for families and photographers. Alongside the park, the indoor rest stop sells exclusive Chansey merchandise, including Chansey-branded local peach juice, peach jellies, and traditional Fukushima Akabeko dolls painted pink like Chansey. Access: A 10-minute walk from JR Namie Station on the Joban Line. It takes about 3 hours from Tokyo via express trains.
5. Fukui & Dragonite (Kairyu)
The Connection: Fukui Prefecture, located along the Sea of Japan, is the undisputed dinosaur capital of the country. The Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum is one of the greatest paleontological museums in the world. Naturally, The Pokémon Company paired Fukui with Dragonite (Kairyu), a powerful Dragon-type Pokémon that looks quite a bit like a friendly, prehistoric creature.
What to Do: Fukui built out dense Poké Lid coverage quickly after its inauguration into the program. Furthermore, the Echizen Railway runs a stunningly wrapped Dragonite train connecting Fukui City to the Dinosaur Museum area.
Where to Go: Fukui Station & Echizen Railway When you step out of Fukui Station, you are greeted by massive animatronic dinosaurs, but if you head to the local transit lines, you will find Dragonite waiting. The station area is excellent for picking up Dragonite Local Acts merchandise, including traditional Wakasa lacquered chopsticks branded with Dragonite silhouettes. Access: Easily reachable from Tokyo via the recently extended Hokuriku Shinkansen, or from Kyoto/Osaka via the Thunderbird express (transfer at Tsuruga).
6. Mie & Oshawott (Mijumaru)
The Connection: Mie Prefecture is intrinsically tied to the ocean. It is the birthplace of cultured pearls (Mikimoto) and the traditional Ama (female free divers) who collect abalone and oysters. Oshawott, a Water-type Pokémon with a scalchop (shell) on its stomach, is the perfect mascot. Its Japanese name, Mijumaru, also shares a phonetic similarity to "Miju" (water) and Mie Prefecture itself.
What to Do: Mie has dense Poké Lid coverage across its coastal and mountainous towns. Oshawott is highly visible around the Toba and Shima regions. You can purchase Oshawott-themed Ise Udon (a thick, soft local noodle dish, usually costing around 1,000 yen for a souvenir kit), Oshawott pearls, and local green tea.
Where to Go: Toba Aquarium Area While Toba Aquarium is famous for its dugongs and otters, the surrounding town of Toba heavily embraces the Oshawott Local Acts program. The Toba train station and surrounding souvenir shops are prime locations for Oshawott merchandise, and several Poké Lids are just a short walk away along the waterfront. Access: Toba Station is accessible via the Kintetsu Railway from Osaka Namba or Nagoya, making it a great day trip for Golden Route travelers.
7. Tottori & Sandshrew / Alolan Sandshrew (Sand)
The Connection: Tottori is famous across Japan for one primary geographical feature: the Tottori Sand Dunes, massive coastal dunes that look like a miniature desert. The choice here was obvious. The Ground-type Sandshrew (whose Japanese name is literally "Sand") represents the dunes, while its Ice-type Alolan counterpart represents the snow that covers the dunes in winter.
What to Do: Tottori has dense Poké Lid coverage across the prefecture. It leans hard into the desert aesthetic. You can find Sandshrew-themed sand sculptures near the dunes, and the local gift shops sell Sandshrew coffee (roasted with dune sand), Sandshrew cookies, and wooden crafts.
Where to Go: Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport Yes, the airport is already named after the anime Detective Conan (whose creator is from Tottori), but Sandshrew has moved in as well! The airport features dedicated Sandshrew photo spots and is the best place to pick up all your regional Sandshrew goods before heading out to the actual sand dunes nearby. Access: Flights arrive daily from Tokyo Haneda. Alternatively, take the Super Hakuto express train from Kyoto or Osaka directly to Tottori Station, then a short bus ride.
8. Kagawa & Slowpoke (Yadon)
The Connection: This is arguably the most famous and successful Local Acts partnership in Japan. Kagawa Prefecture on Shikoku Island is culturally synonymous with Udon noodles; they literally call themselves the "Udon Prefecture." Slowpoke's Japanese name is "Yadon." Yadon sounds like Udon. That's the pun. Furthermore, Kagawa frequently suffers from droughts, and the Pokédex states that when Slowpoke yawns, it rains.
What to Do: Kagawa has completely surrendered to Slowpoke. There are Slowpoke ferries, Slowpoke airport buses, Slowpoke hotel rooms, and dense Poké Lid coverage. You must try the Slowpoke Udon (featuring pink noodles or Slowpoke-stamped fried tofu) and Slowpoke wasanbon (traditional pressed sugar candies).
Where to Go: Yadon Park (Slowpoke Park) in Ayagawa Similar to Fukushima's Lucky Park, Kagawa built a massive, permanent Slowpoke Park. It features incredibly designed Slowpoke playground equipment, a Shellder swing set, and a Slowpoke-themed well. You will also find a functional Slowpoke mailbox nearby. Access: Take the Kotoden Kotohira Line from Takamatsu-Chikko Station to Ayagawa Station (approx. 40 mins). The park is a 5-minute walk from the station.
9. Miyazaki & Exeggutor (Nassy)
The Connection: Miyazaki Prefecture, located in southern Kyushu, is famous for its warm, sunny, tropical climate. Its official prefectural tree is the Phoenix palm, and the coastline is lined with thousands of palm trees. Exeggutor (and its towering, long-necked Alolan form) is a Walking Jungle Pokémon that perfectly mirrors the iconic Miyazaki palm trees.
What to Do: Miyazaki has dense Poké Lid coverage across the prefecture. It leans into a retro, tropical resort vibe. Local goods include Exeggutor-branded mango juices (Miyazaki is famous for its premium mangoes), sweet potato snacks, and tropical t-shirts.
Where to Go: Miyazaki Bougainvillea Airport The airport is heavily decorated with Exeggutor motifs, including giant statues, decorated windows, and even Exeggutor planes flown by Solaseed Air. It serves as the perfect jumping-off point to rent a car and drive down the sun-drenched Nichinan coastline to hunt for Poké Lids. Access: Direct flights from Tokyo Haneda or Osaka Itami.
Three More Confirmed Ambassador Prefectures
These three prefectures also have officially-announced Ambassador Pokémon, each with its own formal title from The Pokémon Company — worth knowing about even if the on-the-ground traveler details below are lighter than the nine above.
Kochi & Quagsire (Numo): Officially named the "Kochi Daisuki Pokémon" (lit. "Kochi-loving Pokémon") in a regional-revitalization partnership announced in November 2024. The choice reportedly nods to Quagsire's at-home-in-clear-water design, echoing Kochi's famous Shimanto and Niyodo rivers — both renowned for exceptionally clear water.
Nagasaki & Ampharos (Denryu): Officially the "Nagasaki Mirai Ouen Pokémon" ("Nagasaki Future Support Pokémon"), announced in June 2024. Ampharos's glowing tail is positioned as a nod to the lighthouses dotting Nagasaki's famously indented, island-studded coastline.
Okinawa & Growlithe (Gādi): Officially the "Okinawa Ouen Pokémon," announced in August 2024 following a regional partnership agreement. Note this is a separate initiative from Okinawa's unrelated "Flying Pikachu" airline-livery project — don't confuse the two when planning a visit.
