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Long-time readers of Simple Flying will be well aware from our previous coverage that Japan’s airlines don’t shy away from working Pokémon into their marketing. Up until now, for the most part, this initiative has manifested itself in the form of vibrant special liveries, which the country’s carriers have deployed on a wide range of commercial aircraft types. Now, however, Noto Satoyama Airport (NTQ) is taking things a step further.
Specifically, July of this year will see the facility unveil a wide range of Pokémon-themed artwork, with characters from the famous Japanese media franchise dominating the facility. This temporary rebrand is set to last more than three years, and will even see the airport get a new name. Let’s take a closer look!
A Pokémon Paradise
According to the Ishikawa Prefecture, July 7 will see the big reveal take place. From then until September 2029, in addition to showcasing its extensive collection of Pokémon-themed artwork, the facility will also temporarily bear the name ‘Noto Satoyama Pokémon with You Airport.’ This, Iskihawa Prefecture explains, will be the first time that an airport anywhere in the world has been named after Pokémon. There are many facets to this initiative.
Indeed, as detailed in the promotional video embedded above, the airport will bear a new logo during this period, with bright colors and the unmistakable sight of legendary Pokémon character Pikachu instantly catching the eye. Other aspects featured in the logo, that pay homage to the area and its people, include “the topography of the Noto Peninsula and the smiles of locals and tourists.” Per Euro News, the airport explained that:
“The imagery, featuring numerous Pokémon flying through the sky, dazzling light, and sparkling rainbows, expresses a longing for the sky, the joy of flying freely, and the ‘hope’ of embarking on a new journey.”
Diving Deeper Into The Details
Arguably the most visually striking part of the redecorated airport is its second-floor atrium, which features the aforementioned motif of Pikachu riding on top of an airplane, but this time in the form of a large balloon that hangs from the ceiling. The surrounding walls feature a wide range of other Pokémon characters.
All in all, 111 ‘flying-type’ Pokémon characters will be displayed in one form or another throughout the airport, with passengers encouraged to ‘catch them all.’ The arrival lobby also features a vibrant staircase, with pillars outside the airport depicting “a row of Pokémon [that] creates a sense of excitement at the beginning of the journey.” As shown above, the visitor deck is all about Pikachu, with the iconic character all seen over the walls.
This redecoration project is part of wider renovation works that have been underway at Noto Satoyama Airport ever since the facility (and, indeed, the region as a whole) was hit by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in 2024. Given the devastation, the Ishikawa Prefecture has been “promoting initiatives to cheer up the affected children and support tourism to restore vitality to the region” with this Pokémon-based airport redecoration being one of them.
Pokémon Adventures: ANA’s Eevee Boeing 777 Overcomes Technical Issue & Departs For London Heathrow
Eevee Jet NH graced London Heathrow with its special presence on September 1st.
A Closer Look At The Airport’s Current Operations
Located relatively centrally in Japan at the northern tip of Ishikawa Prefecture, Noto Satoyama Airport is a relatively new facility. Indeed, the greenfield airport was only completed 23 years ago, back in July of 2003, with the purpose of providing the area with a direct air connection to Tokyo, the capital city of Japan. According to present scheduling data made available by Cirium, an aviation analytics company, this is done today by ANA.
|
ANA’s May Flights From Noto To Tokyo Haneda |
|
|---|---|
|
Aircraft Type |
Scheduled One-Way Departures |
|
Airbus A320neo |
56 |
|
Airbus A321-200/neo |
Six |
Indeed, at present, All Nippon Airways is responsible for operating two flights a day between Noto Satoyama Airport and its hub at Tokyo Haneda (HND). As detailed in the table above, these services are operated by narrowbody twinjets built by European manufacturer Airbus, with the A320neo being by far the dominant model. Flights on this 196-mile (315.4 km) route are typically scheduled with a block time of just over an hour in total.
