Gyarados and friends appear inside renovated thermal footbath
Overlooking the calm waters of Nanao Bay, a renovated public footbath in Japan welcomes visitors with Gyarados, Poliwag, and Politoed emerging from the steam. The Wakura Pokémon Footbath transforms the existing lakeside facility at Yuttari Park into a playful stop within the historic hot spring town of Wakura Onsen in Ishikawa Prefecture.
Developed through the Pokémon With You Foundation, the project brings water-type Pokémon into the architecture without losing the quiet atmosphere of a traditional onsen retreat. Warm timber interiors, open-air corridors, and long wooden benches frame uninterrupted views toward Noto Island, while colorful character installations appear throughout the space. Inside the footbath, Gyarados rises dramatically from one of the steaming channels as Poliwag and Politoed sit nearby, turning the communal bath into something between a scenic rest stop and a real-life Pokémon setting.
all images courtesy of Wakura Pokémon Footbath, Pokémon With You Foundation and Wakura Onsen
Shoji-inspired graphics nod to Japan’s Poké-lids network
Because the facility faces the sea, the renovation centers specifically around water-type Pokémon connected to the landscape. Illustrated character graphics stretch across shoji-inspired window panels, filling the pavilion with flashes of color against the otherwise restrained wooden structure. The project also connects to Japan’s larger Poké-lids initiative, which installs Pokémon-themed manhole covers across cities throughout the country. Gyarados, Poliwag, and Politoed already appear on Poké-lids located around Nanao City.
Exposed timber beams, sloped rooflines, and naturally ventilated walkways preserve the feeling of a traditional waterfront bathhouse, while the Pokémon additions bring a family-oriented atmosphere to the site. The characters are woven into the experience almost like small surprises waiting between the steam and the sea view.
To celebrate the reopening, a dedication ceremony was held alongside the launch of the renovated facility. Local nursery school children were invited to experience the footbath before the public opening, spending time with the Pokémon installations while overlooking the bay.
Pokémon With You Foundation opens seaside footbath at Wakura Onsen in Japan.
Gyarados and Poliwag appear inside renovated Pokémon footbath in Ishikawa
illustrated Pokémon graphics fill shoji-inspired window panels