TOKYO, JAPAN—The week “Pokemon Go” was launched in the country last August, I was all geared up to chase Pikachus during the annual Pokemon summer festival in Yokohama, Japan.
It is a monthlong celebration with Pikachu mascots running around the city every Sunday. Each year, the Pikachu Outbreak has a theme. For 2016, it was “Splash,” a refreshing idea under the 40-degree Tokyo weather.
The idea of “authentic” Pokemon hunting in the bustling city of Tokyo was a thrill, and the virtual reality game was the best travel buddy you could ask for. The app was on whenever we waited in line in restaurants and as we went around the city so we could clock in some kilometers on our egg incubators.
The idea of “authentic” Pokemon hunting in the bustling city of Tokyo was a thrill, and the virtual reality game was the best travel buddy you could ask for. The app was on whenever we waited in line in restaurants and as we went around the city so we could clock in some kilometers on our egg incubators.
With a newly downloaded app and a tourist mode on, we easily earned experience enough to level up as much as 11 stages during our 5-day trip.
We easily caught a Pikachu in Shibuya on our first day, saw a Squirtle while we were trying to claw Eevee stuffed toys out of a machine in Ikebukuro, lured a Magnemite as we crazed over gachapons, and finally hatched a 10-kilometer Vulpix egg when we reached the Tower.
Here are some of the Pokemon I caught, taken in @girleatworld style:
IKEBUKURO
After spotting Weezing and Ekans, a Meowth appears and we were all half hoping that James and Jessie would make waiting in line for a scenic lunch on the 40th floor less boring.
Eevee welcomes us at our hotel lobby in Sunshine City.
Caught a Horsea outside Sega which is located in a street that has rows of arcade consoles and gachapon machines.
The only forgivable distraction when your brows are knitted as you attempt to bring home the bacon, or in this case, Eeveelution plushies.
On a matcha soft serve midnight hunt but caught a Venonat instead on a JR crossing.
ODAIBA
Pesky little Psyduck that gave me a hard time catching it as we viewed the Rainbow Bridge from DECKS Tokyo Beach.
Most of the Pokemon found at Odaiba are of the water type, it being a man-made island. Surprisingly, the place was also home to electric types. With fascinating lights and steel structures all around, it made sense eventually.
Pokemon XYZ premiered that same week. Pokemon movies have become a summer tradition in Japan for the past 20 years. To add to the experience, movie standees have been placed inside DECKS Tokyo Beach for fans to hunt down with Pokemon prices at stake. Took on the challenge and met this Magnemite as I combed through the mall's entertainment hall with shopping stalls, arcade stands and gachapon machines greeting me along the way.
KAWASAKI
While Din and I were busy shopping and playing claw machines (that Pikachu plushie in a Snorlax outfit is to blame for my loss of yen and time for “Pokemon Go,” tbh), other people in our group chanced upon Farfetch'd, a Pokemon you can only catch in Japan.
YOKOHAMA
Chasing Pikachus in real life meant less time to play “Pokemon Go” while we were at Yokohama.
SHIBUYA
What made our Ichiran experience better? Coming out of the Ramen house with a Pikachu waiting. I caught the one with the lowest CP.
ASAKUSA
Seen galloping as we made our way to get Tempura at a tatami restaurant after an afternoon spent at Asakusa temple, consulting sticks and papers about our fate.
SHINJUKU
These two are just some of the Pokemon we caught as we met up with friends to have dinner at their recommended Ramen place in Shinjuku.
ROPPONGI
The last Pokemon that was added to my Pokedex during that trip was a Vulpix, which hatched from a 10-kilometer egg.
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