Despite the famous “Gotta catch ‘em all!” tagline, Pokémon trainers don’t spend every moment of their adventures traipsing through the underbrush searching for new Pocket Monster species. Part of the process of becoming a Pokémon Master is making a pilgrimage to gyms where trainers can strengthen their skills and bonds with their adorable biological arsenal.
Until now, the only places to find these gyms were within the video games and anime of the Pokémon franchise, but next month marks the opening of the first official Pokémon gym in Japan, where fans can meet and train with a variety of Pokémon in interactive and augmented reality attractions.
The Pokémon Expo Gym will be located inside the Expo City complex in Osaka’s Expo ’70 Commemorative Park, which served as host of the Expo ’70 world’s fair in 1970. Unlike the Pokémon Center retail stores found in Japan, the Pokémon Expo Gym will be more focused on experiences than shopping. Among the attractions are Charizard’s Battle Colosseum, where you have to help the fire-breathing dragon stop squabbling with his trainer, Mimi, so they can win their next match.
Smeargle’s Promo Studio has the Pocket Monster looking for background dancers for a music video, perhaps in an effort to show Pikachu he’s not the only one who knows how to boogie.
Muscular Machamp is having trouble performing his special moves, and could use some advice over in Machamp’s Aid Center.
And rounding off the marque attractions is Zoroark’s Bad Boy Dojo, where the Pokémon Expo Gym’s website somewhat troublingly promises Zoroark will help you “awaken your inner bad boy by practicing and raising your understanding of evil.”
Admission to the gym costs 500 yen (US$4.20), which can be put towards the cost of individual attractions. Each of the above are priced at 600 yen, while Macho J’s Boxercise, Gardevoir’s Investigative Headquarters, and virtual Pokémon Battle Bowling cost 400 yen.
You may be wondering where poster Pokémon Pikachu is in all this. Downloading the Pokémon Expo Gym Gear app to your smartphone will allow you to take advantage of the gym’s augmented reality setup, which lets you search the premises for the cute little guy.
And of course Pikachu is represented in the gift shop, which sells exclusive Pokémon Expo Gym merchandise.
The Pokémon Expo Gym opens on November 19.
Location information
Pokémon Expo Gym / ポケモンEXPOジム
Address: Osaka-fu, Suita-shi, Senribanpaku Kouen, 2-1 Expo City
大阪府吹田市千里万博公園2-1 EXPOCITY
Website
Sources: Inside Games, Pokémon official website
Top image: Pokémon Expo Gym official website
Insert images: Pokémon Expo Gym official website (1, 2)
Gotta drown ‘em all? Japanese Pokémon GO Gym location is awesomely dramatic, incredibly dangerous
Pokémon theme park area announced for Kanto region, opens in less than a year【Video】
Japan’s permanent Pokémon theme park zone announces grand opening date, ticket sale start
Pokémon theme park opening in virtual space with Pikachu dance shows, cosplay, and escape games
Pokémon Go players discover unusual gym locations around Japan
Japan’s instant ramen snack theme park features an athletic course even adults can enjoy
Pizza Hut Japan’s drinkable curry pizza is here – Is it all we dreamed it would be?[Taste test]
Japanese temple burns to the ground, fire burning inside for 1,200 years unharmed
Tokyo’s new extra-expensive ramen restaurant is dividing opinions, so we tried a bowl
Krispy Kreme Japan is bringing two special donuts to the most-forgotten big city in the country
Bizarre Japanese vending machine sells “Peace and Equality” and “Angels and Demons”
Japan has a new cute and clever sunblock for cat lovers
Starbucks Japan hoping fans will go bananas for its new mottainai banana affogato Frappuccino
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Man in Japan calls in bomb threat because he doesn’t want to go to his own work farewell party
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
This Tokyo Station sweets sensation sells out daily, but we finally got our hands on it
Hundreds of rose bushes in bloom at Tokyo’s off-the-beaten-path, next-to-the-tracks flower street
Japan’s izakaya pubs closing at record pace, failing to attract foreign tourists
Studio Ghibli’s president is leaving the company. Will it change how they make anime?
Let’s hike a Japanese mountain (that isn’t Mt. Fuji) – Mt. Tsukuba[Photos]
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Studio Ghibli launches huge new anime movie T-shirt collection with special design details
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Real-world Pokémon arena battle park found in Japan【Photos】
Pokémon finally comes to iPhone and Android as the augmented reality game Pokémon GO 【Video】
Catch ’em all again! New Pokémon Switch game anticipated to be released as early as this year
First-ever Pokémon TCG World Championship in Japan/Asia comes with jam-packed events in Yokohama
“To protect the world from devastation!” Real-life Team Rocket cleans litter in Pokémon GO park
New Pokémon Center megastore set to open at Tokyo Skytree this summer!
Pokémon is coming to Universal Studios Japan!
6 things people in Japan should watch out for when Pokémon Go lands in the country
World Record? Japanese trainer holds gym for 1,422 days and counting in Pokémon GO
A permanent One Piece-themed fitness gym is opening in Japan, now recruiting pirate trainers
Like Pokémon behinds? The Pokémon Center has got your butt covered
Here’s how the awesome new Pokémon GO mobile game will look on your smartphone
Entry to Tokyo’s Pokémon theme park zone has physical fitness requirement, will cost a lot
This Japanese theme park just made a real-world Pokémon forest for you to go Pokémon spotting in
Pokémon’s Ash FINALLY wins a Pokémon tournament championship!