
Pikachu is ready to help you beat the heat at this year’s amazing Pikachu Outbreak Pokémon fan event.
If you’ve got even a passing interest in the Pokémon anime/video game franchise, or cute characters in general, Japan’s annual Pikachu Outbreak is the can’t-miss event of the summer. Held every year since 2014 in the city of Yokohama, just 30 minutes south of downtown Tokyo by train, during the Pikachu Outbreak the bayside Minato Mirai neighborhood is overrun with Pikachus who dance, parade, and offer hugs for fans. Really, what’s not to like?
Well, we suppose there is one downside to the event: the heat. Even though Yokohama tends to be a few degrees cooler than Tokyo, there’s only so much relief the sea breezes can provide during Japan’s routinely hot and humid summer. This year, though, Poké-fans have three new ways to stay cool, thanks to the Drink and Ice Shop by Pokémon Café pop-up shops that’ll be open during the Pikachu Outbreak, which takes place between August 6 and 12.
What’s sure to be the most popular are the Pikachu Pineapple Ice Bars (500 yen [US4.65] each), which, despite the name, aren’t actually bar-shaped. Instead, they’re refreshing frozen popsicle-like treats in the form of Pikachu!
▼ You randomly get one of four expressions, but when they’re all adorable, and, more importantly, all Pikachu, there’s really no bad one in the bunch.
If you prefer your summertime refreshments in a drinkable format, there’s also the Pikachu Orange Lemonade Soda (500 yen), which comes in a special Pikachu cup.
And, since Japan is currently going through its biggest tapioca bubble/boba craze ever, the menu also includes the Pikachu Mango Pineapple Tapioca Drink (600 yen).
The Pikachu Outbreak organizers are promising more than 2,000 Pikachus (in either walking-around or decorative-object form), and with festivities scheduled to run from morning until night, staying cool and hydrated is a must. Luckily, the Drink and Ice Shop by Pokémon Café will have three locations, one at Rinko Park (open noon-8 p.m.), another at Yamashita Park (10 a.m.-5 p.m.), and the third in the plaza at the Aka Renga Red Brick Warehouse entertainment complex (noon-8 p.m.), so odds are we’ll see you there during our annual day of Pikachu pack-chasing.
Related: Pikachu Outbreak 2019 official website
Source: PR Times
Featured image: PR Times
Top image ©SoraNews24
Insert images: PR Times
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Follow Casey on Twitter for more reasons Yokohama is awesome.





Official Pokémon bubble teas coming to Japan!
Bubble tea amusement park to open in Harajuku, promises to be the “tapioca land of your dreams”
Lipton releases new bubble tea ice cream bar with tapioca pearls in Japan
Tokyo restaurant serves tapioca bubble tea ramen – Is it crazy good, or just crazy?【Taste test】
It’s sakura bubble tea season at TP TEA stands across Japan!
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Tokyo restaurant offers lunches for less than 1 U.S. cent…if you’re good enough at rock-paper-scissors
Two new Sailor Moon art manhole covers are coming to Usagi’s real-world Tokyo neighborhood
What makes the Starbucks Japan chocolate terrine so popular?
Krispy Kreme releases new limited-edition fox doughnuts at only four stores in Japan
Same name tops lists of most popular dog and cat names in Japan, and there’s probably a reason why
KFC Japan’s “The American Burgers” include a pile of guilt
Gundam teams up with 300-year-old daruma maker for wood-carved anime mecha figures[Photos]
Government says 5.7 trillion yen of Japanese media was pirated last year, thinks AI could help
Pizza Hut Japan’s drinkable curry pizza is here – Is it all we dreamed it would be?[Taste test]
Tokyo’s new extra-expensive ramen restaurant is dividing opinions, so we tried a bowl
Japan’s izakaya pubs closing at record pace, failing to attract foreign tourists
Japan has a new cute and clever sunblock for cat lovers
Japanese temple burns to the ground, fire burning inside for 1,200 years unharmed
Japan’s instant ramen snack theme park features an athletic course even adults can enjoy
Krispy Kreme Japan is bringing two special donuts to the most-forgotten big city in the country
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
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
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
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
Studio Ghibli releases new anime keychains that are like miniature figurines
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
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pikachu outbreak to happen again in Yokohama this summer, this time with dance fever!
Is the end nigh for tapioca? Tokyo tapioca shops suffer closures in the midst of COVID-19
Pikachu Outbreak 2018: World’s first Eevee march to join Pokémon summer celebrations in Japan!
Pikachu Outbreak 2018 announced for Yokohama, and this time the party continues into the night!
Get a taste of the high life with a US$92 “Tapioca” bubble tea in Tokyo
Sounds like this year’s Pikachu Outbreak in Yokohama is going to have other Pokémon species too!
Japan’s Pikachu Outbreak 2016! Pokémon get wet and wild in Yokohama【Photos & Four Videos】
You can make rice with tapioca bubble tea, and it’s surprisingly tasty【SoraKitchen】
The full Pikachu Outbreak 2019 Pikachu/Eevee show and parade schedule is here!
First video ad for 2015 Pikachu outbreak event reminds us how adorable last year’s was
Tapioca fad on the way out in Japan
Dozens of Pikachus make landfall in Yokohama, begin expanding their territory throughout the city
Pokémon ice cream cakes and Pikachu-flavor ice cream on the menu at Baskin-Robbins Japan!
We try Tapioca Beer, the drink that everyone’s raving about in Japan right now
Pikachu, I choose you… to take over vending machines in Japan!【Video】
Japan’s new Pikachu Pokémon donuts are super popular, crazy cute, and totally tasty