All shows to be held at night, so you can enjoy the Pokémon fun without the scorch of the sun.
The 2019 Pikachu Outbreak kicks off this week, which means packs of Pikachus will once again be hanging out in the Minato Mirai neighborhood of Yokohama, Japan’s second-largest city and roughly 20 minutes south of Tokyo.
One way to enjoy the event is to treat the event like a real-life game of Pokémon, hopping off the train at Minato Mirai Station (where the talking ticket gates are will greet you with a friendly “Pika!”) and trying to randomly encounter Pikachus. But on the other hand, leaving everything up to chance means you might miss out on some of the fun, so for everyone who wants to plan ahead, there’s now an official list of when and where the various Pikachu (and Eevee!) performances will be taking place at this year’s outbreak, so let’s take a look.
1. Minato Mirai Sea x Pikachu
6:55 p.m., 7:50 p.m., 8:45 p.m. nightly
Minato Mirai sits on the shore of Yokohama Harbor, and the Minato Mirai Sea performance will take place in the plaza of the Aka Renga/Red Brick Warehouse entertainment complex, with a view of the iconic Yokohama Bay Bridge in the background, and dancing Pikachus with their moves accented by spraying fountains and pulsing lights in the foreground.
2. Minato Mirai City x Pikachu
7:10 p.m., 8:35 p.m. nightly (8:35 only on August 9, 10)
The closest performance to Minato Mirai Station, Minato Mirai City combines LED-costumed Pikachu dancers with projection mapping of the Yokohama Museum of Art, and is held in the Grand Mall plaza between the museum and the Mark Is shopping center.
3. Minato Mirai Forest x Pikachu
6:55 p.m., 7:50 p.m., 8:45 p.m.
Calling it a “forest” is a bit of a stretch, but Rinko Park, which stretches out behind the Pacifico Yokohama convention center, is a beautiful seaside spot where 50 Pikachus will gather for the Minato Mirai Forest show.
4. Pikachu and Eevee Parade
6:55 p.m., 7;50 p.m., 8:45 p.m.
Last year’s Pikachu Outbreak welcomed a company of Eevees as special guests, and the team-up continues in 2019 with a combination parade featuring the two extra-popular Pokémon species, starting from the Nihonmaru sailing ship that’s docked across the street from Landmark Tower.
Also making a return in 2019 is the Pikachu Narikiri Service, or Pikachu Transformation Discount promotion, in which you can get discounts from local merchants during the Outbreak if you happen to be wearing some sort of Pikachu gear, including the free paper Pikachu visors that are handed out by event staff every year.
▼ If anybody needs one, I have…several spares.
▼ Keep an eye out for the Pikachu Transformation Discount display
The Pikachu Outbreak breaks out on August 6, and continues until August 12.
Source: @Press
Pikachu visor photo ©SoraNews24
All other images: @Press
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Follow Casey on Twitter, where he’s filled with pride that Pikachu chooses to visit his city every summer.
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