Ishikawa, Noto, Nanao and Anamizu are welcoming back a colourful railway attraction as the Pokémon Train resumes services on the Noto Railway network. The specially decorated train returned to operation on 8 August 2026, following vehicle inspections, bringing a distinctive rail experience back to the Noto Peninsula. The service operates between Nanao Station and Anamizu Station, placing a popular character-themed experience within a region known for coastal scenery, traditional communities and rural landscapes. The return also gives families and Pokémon fans another reason to include rail travel in an Ishikawa itinerary. Alongside the reopening, Noto Railway Co. has introduced special one-day tickets for passengers using the Pokémon-themed service. The combination of themed rolling stock and a dedicated ticket product adds a leisure element to an otherwise conventional regional railway journey.
Pokémon Train Returns to the Noto Railway
The train attracted attention when it returned to Anamizu Station, where visitors gathered to photograph its colourful exterior.
The design brings the Pokémon theme directly into the railway environment, creating an experience that begins before passengers board. For families, the train itself becomes part of the attraction rather than simply a means of reaching another destination.
The service also provides an accessible way for visitors to experience the Noto Railway. Passengers can combine the themed journey with sightseeing at stations and destinations along the route.
For Pokémon enthusiasts travelling through Japan, the service adds another specialised attraction to the country’s extensive network of character-themed and sightseeing trains.
Nanao Provides the Northern Rail Gateway
Nanao Station is the southern end of the Pokémon Train’s operating route and an important railway point in Ishikawa Prefecture.
The city of Nanao sits on the Noto Peninsula and provides access to coastal landscapes, hot springs, museums and cultural attractions. Visitors can use the area as a starting point for exploring northern Ishikawa.
For families, the Pokémon Train can be incorporated into a broader Noto itinerary rather than requiring a separate excursion.
Travellers arriving by rail can therefore combine the themed service with local sightseeing, food experiences and visits to nearby communities.
Anamizu Connects Travellers With Northern Noto
At the opposite end of the route, Anamizu Station provides access to northern parts of the peninsula.
Anamizu is surrounded by coastal scenery and rural landscapes, giving passengers an opportunity to experience a different side of Ishikawa away from the region’s larger urban centres.
The railway journey itself becomes part of the sightseeing experience. Travellers can watch the landscape change as the train moves between communities and the peninsula’s coastal environment.
For visitors seeking slower-paced travel, the service provides a distinctive way to explore regional Japan.
One-Day Tickets Add Flexibility
Noto Railway has also introduced special one-day tickets connected with the Pokémon Train’s return.
A day ticket can be particularly useful for visitors planning several stops along the railway. Instead of treating the Pokémon Train as a single point-to-point journey, passengers can potentially build a fuller day around the railway and its surrounding destinations, subject to the ticket’s terms and service schedule.
For families, this can make itinerary planning easier.
The ticket also reinforces the railway’s role as a tourism experience rather than simply a local transport service.
Passengers should check the latest conditions, validity and availability of the special ticket before travelling.
A Family Attraction on a Regional Railway
The Pokémon brand has a strong appeal among children and families, while Japan’s railway culture already attracts enthusiasts from around the world.
Combining the two creates a travel experience that can appeal to several generations.
Children can enjoy the themed train, while adults can explore the scenery, railway heritage and destinations along the Noto Peninsula.
The attraction is particularly suited to travellers who want to include a memorable transport experience within a wider family holiday.
Noto Offers More Than the Themed Train
The Noto Peninsula provides a broad tourism setting around the railway experience.
The region is known for traditional crafts, coastal landscapes, seafood, rural communities and cultural heritage. Visitors can explore local towns and landscapes rather than limiting their trip to the train itself.
The peninsula’s distinctive geography also makes rail travel useful for experiencing the transition between urban and rural environments.
A Pokémon Train journey can therefore form one component of a larger Ishikawa holiday.
Ishikawa Tourism Gains a Character-Led Experience
Ishikawa has a diverse tourism offer ranging from Kanazawa’s historic districts to the landscapes of the Noto Peninsula.
The return of the Pokémon Train adds another highly recognisable experience to that mix.
For international visitors, character-themed attractions can provide an easy entry point into regional travel. A family already interested in Pokémon may choose to travel to Noto specifically for the train and then discover the wider destination.
This can encourage tourism spending beyond the railway itself, including accommodation, restaurants, local attractions and transport.
Rail Travel Becomes Part of the Attraction
Traditional railway journeys are often judged by how efficiently passengers reach their destination. Special trains change that relationship by making the journey itself part of the holiday.
The Pokémon Train follows this approach.
Its themed exterior, passenger experience and dedicated tickets give travellers a reason to choose the railway even when other transport options are available.
For the Noto Peninsula, that can help position regional rail travel as an attraction in its own right.
A Distinctive Way to Explore Noto
Travellers planning an Ishikawa itinerary can combine the service with several types of experiences:
- Pokémon Train: A themed journey between Nanao and Anamizu.
- Nanao: Coastal attractions, culture and access to northern Ishikawa.
- Anamizu: Rural scenery and access to the northern peninsula.
- Noto Peninsula: Traditional communities, coastline, food and crafts.
- Rail photography: The colourful train provides a dedicated attraction for enthusiasts.
- Family travel: A character-themed experience suitable for multi-generational itineraries.
The route’s relatively focused geography makes it possible to incorporate the railway into a day of sightseeing, although travellers should plan around the specific operating timetable.
Pokémon Adds a New Dimension to Ishikawa Rail Travel
The return of the Japan Pokémon Train on 8 August 2026 restores a distinctive visitor attraction to the Noto Railway between Nanao and Anamizu. Following its vehicle inspections, the service is again providing families, Pokémon fans and railway enthusiasts with a themed journey through the Noto Peninsula. The launch of special one-day tickets gives visitors another way to incorporate the experience into their travel plans. For Ishikawa tourism, the train adds a recognisable family attraction while directing attention towards regional rail travel and the landscapes beyond the prefecture’s major cities. Visitors can combine the colourful railway experience with Noto’s coastline, communities, food and cultural attractions, turning a train journey into one of the highlights of a wider trip through northern Ishikawa.
