# Character Hot Spring Footbaths The Wakura Pokémon Footbath Opens in Nanao City, Japan By Amy Duong | Published 2026-05-14 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wakura-pokmon-footbath References: [wakura.or.jp](https://www.wakura.or.jp/brochure/brochure-4313/)  The Wakura Pokémon Footbath officially opened on May 12 inside Yuttari Park in Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. The public facility features fountain statues of Gyarados, Psyduck, Vaporeon, [Pikachu](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pikachu-jet-ci2), Poliwag, Politoed, and Quaxly positioned throughout a wooden soaking structure. A large Gyarados figure serves as the central water source, directing flow into the pool. The footbath is free to use and operates daily from 7 AM to 7 PM, subject to weather closures. The attraction was developed through a collaboration between Nanao City and the [Pokémon With You Foundation](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pokmon-cafe-tokyo) as part of ongoing recovery efforts following the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake. The facility sits adjacent to a Pokémon-themed manhole cover also installed in Yuttari Park. A dedication ceremony was held on opening day, with children from a local nursery school among the first visitors. Image Credit: Wakura Pokémon Footbath ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.2/10 - Popularity: 27% | Activity: 24% | Freshness: 74% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Character Themed Public Infrastructure:** Branded sculptures and themed amenities in civic spaces create opportunities for immersive, revenue-generating public fixtures that blend entertainment with essential services. - **Recovery Tourism Through Intellectual Property:** Post-disaster regeneration anchored by popular IP can redefine destination appeal and attract visitation flows that accelerate local economic recovery. - **Community Collaboration with Entertainment Foundations:** Municipal partnerships with entertainment charities and foundations enable co-created attractions that strengthen social cohesion and broaden funding models for public projects. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Tourism and Hospitality:** Themed footbaths and adjacent attractions open pathways for experience-driven lodging, guided itineraries, and extended visitor stays centered on recognizable characters. - **Urban Planning and Public Works:** Integrating playful design elements into infrastructure projects presents a chance to reimagine public spaces as multifunctional, community-branded assets. - **Licensing and Merchandising:** Character-based installations adjacent to purchasable goods and souvenirs suggest scalable retail ecosystems tied to location-specific IP activations. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [90s Cartoon Vinyl Figures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mondo-x-rockos-modern-life-set.md) - [Character Doughnut Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/krispy-kreme-spongebob.md) - [Sweet Cartoon Character Smoothies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hello-kitty-juicy-ichigo-smoothie.md) - [Animated Movie Footwear Ranges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/disney-x-crocs-toy-story-5.md) - [Cake-Shaped Cartoon-Themed Candies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gupperz-strawberry-shortcake.md) - [Cartoon Crossover Game Skins](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/phineas-and-ferb-x-fortnite.md) - [Cartoon Family Cosmetics](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-simpsons-x-nyx.md) - [Anime Cartoon Reboots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/looney-tunes-gokko.md) - [Canadian Cartoon Activations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scarborough-town-centre.md)