PokéPark Kanto is being marketed as a dream come true for Pokémon fans, a permanent theme park in Japan where visitors step into the role of Trainers and explore a real world version of the anime and games. Tucked inside Tokyo’s Yomiuriland, the park promises a mix of nature, adventure, and nostalgia. Yet one detail in the small print has already sparked a heated debate online: to access the signature Pokémon Forest area, you must be able to walk up 110 steps without help.
On paper, that sounds like a simple safety guideline. 
In practice, it raises uncomfortable questions about who gets to enjoy the most magical part of this new park, and who will pay full price only to find a huge portion effectively off limits.
What PokéPark Kanto Actually Looks Like
PokéPark Kanto is not a standalone resort but a themed zone inside Yomiuriland, one of Tokyo’s largest and most established amusement parks. The Pokémon themed areas are divided into two main zones. The first is Pokémon Forest, a long outdoor trail weaving through real terrain. The second is Sedge Town, a more traditional theme park style area with shops, attractions, and Sedge Gym, where guests can watch live Pokémon stage shows and meet their favourite creatures in a more controlled environment.
Sedge Town is the easy part to picture. Think colorful storefronts, character themed snacks, merchandise, and shows designed to turn your Instagram feed into a Pokédex. Pokémon Forest is where things get more unusual compared to most character parks. Rather than a gentle stroll on flat pavement, it is a 500 meter nature trail built into existing hills and woodland. Along the route, guests pass through tunnels, climb steep slopes, and navigate sets of stairs, all while spotting Pokémon statues hidden throughout the landscape as if they really live there.
Pokémon Forest Is Less Like a Theme Park, More Like a Hike
The official descriptions make it clear that Pokémon Forest is meant to feel like exploring a real habitat rather than a manicured parade route. The trail includes inclines, uneven ground, and long staircases. Statues of Pokémon are placed as if they are playing, napping, or battling in the wild, turning the walk into a kind of treasure hunt where the reward is immersion rather than a thrill ride or high tech screen.
Viewed that way, the 110 step requirement starts to make more sense. This is not a slow shuffle from bench to bench. It is essentially a themed hike, and the operators are trying to set a baseline for who can traverse it safely without putting themselves or staff at risk. Still, a requirement that specific, and that central to such a large part of the park, inevitably shines a spotlight on who is left out.
The Fine Print: Who Is Not Allowed Into Pokémon Forest
Both the English and Japanese versions of the official site spell out a long list of restrictions for Pokémon Forest. Anyone who cannot walk up 110 steps without assistance is barred from entering. The Japanese language information goes further, explicitly stating that visitors who use wheelchairs will not be able to access the Forest at all. This is not a case of limited access or a side entrance; the core attraction simply does not support mobility devices.
The exclusions do not stop there. Children under five years old are not permitted, even if accompanied by adults. Pregnant visitors, people with heart problems, those with very high or very low blood pressure, anyone who has consumed alcohol, and anyone feeling unwell on the day are all told to stay out of the Forest. On one level, this is standard risk management. Theme parks around the world restrict certain rides and experiences based on health conditions. The twist here is that this is not a roller coaster that lasts a few minutes, but a huge slice of what makes PokéPark Kanto special.
Paying Full Price for Partial Access
When PokéPark Kanto opens, visitors will initially have only two ticket types to choose from. The Ace Trainer’s Pass, the top tier, costs 14,000 yen and allows repeated entry to both Pokémon Forest and Sedge Town, along with priority queues, reserved seats for stage shows, meet and greet opportunities, and exclusive merchandise. The Trainer’s Pass, at 7,900 yen, offers unlimited access to Sedge Town and a timed slot for Pokémon Forest, so you still get that nature trail experience, just with more structure.
Both passes officially include access to Pokémon Forest as a selling point. That is where the frustration begins for many potential visitors. People who use wheelchairs, people with serious mobility issues, and children under five can buy these tickets at reduced prices thanks to tiered pricing for kids, seniors, and disabled guests. Yet the most hyped area of the park will remain closed to them. Critics argue that no matter how generous the discount, paying for something you are explicitly not allowed to use will always feel unfair.
Parents have also questioned why children aged three and four are bundled into the same ticket categories as older kids when they cannot set foot in the Forest at all. In many families, the main draw of a Pokémon park is seeing younger children light up in a fully themed environment. Knowing that the signature outdoor adventure is off limits for the smallest fans makes the price harder to swallow.
Is This Discrimination or Just the Reality of a Hiking Trail
As the rules circulated on Japanese social media, the reaction quickly split into two camps. One group sees the restrictions as a painful reminder of how often disabled guests and people with chronic health conditions are sidelined from flagship experiences. For them, Pokémon Forest feels like yet another space where the most immersive option quietly assumes a healthy, able bodied visitor who can handle a sustained climb.
Others are more pragmatic, pointing out that this is ultimately a forest trail, not a flat city sidewalk. They compare it to national parks, rugged coastal paths, or guided cave tours where steep, slippery stairs and tight passages make accessibility extremely difficult without completely rebuilding the environment. Making a genuine woodland path fully wheelchair accessible would mean heavy engineering, extensive ramps, and removal of natural obstacles. That might protect access rights but risk destroying the very feeling of being in a real forest that the park is trying to create.
Some commenters have also noted that while it is absolutely unfortunate for visitors with disabilities, a requirement like being able to walk 110 steps without help affects a smaller share of the overall population than online outrage might suggest. They argue that disability does come with real limitations and that no attraction, especially one built into rough terrain, can be universally accessible without compromise.
The Gamer Culture Backlash and the Research Argument
Amid the serious discussion about accessibility, another strand of commentary has emerged that is more cynical about the loudest critics. A few voices suggest that many of the people complaining most intensely online are not themselves disabled, but gaming focused fans upset that a major Pokémon attraction expects a significant amount of walking. For those used to experiencing the franchise from the sofa, the idea that a Pokémon themed highlight involves breaking a sweat can feel like an unwelcome reality check.
That connects with another recurring theme in the debate: personal responsibility and research. The park has published its rules in clear language before opening day. Supporters argue that if you know you struggle with stairs or have relevant health issues, it is on you to read the conditions and decide whether the ticket is worth the price. In their view, unpleasant surprises come not from the park hiding information, but from people choosing not to look at the details.
What About a More Accessible Alternative
Even among those who understand the safety logic, many still feel PokéPark Kanto could do more to balance immersion with inclusion. Suggestions range from building a shorter, flatter loop within the Forest that is accessible to wheelchairs and younger children, to offering detailed video tours or augmented reality experiences in Sedge Town so that those who cannot hike can still see the Pokémon installations up close in some form.
The park seems to be moving in this direction, at least partially. According to its Japanese site, a Town only pass is scheduled to arrive by summer 2026, giving guests access only to Sedge Town at a lower price point. This will be the cheapest tier, with different rates for adults, seniors, children, and disabled visitors. It is a step toward ensuring that people who know they cannot or do not want to tackle Pokémon Forest are not forced into paying for it anyway. Critics counter that this solution comes late and does not change the fact that the marquee nature attraction remains inherently exclusionary.
More Rules: Cameras, Food, and What You Can Bring
The access rules for Pokémon Forest are not the only strict policies at PokéPark Kanto. The park has also laid down firm limits on photography and recording. Any filming or shooting that looks commercial, interferes with other visitors, or could disrupt operations is banned. Bag checks at the entrance aim to enforce bans on drones, selfie sticks, large suitcases, and pets, with service dogs explicitly allowed as an exception.
Food is another tightly controlled area. Visitors are not allowed to bring outside food and drinks into PokéPark Kanto, even if purchased elsewhere in Yomiuriland. There are exceptions for small children and for people with specific dietary needs, but everyone else is expected to rely on the park’s own food outlets. This is commonplace in modern theme parks, a mix of safety, cleanliness, and business strategy, but it adds to the general sense that PokéPark operates with a firm rule book.
Safety First, But at What Emotional Cost
Looked at generously, PokéPark Kanto is being upfront about the physical demands of its star attraction and is trying to avoid medical emergencies on a remote hillside trail. Plenty of visitors will appreciate knowing in advance that this is a real walk with real stairs, not just a gentle stroll past cardboard cutouts. The tiered discounts for children, seniors, and disabled guests, as well as the promise of a cheaper Sedge Town only pass, show at least some awareness that not all fans will have the same experience.
At the same time, Pokémon as a brand has always been about inclusivity and imagination, inviting kids and adults of all backgrounds into the same adventure. For fans who use wheelchairs, live with heart conditions, or simply cannot handle a large number of steps, being told that the heart of PokéPark Kanto is off limits hits hard, especially when they are still asked to pay for the ticket that advertises it.
In the end, PokéPark Kanto has stumbled into a broader global conversation about how to design attractions that feel authentic, respect nature, and still honor the idea that as many people as possible should be able to share in the fun. Pokémon Forest may well be a magical experience for those who can climb it. The real challenge for the park is finding ways, practical or symbolic, to make those left at the trailhead feel like valued Trainers too, not just spectators standing at the gate.