Despite a perplexing delay in the land of its birth, Pokémon Go finally became available for download in Japan on July 22nd. Pokémon, short for "Pocket Monsters" was originally created for Nintendo's Game Boy in the mid 1990s, then grew to be the company's second-largest franchise.
The new Pokémon Go app simply updates the idea - users travel around using the map apps and cameras on their phones to "capture" Pokemon in a variety of settings.
While the Japanese government has already published a list of practical guidelines for Pokémon Go players to avoid risks and injury, the game's potential to take visitors to some of the country's best-known - and also little-visited - tourist sites is a huge boon. Tiny monsters have the potential to show up anywhere, from Tokyo's famed Shibuya crossing and Senso-ji Temple to the lavender fields of Hokkaido and the beaches of Okinawa.
Why not let Pokémon Go take you on an adventure around Japan? If you feel you "gotta catch 'em all", you'll at least see some amazing sites in the process.
Some immediate observations:
- There are LOTS of people playing Pokemon Go all over Tokyo, even in my small neighbourhood area.
- People/families/kids are getting out and hunting Pokemon.
- People are having fun.
I have discovered a lot of new and interesting places even in the nearby areas that I would never have found without the game (some beautiful, some interesting). I also get very lost which was fun as well, not something I do when visiting touristy sites.