A human-sized Poké Ball-shaped hotel is set to open in Hokkaido, Japan. The collaboration with hotel Not A Hotel celebrates the 30th anniversary of Pokémon and the third anniversary of Pokémon Sleep.
Although for some people, it may be hard to imagine there ever was a world without Pokémon, the popular franchise just turned 30. Ever since its launch, the Japanese company has been expanding in order to attract new fans – including Pokémon Go in 2016 and Pokémon Sleep in 2023.
In a new move to keep on reinventing itself and to keep fans dreaming – literally – while celebrating two anniversaries, the franchise recently joined forces with hotelier Not A Hotel to design a human-sized, Poké Ball-shaped hotel.
“As society becomes increasingly convenient and efficient, Not A Hotel aims to bring more joy to individuals’ lives. For years, Pokémon fans have dreamed of stepping inside a Poké Ball. Not A Hotel, leveraging its architectural and technological expertise, has turned that dream into a reality. This structure transcends the boundaries of architecture and product design, fusing the world of Pokémon with the architectural quality that defines Not A Hotel,” said Not A Hotel in an interview with architecture magazine Dezeen.
Not A Hotel, a Japanese hospitality firm launched in 2020, creates one-of-a-kind vacation homes around the globe. Unique design and unique locations come together through their in-house team of Not A Hotel Architects and collaborations with designers such as NIGO and Snøhetta.
The remarkable Poké Ball structure fits perfectly within that philosophy. It is set on a lakeshore in Tomakomai City, located on the northernmost of Japan’s main islands, Hokkaido. The sphere measures just 3 metres in diameter and is made of moulded acrylic hemispheres, with a sliding door offering some privacy from the outdoor world.
Inside, the circular theme continues. A round mattress sits in the middle of the Poké Ball while a curved acrylic window boosts lake views, while creating the illusion of a partly-opened ball. The tiny building also offers a washroom, which us decorated using tiles the colour of the very sleepy Pokémon character Snorlax.
Guests will also have the possibility to customise their stay and particularly the lighting by choosing their favourite Pokémon character on an iPad. However, in order to tie in with the sleep game app Pokémon Go, the experience also focuses on turning the room into a calming sleeping environment.
Although many Pokémon fans will undoubtedly be disappointed, the Poké Ball hotel will not open to the general public and can’t be visited. However, until 30 September 2026, Pokémon Sleep is running a social media competition on X which allows Japanese residents who have downloaded the Pokémon Sleep app to participate. Afterwards, ten couples will be selected and win a one-night stay in the Pokémon Ball room between 8 and 18 October, including meals. Transportation to and from the nearby New Chitose Airport as well as other personal costs are, however, not covered by the franchise.
