Everyone has a hobby or two, for some it may be collecting stamps or for some it may be trekking the boondoks. There are others who like to keep pets, while even others see learning a new skill such as cooking or baking a thing. Me, I play Pokemon Go.
Now, unless you have been living under a rock, Pokemon (or Pocket Monsters) started out as a game in the 90’s on Nintendo’s Game Boy where you travel the Pokemon World to battle, collect, and train Pokemon. Fast forward to 2016 and Pokemon Go, a smartphone game developed by Niantic, takes the adventure into the real world where Pokemon can be seen and caught in the real world. Pokemon Go proved to be a smash hit, with many players all over the world, including Durianburg, putting their travel shoes on to explore the world and catch Pokemon.
Just recently, me and a few friends decided to take our Pokemon Adventure to the next level by attending the Pokemon Go Fest in Yokohama City, Japan from August 6 to 11. It was my first time to attend a Go Fest, and I was excited to explore a new city and to catch the unique Pokemon appearing at the event.
Beyond Tokyo
Just a short 40-minute train ride from Tokyo, Yokohama was once an industrial city but has since refocused itself for tourism with the development of a vibrant port and cruise terminal, as well as the hosting of many events, one of which is the Pokemon Go Fest and the Pikachu Outbreak which is also held on the same days as the Go Fest.
There were three venues for Pokemon Go Fest: Yokohama and me and my friends decided to play at Yamashita Park. A public park that stretches 750 meters along Yokohama’s waterfront, the park consists of open green space, and a massive ocean liner parked in the water beside the promenade.
Ready to Play
Even before the event started, there were already thousands of Pokemon Go players from Japan and all over the world. While waiting, it was fun to see entire families, and groups of friends chatting and sharing fun experiences while catching Pokemon. Competing teams did not matter at the festival as everyone worked together sharing and trading unique Pokemon from all over the world.
As the event started in earnest, players went around the park and explored its many spaces catching various hard-to-find Pokemon all while fulfilling various tasks and quests the game’s Professor Willow throws at them.
By noontime, it was already clear that many players were able to encounter and catch the Go Fest exclusive Pokemon Jirachi. By mid-afternoon, people were sitting on the park’s massive lawn to trade Pokemon, take snapshots with their Pokemon and exchange stories on their adventure that day.
Pikachu Invasion
By 5 in the afternoon, that day’s Go Fest finally ended but for us, there was still more as we made our way to Red Brick Warehouse Park to catch Yokohama City’s annual Pikachu Outbreak. It was a fun feeling seeing one dozen Pikachu dressed and lit up dancing the a backdrop of fountains. Wanting to see more, our group made its way to Minato Mirai to see a Pikachu dance number which lit up Yokohama’s iconic skyline.
We would have wanted to proceed further to Rinko Park to see the biggest parade of Pikachu for the event but decided to have a break instead because we have been out since morning, playing Pokemon Go and making new friends along the way. Although tiring, the day was truly well worth the effort and I will definitely be back!
For those who want to be part of Davao’s Pokemon Go community, you can check out Pokemon Go Harmony Davao on Facebook and say hi.
