Sleep like a Pokemon (for free) at Hokkaido’s Poke Ball-themed hotel

Ever wanted to live the life of a Pokemon (that is, confined inside a Poke Ball for an extended period of time)? A new hotel in Hokkaido will offer just that chance.

Designed by the architects behind the Not A Hotel hospitality group and located in a wooded area of Tomakomai, Hokkaido, the “Poke Ball-Themed Hotel” is a 3-meter-diameter red-and-white sphere fashioned after the item used to catch the eponymous critters of the Pokemon franchise.

While the accommodation styles itself as a “hotel,” the property is a standalone structure located next to a lake that appears akin to a unit in an upscale capsule hotel. Despite the secluded location, the room is “fully equipped with amenities essential for a comfortable stay, including a bed, air conditioning and lighting” as well as an adjacent washroom, according to a press release.

The hotel is a partnership between Not A Hotel and Pokemon Sleep, a sleep tracking and wellness app partly developed by The Pokemon Company.

While it calls itself a “hotel,” the accommodation appears more akin to a unit in an upscale capsule-style room, just in the middle of the woods. | @POKEMON/NINTENDO/CREATURES/GAME FREAK (PHOTO BY NEWCOLORINC)

Instead of accepting reservations from the public, the Poke Ball hotel will choose 10 pairs of guests via a social media lottery. Entrants (eligibility limited to residents of Japan ages 18 and above) must have the Pokemon Sleep app, follow the official Pokemon Sleep App account on X, make a post via the related campaign button and fill out an application form and survey (sent automatically as a direct-message reply).

The hotel will accept entries from today through Sept. 30. Lottery winners will stay at the property from Oct. 8 through 18. While the two-day, one-night stay itself is free and includes dinner and breakfast, transportation costs to and from the site of the accommodation as well as incidentals will not be included.