Pokémon-Themed Footbath in Ishikawa Faces Statue Damage Amid Recovery Efforts

On May 12 2026, Nanao City opened the Wakura Pokémon Footbath at Wakura Onsen, Ishikawa Prefecture. The free ashiyu (foot-bath) featured seven life-size Pokémon statues—including Pikachu, Vaporeon, Psyduck and Gyarados—and was promoted as a flagship tourism project to aid recovery after the 2023 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. Kindergarten children were among the first visitors, posing for photos beside the characters. City officials presented the attraction as a centerpiece of a broader post-earthquake revitalization plan that includes upgrades to local hot-spring facilities and promotional campaigns aimed at drawing tourists.

Pokémon foot bath damaged just one month after opening

• May 21 – Crack in Vaporeon’s tail.

Nearly half of Pokémon hot spring’s statues have been damaged less than two months after opening

• May 22 – Visitor admitted leaning on Vaporeon, causing damage.

Nearly half of Pokémon hot spring’s statues have been damaged less than two months after opening

• May 30 – Psyduck’s left foot missing; piece later recovered.

Nearly half of Pokémon hot spring’s statues have been damaged less than two months after opening

• June 19 – Gyarados horn damaged after a visitor touched it.

Nearly half of Pokémon hot spring’s statues have been damaged less than two months after opening

• June 23 – Five of seven statues remain functional; Vaporeon and Psyduck removed for repair.

Nearly half of Pokémon hot spring’s statues have been damaged less than two months after opening

The footbath originally displayed seven Pokémon figures. As of late June, three statues (Vaporeon, Psyduck, Gyarados) have sustained damage, leaving five operational. This represents roughly 43 % of the installations being affected within two months of opening.

Nearly half of Pokémon hot spring’s statues have been damaged less than two months after opening

Nanao City officials filed a police report and announced repairs for the damaged figures. The municipality added cautionary signage near each figure and is reevaluating the statues’ structural robustness to prevent future breakage. City representatives emphasized the attraction’s popularity and urged visitors to treat the installations respectfully while evaluating a formal no-touch policy.

Nearly half of Pokémon hot spring’s statues have been damaged less than two months after opening

Local media note that signage only asks visitors not to hit or climb, without explicitly forbidding touching, a gap critics say may have contributed to the incidents. A visitor who admitted leaning on Vaporeon described the act as accidental. The discovery of Psyduck’s missing foot in a separate location has raised questions about possible intentional damage, and some commentators argue that repeated incidents may require restricting physical interaction with the statues.

Nearly half of Pokémon hot spring’s statues have been damaged less than two months after opening

• “Pokémon hot spring” — SoraNews24 article title

Nearly half of Pokémon hot spring’s statues have been damaged less than two months after opening

• “when they touched it.” — Visitor describing Gyarados damage

Nearly half of Pokémon hot spring’s statues have been damaged less than two months after opening

• “A representative for the city says that “Since we’re fortunate enough to have this popular attraction, we hope that everyone will handle [the Pokémon statues] with care.” — City representative

Nearly half of Pokémon hot spring’s statues have been damaged less than two months after opening

• “If damage continues to occur, we will have to consider prohibiting visitors from touching the statues,” and while things haven’t gotten to that point yet, fans visiting Wakura Pokémon Footbath are advised to be gentle with the Pokémon, even ones as canonically tough as Gyarados.” — Hokkoku Shimbun via Yahoo! Japan News

Nearly half of Pokémon hot spring’s statues have been damaged less than two months after opening

Repair work on Vaporeon and Psyduck is scheduled for the coming weeks. City officials are consulting safety experts to decide whether to implement a binding no-touch rule or physical barriers. The city will track compliance with any new rules and may install barriers if damage persists. Ongoing monitoring will determine if further incidents occur as the footbath remains a central element of the region’s post-earthquake tourism strategy.

Nearly half of Pokémon hot spring’s statues have been damaged less than two months after opening