A playful new landmark for Miyagi
A smiling blue sea Pokemon is now the face of a new play space in Rifu, Miyagi. Lapras Park, a dedicated playground inside Moririn Kasenuma Park, opened to the public on October 31, 2025. At its heart rises a giant Lapras figure that measures 4 meters (13 feet 1 inch) tall, larger than the 2.5 meter height listed in the official Pokedex. The sculpture is more than a statue. Hand grips along the shell let children climb onto the back, and a slide tucked behind the figure offers a quick way down. Families, local residents, and traveling fans have already begun making the park a stop, joining a wave of Pokemon themed projects designed to bring energy and visitors to the Tohoku region.
In recent years Lapras has taken on a special role in Miyagi Prefecture through the Pokemon Local Acts program, a nationwide initiative that supports regional promotion through characters, events, and donations. Lapras became Miyagi’s official ambassador Pokemon in 2019, a choice that fits the prefecture’s coastline and maritime culture. The new playground builds on that relationship. It introduces play equipment with a gentle sea theme, broad lawns for picnics, and photo spots designed for visitors of all ages. A camera stand helps groups frame selfies with the central Lapras, and a new Pokefuta manhole cover at the site features Lapras beside other aquatic favorites, a detail that will please fans who track these collectible manholes across Japan.
The Lapras playground sits inside Moririn Kasenuma Park, a large green space in Rifu Town near Sendai. The park’s name comes from Kasenuma, a body of water that adds a sense of openness to the grounds. On clear days the bright blue Lapras and the lawns sit against a wide sky, and in autumn the trees around the site turn vivid shades of red and yellow. Admission to the park is free, and on most days visitors can stroll in without any ticketing or reservation. Parking areas are available nearby, making it simple for families with small children to visit.
Why Lapras matters to Tohoku
Miyagi is part of the Tohoku region that endured the earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011. Recovery has continued for years, and communities have worked to welcome visitors back to sites that are ready. In 2016, players of Pokemon GO noticed that Lapras appeared more often in the coastal areas of Tohoku for a limited time. That design choice encouraged fans to plan trips, explore towns, and spend money in local shops while hunting for the Transport Pokemon. It was a playful way to honor the sea and to bring attention to a part of Japan that many travelers had not visited before.
That early experiment became a deeper partnership. Through Pokemon Local Acts, The Pokemon Company has supported Miyagi with campaigns, original goods, and now park equipment. Lapras was named the prefecture’s ambassador in 2019, and the character has since appeared on trains, signboards, and tourism projects. The new playground in Rifu turns that goodwill into something families can touch. It invites children to climb, slide, and imagine an ocean journey on Lapras, while parents take photos and enjoy the park’s open space. It also gives Rifu a clear, family oriented attraction that fits the area’s marine identity.
What visitors will find inside Lapras Park
The centerpiece is the four meter Lapras. The figure is perched as if ready to ferry riders across a calm bay, with its eyes looking forward and the signature shell curving gently. Designers placed climbing grips along the shell so that kids can scramble to the top with ease. A smooth slide curves down behind the body, held wide enough for a safe ride and bright enough to catch the eye in photographs. The Lapras sits on soft ground, and there is open space nearby so parents can stand close while children play. The scale, larger than the Pokedex listing, makes the moment feel like being in the world of the games and animated series.
The park is filled with extra touches. A smaller Lapras rocks back and forth and has space for kids to climb inside, a feature that suits toddlers and preschoolers. Ridable figures of Mantyke, Wailmer, and Sharpedo extend the Water type gallery, each built as simple, durable play equipment. Five Wiglett appear around the grounds in clever ways, three by a set of musical play chimes, one standing alone, and one peeking out from a seashell style dome. These details invite a gentle scavenger hunt, as children search for familiar faces from the games.
Beyond the characters, planners added classic playground elements. A spring rider offers a bounce for younger visitors. A panel maze gives kids a simple puzzle to work through, perfect for short attention spans. There is also a bench that features Pikachu, a nod to the series mascot that makes for an easy photo spot. For photographers, a fixed camera stand is placed so that solo travelers and families can frame a shot with the big Lapras without needing a helper. Near the play area, a new Pokefuta manhole cover shows Lapras alongside Mantyke, Swanna, and Staryu, part of a growing trail of decorative covers that have become sought after by fans.
Moririn Kasenuma Park, a day out in nature
Moririn Kasenuma Park is a destination in its own right. Wide lawns open onto the water of Kasenuma, and paths run through groves that change with the seasons. In spring the greens feel fresh. In autumn the leaves shift to rich colors that make the Lapras figures pop all the more. In winter you can spot white birds on the water when the air is crisp, and on warm days the breeze carries over the grass fields. The new play area blends into this setting without overwhelming it, offering space for excitement and space to rest.
The park lends itself to relaxed visits. Families spread picnic sheets on the grass and take their time while children run between the slide, the maze, and the spring rider. The grounds are free to enter, and parking is available, which makes it easy to stay for a full afternoon. Rest spaces and benches are placed near the equipment so adults can keep an eye on kids while taking a break. The scale of the site also means that even on busy weekends there are pockets of calm.
Rifu sits just north of Sendai, the largest city in Tohoku. Trains and local roads make the trip straightforward for day trippers from the city. Fans who plan a route through Sendai often pair a park visit with a stop at Pokemon Center near Sendai Station. Visitors who prefer detailed travel directions can check the park operator’s access guide (Japanese) on the official website at this access page. The directions explain the nearest stations, bus options, and parking locations.
What is Pokefuta and why it draws visitors
Pokefuta are custom designed manhole covers that local governments install in partnership with The Pokemon Company. Each cover features original art that ties a character to a location, such as a local landmark or a landscape. The covers turn a simple utility lid into a small piece of public art. Many travelers plan walking routes from cover to cover, collecting photos, stamps, or QR code scans along the way. For towns and prefectures, the program promotes exploration of neighborhoods that casual visitors might skip. For fans, it offers free, permanent objects to find, photograph, and share without the need for a ticket or a guided tour.
The new manhole in Rifu
The newest cover in the series sits inside Lapras Park. The design places Lapras at the center and frames it with Mantyke, Swanna, and Staryu. Water waves and a soft palette match the playground’s sea theme. The cover is durable and functional, yet it also works as a backdrop for photos, particularly for families who want to document a child’s first climb up on Lapras. With so many covers installed across Japan, the Rifu addition will likely join lists that collectors use when planning trips through Miyagi.
A second Lapras playground is planned
The Pokemon Company has announced that Miyagi will receive two Lapras themed playgrounds. The first is the Moririn Kasenuma Park site in Rifu, now open to the public. The second is scheduled for Kaigan Park in Sendai, with an opening planned for spring 2026. Designs presented at the prefectural office showed a similar water theme, a large Lapras play structure, and supporting figures such as Wailmer and Wiglett. The plan continues a multi year effort to invite families back to see the coast, take photos, and spend time in parks that highlight local nature. For parents in the Sendai area, it means a second option within an easy drive once the next site opens.
What local tourism officials are saying
Local tourism promoters have embraced the new attraction. Visit Miyagi, the prefecture’s official tourism promotion office, celebrated the opening by introducing the playground to English speaking visitors. In a post about the site, the group highlighted the central slide, the variety of Water type characters, and the brand new manhole cover. The tone was welcoming and aimed at travelers who might already be visiting Sendai or the famous bay towns nearby.
Introducing the park to fans abroad, Visit Miyagi wrote:
As you may know, Lapras is the official support Pokemon of Miyagi Prefecture, and now Rifu Town has opened an entire park dedicated to this beloved Pokemon: Lapras Park!
That message captures the spirit of the project. It invites families and long time fans alike to experience a bit of the Pokemon world in a real landscape, without a ticketed theme park or a long trip from the Tohoku capital.
What to Know
- Lapras Park opened on October 31, 2025 inside Moririn Kasenuma Park in Rifu, Miyagi.
- The central Lapras statue is 4 meters tall (13 feet 1 inch), larger than the Pokedex height.
- Children can climb using grips on the shell and slide down the back.
- Additional play pieces include a rocking Lapras, Mantyke, Wailmer, and Sharpedo.
- Five Wiglett are placed around the site, including near musical chimes and inside a seashell style dome.
- A new Pokefuta manhole shows Lapras, Mantyke, Swanna, and Staryu.
- A fixed camera stand helps visitors take selfies with the big Lapras.
- The park is free to enter and has parking on site.
- Travel directions are available on the operator’s access page in Japanese.
- A second Lapras playground is planned for Kaigan Park in Sendai in spring 2026.
