You can now spend a night inside a giant Poké Ball in Japan
What if your next hotel stay took place inside a red-and-white sphere, set against the landscapes of Hokkaido island? That is exactly what Japanese brand NOT A HOTEL is offering, in partnership with the Pokémon franchise for its 30th anniversary: the chance to spend a night inside a giant Poké Ball, in the most literal sense. A rare and extraordinary experience, reserved for a lucky few.
A spherical room designed down to the last detail
Located in Tomakomai, a port city on Japan’s Hokkaido island, the structure faithfully recreates the visual codes of the Poké Ball, the iconic object used throughout the franchise to capture and carry Pokémon. Its rounded shape and red-and-white colour scheme leave no doubt: this is a love letter to the trainer’s most essential accessory.
Inside, the space measures approximately three metres in diameter. Guests will find a circular bed, a spherical screen displaying imagery from the Pokémon universe, air conditioning, and a large curved acrylic window offering a direct view of the surrounding scenery. Sleeping inside a Poké Ball, it turns out, means sacrificing neither comfort nor natural light.
The bathroom also plays along: its colourful tiles draw inspiration from Snorlax, the Pokémon famous for its enormous appetite and marathon sleeping sessions. A particularly well-chosen nod for a hotel room.
Personalised lighting inspired by your favourite Pokémon
NOT A HOTEL has integrated its smart home system into the experience. Via an iPad installed in the room, each guest can select their favourite Pokémon. The room’s lighting then automatically adjusts to reflect the colours of the chosen creature. In practice, this means that spending a night inside a Poké Ball can look entirely different depending on who is staying there.
This personalisation deepens the immersive quality of the stay. Each group of guests therefore lives a slightly different experience, shaped by whichever Pokémon they choose to make their own.
How to enter the prize draw
There is no way to book this accommodation directly through the NOT A HOTEL website. The brand has opted for a social media prize draw, organised as part of a collaboration with Pokémon Sleep, the mobile game that tracks players’ sleeping habits via a smartphone placed on the pillow. The collaboration also marks the app’s third anniversary.
To be in with a chance of spending a night inside a Poké Ball, here are the steps to follow, as outlined by American magazine People:
- Follow the official Pokémon Sleep account on X
- Download the Pokémon Sleep app
- Post a message on X linked to the campaign
- Fill in the entry form available online
Entry is open to Japanese residents aged 18 and over. The deadline to register was Wednesday 30 September. NOT A HOTEL will select ten groups of two people from all applicants.
Two days and one night, dinner and breakfast included
Winners of the prize draw will have the chance to spend a night inside a Poké Ball between Thursday 8 October and Sunday 18 October. The stay lasts two days and one night, with dinner and breakfast included, leaving guests free to focus entirely on the experience without worrying about meals.
The exact date of the draw has not yet been announced, so results are still pending for those who entered. Sleeping inside a giant Poké Ball with the landscapes of Hokkaido stretching out before you is the kind of opportunity that comes along once in a lifetime: worth pulling out all the stops.
