Toyohashi City Natural History Museum hosts Pokémon Observatory exhibition

The “Pokémon Observatory” special exhibition has opened at the Toyohashi City Natural History Museum in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Running from September 21 to December 6, 2026, the event combines scientific exploration of space and biology with the Pokémon franchise.

A major highlight of the Toyohashi venue is the world premiere public display of “Ark 017,” a meteorite fossil held by the Field Museum in Chicago. Dating back approximately 470 million years, the specimen features a meteorite embedded within limestone alongside fossils of ancient cephalopods, offering a unique look at both Earth and cosmic history.

In collaboration with Pokémon GO, the event features special field research near the museum. Players can encounter a Clefairy with a limited-edition constellation-themed background, a reward exclusive to this exhibition. The event is supported by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and JAXA, featuring exhibits such as iron meteorites and samples from the Hayabusa2 mission.