4-Day Trip from Shikoku to Tokyo, Day 1 Afternoon: Something Like a Slowpoke Pilgrimage
I took a train called the Kotoden from Takamatsu Station to Ayagawa Station.
I looked at the purikura photos I took at the Slowpoke photo booth at Shikoku Shop 88 and checked the map while riding.
Seeing something like this, I couldn't help but be excited!
When I arrived, the first thing that caught my eye was a large Slowpoke... and the sound of children having fun.
As far as the eye could see, it was Slowpoke, Slowpoke, Slowpoke...
There were so many pieces of playground equipment that it made me realize just how popular Slowpoke is.
As expected of a holiday.
There were children with boundless energy and adults like us who wanted to take pictures with Slowpoke.
It was a sight you wouldn't see in an ordinary park.
I wasn't deeply into Pokémon when I was a child. However, as I grew up, Pokémon became popular all over the world, and now they collaborate with local regions and even have parks built.
With Pokémon Sleep and Pokémon merchandise being easily accessible, I've become more interested in Pokémon than I was as a child.
I felt glad to have been born in such an interesting country where, although you have to use ferries and express trains, you can still visit places like this easily.
After enjoying everything, we headed to the hotel.
To the Marugame Plaza Hotel.
Actually... this hotel has one room that is a Slowpoke room, and we booked it!
I took the Kotoden to the final stop, Kotoden-Kotohira Station, and transferred to the JR line.
We were able to arrive at the hotel just in time for check-in.
As I excitedly opened the hotel room door...
The room was full of Slowpoke!
You can wear a happi coat to take pictures, and since every corner is filled with Slowpoke, you can even look for hidden ones.
It was irresistible that you could have so much fun just in the hotel.
*Apparently, there are days when it's out for cleaning.
There are other Slowpoke rooms besides the one at Marugame Plaza Hotel, so it would be fun to stay at a different hotel too.
Kotohira Town is also famous in Kagawa Prefecture.
Since we only passed through Kotohira Town for a moment during a transfer, my sister and I talked about wanting to go back and visit it while doing a Slowpoke tour next time.
By the way, I heard that a Slowpoke train will be running on the Kotoden line soon!