For six weeks this spring, a corner of Seoul Forest has quietly turned into something out of a Pokémon storybook. Pokémon Secret Forest — the headline outdoor installation of the franchise’s 30th-anniversary Pokémon Mega Festa 2026 — invites trainers of every generation to wander a hidden garden trail and discover life-sized Pokémon tucked between real trees and flower beds. Best of all? It’s completely free.
A garden where Pokémon hide in plain sight
Running from May 1 through June 21, 2026, Pokémon Secret Forest is staged as part of the 2026 Seoul International Garden Expo, the city’s six-month celebration of garden culture spread across Seoul Forest in Seongdong-gu. The Pokémon zone alone covers roughly 2,800 square meters, designed under a “secret forest” concept that blends manicured planting with the park’s existing greenery.
Rather than a high-energy attraction, the experience is built as a gentle, family-friendly walk. Familiar faces peek out from between the trees as you follow winding paths, and the layout rewards curiosity — the whole point is to discover Pokémon rather than line up for them. Visitors have reported spotting the likes of Pikachu, Pachirisu, Bidoof and Aipom posed throughout the grounds.
Photo zones, a treasure grove, and a first-ever store
The map reads like a tour of Pokémon landmarks. Highlights include Pikachu’s Camping Village, the fan-favorite photo corner; Raplesia’s Treasure Grove (Vileplume’s hideaway); Phantom’s Hideout, a Gengar-themed forest cabin; and a “Pokémon: Since 1996” 30th-anniversary photo zone celebrating three decades of the series. There’s also a Pokémon Game Center area and a Mega Festa stamp-rally information desk at the entrance.
The real magnet for collectors is the Pokémon Healing Forest Store, which debuts brand-new original merchandise for the very first time anywhere — a detail that has Korean fans planning early visits before limited items sell out.
Video: A walkthrough of Pokémon Secret Forest at Seoul Forest (Source: YouTube channel 포그맨 / Pogman).
How to visit
Pokémon Secret Forest is open daily from 12:00 to 19:00 until June 21, with hours subject to change in extreme weather. Admission to the outdoor exhibition is free, though some experience programs may follow separate operating or reservation policies. The address is 273 Ttukseom-ro, Seongdong-gu — about a five-minute walk from Seoul Forest Station (Suin-Bundang Line), Exit 4. Because Seoul Forest is already a well-known Pokémon GO hotspot, the area draws a natural overlap of garden-goers and mobile-game trainers.
Part of a city-wide Pokémon takeover
Secret Forest is just one stop on Korea’s largest-ever official Pokémon celebration. Across May and June, Mega Festa 2026 also includes the Metamong (Ditto) Playground in nearby Seongsu, a city-wide Pokémon GO Stamp Rally, the Magikarp-themed Pokémon Run along the Han River, and Pokémon Sports Day at COEX in Gangnam — plus a wave of retail collaborations with brands like Olive Young, SPAO, Colorgram and Baskin-Robbins.
If you’re in Seoul this spring, Secret Forest is one of the easiest wins on the festival map: no ticket, a scenic riverside park, and a 30th-anniversary atmosphere that’s equal parts nostalgia and fresh photo ops. Pack a camera, head out early for the merch, and take your time — this is one quest meant to be wandered, not rushed.
Sources:
Visit Seoul — Pokemon Secret Forest |
Seoul Metropolitan Government — 2026 Seoul International Garden Show |
Haps Korea |
Trazy Blog — Pokémon Mega Festa guide |
KMJ — Korea Metaverse Journal
