Step aside Pikachu and Eevee, there is a new official tourist ambassador in Japan — it is none other than the aquatic Pokemon Lapras.
━━━━━━━━ みやぎ＆ラプラス 観光キャンペーン ━━━━━━━━#ラプラス が #みやぎ応援ポケモン として、発表会に登場！ 宮城県の魅力を伝えるお手伝いをしていきます✨
ぜひ会いにきてください😊https://t.co/JOvNGa1f6B pic.twitter.com/2Qd9qrQApk — 【公式】ポケモン情報局 (@poke_times) July 8, 2019
Yoshihiro Murai, the governor of Miyagi Prefecture, made an official introduction on stage last week, unveiling Lapras as an ambassador to help encourage tourists to visit the area as it recovers from the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
After the warm introduction, Lapras posed for pictures with fans while accompanied by Miyagi’s tourism character, samurai rice ball Musubimaru, according to SoraNews24.
ラプラスめんこい！#ラプラス#むすび丸#仙台パルコ pic.twitter.com/fQVPrSGnem
— 桃 (@214_momo) July 8, 2019
A Lapras-themed pedal boat will become available at the Miyagi Michinoku Park lake on July 21, and at the Hanayama Aoshonen Ryokomura camping and outdoor activity area starting August 3.
😭😭 #ラプラス に乗れちゃう!?😭😭
世界初💫ラプラスの形をしたサイクルボート🛶 今後、宮城県内の一部の施設で乗れるようになりますよ！ 夏休みにぜひ会いに来てください👍https://t.co/JOvNGa1f6B#みやぎ応援ポケモン pic.twitter.com/yjI28zeXgH — 【公式】ポケモン情報局 (@poke_times) July 8, 2019
In addition to the pedal boat, inflatable Lapras swim toys will be available at 16 different public pools in Miyagi including the Akiuo Onsen hot spring resort area.
Although Lapras has already been announced as Miyagi Prefecture’s tourism ambassador, the monster’s status as the official ambassador is not scheduled to start until October.
Featured Image via YouTube / 仙台放送ニュースチャンネル (Left), Twitter / 214_momo (Right)
