NOT A HOTEL Builds a Giant Sleepable Poké Ball on Tomakomai’s Lakeshore

NOT A HOTEL and Pokémon Sleep have set a glossy red and white sphere on a wooded lakeshore in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, about an hour south of Sapporo, and opened it for a short run of overnight stays. The guest room is a three meter sphere, close to ten feet across, formed from two molded acrylic hemispheres so the finished object reads as a life size Poké Ball sitting among trees with lake water just beyond the glass. Promotional nights run in brief windows from October 8 through 18, 2026, timed to the franchise’s 30th year and the third anniversary of the Pokémon Sleep app.

Guests enter through a sliding curving door to find a custom-made circular mattress taking up most of the floor space, ideal for two adults to snuggle up and sleep or relax the nite away. A large curving window wraps around part of the wall, allowing you to look out at the forest and lake without having to sit up. Throughout their stay, a bedside monitor displays a never-ending sequence of Pokémon graphics. Plus, you can simply select your favorite creature on screen and the interior lighting will change to match your preference in the evening, and the same Pokémon will greet you in the morning when it’s time to wake up, and the air conditioning will always be just right to keep the entire space comfortable.

The bathroom is right next door to the Poké Ball, and it’s done with Snorlax-themed tiling, which is a great touch. For meals, go to a small cottage about a 5-minute walk away, where there are some really cool sleeping Pokémon sculptures keeping watch. This entire layout resembles a camping hut rather than a normal hotel room, which is very fitting given NOT A HOTEL’s unique approach to integrating architecture with short, carefully planned stays. Unfortunately, reservations are not open to the public. Ten lucky pairs of Japanese residents (all over the age of 18) will receive a FREE two-day, one-night stay that includes all meals, but you must bear the cost of travel and any additional expenses.

To enter, use the Pokémon Sleep app. To participate, you must follow the official X account, repost the campaign post (with the entry button included), and complete a simple online form. There are three separate entry deadlines, one for the 17th, 23rd, and 30th of September, each related to a distinct October date range. To make things a little sweeter, everyone who participates will receive an energy pillow and a packet of delicious Pokémon sablé cookies as a thank you, regardless of whether they win a night in the sphere.

The NOT A HOTEL team wanted to treat the Poké Ball as both a building and a product, transforming it from something you can carry in your pocket to a room you can actually occupy. The acrylic covering gives the exterior that famous Poké Ball glow, while inside it’s all about keeping things small, with the round mattress, bent window, and lighting that follows your selected Pokémon all working together to create a truly calm and relaxing atmosphere.
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