Hero image: "Pikachu's Autumn Outing" event poster, provided by AREX (Airport Railroad) via Korea Railroad Daily — ©Pokémon/Nintendo/Creatures/GAME FREAK.

If you land at Incheon in the next two weeks, the Pokémon starts before you’ve cleared the airport. For Pokémon Mega Festa 2026: Pikachu’s Autumn Outing, Pokémon Korea teamed up with the Korea Tourism Organization and 공항철도 (gonghang cheoldo), the Airport Railroad (AREX), and themed the whole ride from the airport into the city. We’ve already covered the Hanbok Pikachu exhibition and the Antique Shop pop-up at HiKR Ground. The train is the part most visitors don’t know about, and it’s the easiest one to fit into a trip because you’d probably be riding it anyway.

Where and when

  • Dates: September 18 – October 11, 2026 (same run as the HiKR Ground event)
  • Line: AREX 직통열차 (jiktong yeolcha), the nonstop Express Train. The all-stop commuter train isn’t part of it.
  • Stations: Incheon Airport Terminal 1, Incheon Airport Terminal 2, and Seoul Station
  • Cost: No extra charge. You just need a regular Express Train ticket (₩11,000 for adults as of this writing).

What’s actually themed

According to Korean rail and gaming press covering the September 3 announcement, the Pokémon theming covers:

  • The train interior. The Express Train cars and seating areas are wrapped in Pokémon graphics.
  • Gates and platform screen doors at the Express Train platforms, all in Pokémon art.
  • Pokémon-style voice announcements when you tap your ticket at the gate.
  • Hanbok Pikachu photo zones at Incheon Airport T1, T2, and the Express Train waiting area at Seoul Station’s 도심공항터미널 (dosim gonghang teomineol), the city airport terminal.

The collectible tickets

For collectors, the tickets are the draw. AREX is issuing limited-edition Pikachu-design 승차권 (seungchagwon), with a different design at each of the three stations. If you want the full set, you have to buy at Seoul Station, T1, and T2. That’s easy if you’re flying in and out of different terminals, and a real trip otherwise, since T1 and T2 are about 6 minutes apart on the train. Buy a physical ticket at the Express Train counter or machine. A T-money tap won’t get you one.

The stamp rally

A 스탬프 랠리 (seutaempeu raelli) connects the airport with the main event. You collect stamps at Incheon Airport T1 and T2, at Seoul Station’s city airport terminal, and at HiKR Ground (40 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jung-gu). A full card gets you a commemorative gift. Pokémon Korea hasn’t said publicly what the gift is, and some on-site rewards at HiKR Ground are first-come, first-served, so don’t leave the last stamp until October 11.

How to fit it into a trip

The easy plan is to do it on arrival. Pick up your stamp and the T1 or T2 ticket before you board, ride the Pokémon train into Seoul Station (about 43 to 51 minutes), and get the Seoul Station stamp and ticket on your way out. HiKR Ground is about a 15-minute walk from there, or two stops on Line 1 to Jonggak. Save the second airport terminal for your flight home.

You can also stack it with Pokémon GO. The orange Hanbok Pikachu is showing up first around Jongno-gu and Jung-gu and at the HiKR Station at Incheon Airport, so keep the app open on the airport end too.

Worth knowing

  • It ends October 11. That’s the last day of the Hangul Day long weekend (see our Hangul Day guide), so expect the airport and HiKR Ground to be at their busiest that weekend.
  • Not every train is guaranteed to be wrapped. Announcements describe the Express Train being themed “during the event period” without saying whether that means every trainset. If riding a wrapped car matters to you, ask at the Express Train counter which departure to take.
  • Check before you go. Ticket designs and stamp-rally details can change mid-event. Pokémon Korea’s Instagram (@pokemon_korea_official) and AREX’s site post updates first.

Sources: Korea Railroad Daily, PlayForum, Xports News, Inven Global.