On what date did Pokémon GO launch in Japan?

Pokémon GO launched in Japan on July 22, 2016.

The augmented-reality mobile game was developed and published by Niantic in partnership with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. It uses a phone’s GPS and camera-related features to place Pokémon-catching and exploration activities in real-world locations.

Pokémon GO did not launch worldwide on a single day. It first became available in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States on July 6, 2016. Japan followed on July 22, and other regions received the game on different dates over the following months.

The game’s release helped make location-based augmented reality a mainstream topic. It also encouraged walking and public exploration, while creating new safety concerns around distracted play and access to private or restricted locations. The launch date therefore refers specifically to Japan, not the first country where the app became available.