tokyo

In current western society, knowledge is a simple Google search away. If you don’t want to be surprised by traffic, you look it up. When you want to go to the movies, your pick your seats ahead of time. If you aren’t sure your local department store has something you’re looking for, you call and ask before you even leave home. If you really want to, you can live a life free of surprises.

To an outsider, July 6, 2016, was a very strange day. People flooded the streets around the globe, zombie-like, smartphones held in outstretched hands. These wanderers congregated outside churches and libraries, standing in masses united by one purpose: to “catch ‘em all.” Pokémon Go has become a trending video game, but virtual entertainment is not t he only benefit from this new app. If you’re looking for a way to wander through a city while finding interesting cultural stops along the way, this app is the way to go. This app can be used as a travel aid by going to Pokéstops. Pokéstops are locations in the real world that you can go to get free items in the virtual Pokémon world. While playing Pokémon Go on your smartphone, a blue cube will show up on the screen. That is a Pokéstop. Even though it shows up virtually, you must go there physically to get whatever items are at that stop. These items are things like healings potions, Poké Eggs, Poké Balls, and other items that will help you succeed in the game. But when you go to a Pokéstop, you’ll find more than just a virtual object. Each stop is located at a point of interest, such as an architectural landmark or a historical monument. Some of these places are well-known, while others are more obscure. This gives ample opportunities for exploring a city as long as you choose to take the time to physically explore Pokéstops.