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Pokémon world in relation to the real world

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Revision as of 02:45, 9 October 2006 by Sno (talk | contribs) (→‎Johto)
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The contents of this article are speculative.

The design of the four major Pokémon regions - Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Orre, and Shin'ō are strikingly similar in geography and demographics to regions in the real world, specifically those of Japan.

Kanto

The Kantō region of Japan is not only identical in name to Kanto in the Pokémon world, it is also very similar geographically; however, the western part of the game Kanto corresponds to eastern Chūbu.

Pokémon world Specific location Prefecture Comments
Pallet Town 下田市 Shimoda City 静岡県 Shizuoka Pallet Town is based on Satoshi Tajiri's hometown Machida City in his boyhood, abundant in nature.
Viridian City South Yamanashi 山梨県 Yamanashi
Viridian Forest ? ?
Pewter City ? 群馬県 Nagano
Mt. Moon ? 群馬県 Gunma
Cerulean City ? 群馬県 Gunma
Vermilion City 横浜市 Yokohama City 神奈川県 Kanagawa Yokohama is the largest seaport in Japan.
Power Plant 東海発電所 Tōkai Power Plant 茨城県 Ibaraki The first commercial nuclear power plant in Japan.
Lavender Town 茨城県 Ibaraki
Celadon City 新宿 Shinjuku 東京都 Tōkyō Shinjuku is the commercial center of Tokyo.
Saffron City 丸の内 Marunouchi 東京都 Tōkyō Marunouchi is the business center of Tokyo, even of Japan.
Fuchsia City 館山市 Tateyama City 千葉県 Chiba
Safari Zone ? ?
Cycling Road 東京湾アクアライン Tōkyō Bay Aqua-Line It connects Kawasaki City and Kisarazu City over Tokyo Bay. It was under construction when the game was released.
Seafoam Islands ? ?
Cinnabar Island 伊豆大島 Izu-Ōshima 東京都 Tōkyō Oshima is famous for Mt. Mihara, an active volcano.
Victory Road ? ?
Indigo Plateau ? ?
Tohjo Falls ? ?

Sevii Islands

The Sevii Islands are based off two archipelagos off the coast of Tokyo: the Izu Islands (伊豆諸島) and the Ogasawara Islands (小笠原諸島).

Pokémon world Specific location Comments
Island 1 新島、神津島、式根島、利島 Niijima, Kōzushima, Shikinejima and Toshima Oshima 大島支庁
Kindle Road 新島 Niijima
Treasure Beach 神津島 Kozushima
Mt. Ember 利島宮塚山 Mt. Miyatsuka, Toshima Island
Island 2 三宅島、御蔵島 Miyakejima & Mikurajima 三宅支庁 Miyake
Island 3 八丈島、八丈小島 Hachijōjima & Hachijōkjima Hachijō 八丈支庁
Berry Forest 八丈小島 Hachijōkojima
Three Isle Port 底土港 Sokodo Port
Island 4 青ヶ島 Aogashima 八丈支庁 Hachijō
Island 5 聟島列島 Mukojima Islands 小笠原支庁 Ogasawara All are uninhabited.
Water Labyrinth 西之島 Nishinoshima
Resort Gorgeous 中ノ島 Nakanoshima
Lost Cave 笹魚島 Sasauojima
Memorial Pillar 媒島 Nakoudojima
Island 6 父島列島 Chichijima Islands 小笠原支庁 Ogasawara The small islands to the north of Chichijima include Anijima (兄島) and Otōtojima (弟島), among others.
Ruin Valley 父島 Chichijima
Green Path 兄島 Anijima
Outcast Island 弟島 Otōtojima
Island 7 母島列島 Hahajima Islands 小笠原支庁 Ogasawara The small islands to the south of Hahajima include Anejima (姉島) and Imōtojima (妹島), among others.
Navel Rock 鳥島 Torishima 八丈支庁 Hachijō Known as the habitat of albatross.
Birth Island 南鳥島 Minami Torishima 小笠原支庁 Ogasawara The easternmost island belonging to Japan.

Johto

In Japan, the Kanto region is often contrasted with Kansai, which is like Johto, to the west. However, Johto is geographically more similar to the combined region of Kansai and western Chubu.

Pokémon world Specific location Prefecture Comments
Mt. Silver 富士山 Mt. Fuji —
New Bark Town 静岡市 or 浜松市 Shizuoka or Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 静岡県 Shizuoka
Cherrygrove City 名古屋市 Nagoya City 愛知県 Aichi Nagoya is the third largest city following Osaka.
Violet City 奈良市 Nara City 奈良県 Nara Nara is where Japan as a state began; Kyoto City is also nearby, and is home to a number of prestigious universities.
Sprout Tower 法隆寺五重塔 Hōryū-ji Five-story pagoda 奈良県 Nara Hōryū-ji Pagoda and Kondō are the oldest wooden structures in existence in the world.
Ruins of Alph 明日香村 Asuka Village 奈良県 Nara There are many archaeological sites in Nara such as Ishibutai Kofun (石舞台古墳) and Takamatsuzuka Kofun (高松塚古墳).
Azalea Town ? 和歌山県 Wakayama
Ilex Forest
Goldenrod City 大阪市 Ōsaka City 大阪府 Ōsaka Osaka is the most populous city in the Kansai region.
National Park 明治の森箕面国定公園 or 万博記念公園 Meiji no Mori Minoo Quasi-National Park or Expo Memorial Park 大阪府 Ōsaka In the Expo Park is a famous monument called the Tower of the Sun.
Johto Radio Tower 通天閣 Tsutenkaku 大阪府 Ōsaka Tsutenkaku is one of the most popular landmarks in Osaka.
Ecruteak City 京都市 Kyōto City 京都府 Kyōto Kyoto was formerly the imperial capital.
Brass Tower 金閣 Kinkaku 京都府 Kyōto Kinkaku was set on fire by a monk in 1950 (金閣寺放火事件). The wall is covered with gold leaf.
Tin Tower 銀閣 Ginkaku 京都府 Kyōto Ginkaku is not covered with silver leaf.
Olivine City 神戸市 Kōbe City 兵庫県 Hyōgo Kobe is the major port city in the Kansai region. Kobe is also well known for wagyū, or Kobe beef.
Lighthouse 和田岬 Cape Wada 兵庫県 Hyogo
Whirl Islands 淡路島 Awajishima 兵庫県 Hyōgo The Naruto Strait, Between Awajishima and Shikoku, is famous for its whirlpool (Naruto whirlpool).
Cianwood City 鳴門市 Naruto City 徳島県 Tokushima Naruto is where Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. began.
Mt. Mortar 比叡山 Mt. Hiei —
Mahogany Town 甲賀市 Kōka City 滋賀県 Shiga Koka was classified as a town when the game was released. Koka is where the famous Koga Ninja were born and educated (Kōga-ryū, 甲賀流).
Lake of Rage 琵琶湖 Lake Biwa 滋賀県 Shiga Lake Biwa is the largest lake in Japan.
Blackthorn City ? 岐阜県 Gifu
Dragon's Den 伊吹山 Mt. Ibuki ? "Ibuki" is also the Japanese name of Clair.

Hoenn

Hoenn is based on the southernmost parts of Japan - Kyūshū and Okinawa - with the latter highly condensed. (The distance between the northernmost and southernmost points of Okinawa is about as large as the distance between the northernmost and southernmost points of Honshu, the mainland of Japan.)

Pokémon world Specific location Prefecture Comments
Littleroot Town 伊万里市 or 佐世保市 Imari City or Sasebo City 長崎県 Nagasaki
Oldale Town 佐賀市 Saga City 佐賀県 Saga
Petalburg City 福岡市 Fukuoka City 福岡県 Fukuoka Fukuoka is the biggest city on Kyushu.
Rustboro City 北九州市 Kitakyushu City 福岡県 Fukuoka
Dewford Town 対馬 Tsushima Island 長崎県 Nagasaki
Slateport City 長崎市 Nagasaki City 長崎県 Nagasaki During the Edo period, among Europeans only the Portuguese were allowed into Japan, and then only at Nagasaki, specifically, Dejima. The main industry is shipbuilding.
Mauville City 熊本市 Kumamoto City 熊本県 Kumamoto
Verdanturf Town 菊池市 Kikuchi City 熊本県 Kumamoto
Mt. Chimney 阿蘇山 Mt. Aso 熊本県 Kumamoto The largest active volcano in Japan.
Lavaridge Town 阿蘇町 Aso Town 熊本県 Kumamoto Aso is home to at seven wp:onsen, or hot springs (jwp:阿蘇温泉郷).
Meteor Falls 羽門の滝 Udo Falls 大分県 Ōita There is a legend of a white dragon.
Fallarbor Town 大分市 Ōita City 大分県 Ōita
Fortree City North Miyazaki 宮崎県 Miyazaki
Scorched Slab 天岩戸 Amano-Iwato 宮崎県 Miyazaki Amano-Iwato is where Amaterasu shut herself up in Japanese mythology.
Mt. Pyre 桜島 Sakurajima 鹿児島県 Kagoshima Sakurajima is an active volcano, formerly an island. Volcanic activity continues, dropping large amounts of ash in the region.
Lilycove City 鹿屋市 Kanoya City 鹿児島県 Kagoshima
Mossdeep City 種子島 Tanegashima 鹿児島県 Kagoshima
Mossdeep Space Center 種子島宇宙センター Tanegashima Space Center 鹿児島県 Kagoshima
Sootopolis City 屋久島 Yakushima 鹿児島県 Kagoshima
Ever Grande City 那覇市 Naha City 沖縄県 Okinawa Despite the distance from Kyushu to Naha, the shape of the Okinawa main island is strikingly similar, although upside down.
Mirage Island 八重干瀬 Yaebishi 沖縄県 Okinawa Yaebishi appears above the sea on March 3 by the lunisolar calendar.
Pacifidlog Town ? ? Possibly one of the more rural islands of Okinawa?
Battle Tower / Battle Frontier ? 沖縄県 Okinawa
Sealed Chamber 与那国島 Yonaguni 沖縄県 Okinawa Underneath the surface of the water, off the coast of Yonaguni are enigmatic stone structures that appear artificial.
Southern Island ? ?

Orre

Orre is based on central Chūgoku. While none of Japan's regions match the desert environment, Chūgoku has an affinity to China in name. (China is known for its desert landscapes such as the Gobi Desert.)

Pokémon world Specific location Prefecture Comments
Gateon Port 広島市 Hiroshima 広島県 Hiroshima The largest city in Chūgoku and the first city in history subjected to nuclear warfare.

Shin'ō

Shin'ō has been said to be an island like Hoenn, rather than a peninsula. It is based on the northernmost major island of Japan, Hokkaido. Part of Sakhalin (Japanese: 樺太 Karafuto) and Kunashir Island (Japanese: 国後島 Kunashiri Island), territories which are in dispute between Russia and Japan, are also included.

Pokémon world Specific location Subprefecture Comments
Futaba Town 苫小牧市 Tomakomai City 胆振支庁 Iburi
Lake Shinji 洞爺湖 Lake Tōya 胆振支庁 Iburi
Masago Town 苫小牧市 Tomakomai City 胆振支庁 Iburi
Kotobuki City 札幌市 Sapporo City 空知支庁 Sorachi Sapporo is the largest city in Hokkaido.
Kurogane City 夕張市 Yūbari City 空知支庁 Sorachi
Kurogane Mine 夕張炭鉱 Yūbari Mine 空知支庁 Sorachi
Sonoo Town ?
Hakutai City 旭川市 Asahikawa City 上川支庁 Kamikawa
Mt Tengan 蝦夷山系 Ezo Mountain Chain Ezo Mountaion Chain consists of the Teshio Mountains (天塩山地), the Kitami Mountains (北見山地), the Ishikari Mountains (石狩山地), the Yubari Mountains (夕張山地), and the Hidaka Mountains (日高山脈).
Yosuga City 帯広市 Obihiro 十勝支庁 Tokachi
Zui Town ?
Tobari City 網走市 Abashiri City 網走支庁 Abashiri Abashiri is famous for the prison (網走刑務所).　
Hiden Lake 摩周湖 Lake Mashū 釧路支庁 Kushiro For the fog which hides the surface most of the time, Lake Mashu is known as a mysterious spot.
Lake Risshi 屈斜路湖 Tateyama City 釧路支庁 Kushiro
Nomose City 釧路市 Kushiro City 釧路支庁 Kushiro Kushiro is the largest city in Eastern Hokkaido (道東).
Nomose Marsh 釧路湿原 Kushiro Marsh 釧路支庁 Kushiro Kushiro Marsh is the largest and most famous marsh in Japan.
Mio City 小樽市 Otaru 後志支庁 Shiribeshi Otaru flourished as a port city, with a canal.
Kissaki City 浜頓別町 Hamatonbetsu Town 宗谷支庁 Sōya
Lake Eichi クッチャロ湖 Lake Kutcharo 宗谷支庁 Sōya
Nagisa City 根室市 Nemuro City 根室支庁 Nemuro
Lighthouse 納沙布岬 Cape Nosappu 根室支庁 Nemuro Cape Nosappu is Japan's easternmost spot open to the public.
Steel Island 焼尻島 Yagishiri Island 留萌支庁 Rumoi
Victory Road 国後島 Kunashir Island in dispute
Full-Moon Island 利尻島 Rishiri Island 宗谷支庁 Sōya

Landscape

While the above locations are meant to correspond to the different regions of Japan, great liberties were taken with the design of their landscape. Some of the designers have admitted to drawing inspiration from real-world locations outside Japan.

Orre

Orre, or at least some of its areas, are based on Arizona, USA.

Alto Mare

Alto Mare is based on Venice, Italy.

LaRousse City

LaRousse City is based on Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Real-world locations mentioned

See also

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