Saffron City

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If you were looking for the chapter in Pokémon Zensho, see PZ07.

Saffron City ヤマブキシティ
Yamabuki City
"Shining Big City"
Saffron City HGSS.png
None.png
Saffron City in {{{variable2}}}.
Map description
The biggest city in Kanto, shining with a golden light.
Saffron City Gym - Kanto Gym #6
Sabrina
Sabrina
Psychic-type
specialist Gym
Marsh Badge
Marsh Badge
Saffron City Gym - Kanto Gym #6
[[File:{{{leadersprite2}}}|{{{leader2}}}|link={{{leader2}}}]]
[[{{{leader2}}}|{{{leader2}}}]]
Psychic-type
specialist Gym
Marsh Badge
Marsh Badge
Saffron City Gym - Kanto Gym #6
[[File:{{{leadersprite3}}}|{{{leader3}}}|link={{{leader3}}}]]
[[{{{leader3}}}|{{{leader3}}}]]
Psychic-type
specialist Gym
Marsh Badge
Marsh Badge
[[| League]]
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Elite Four
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Elite Four
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Elite Four
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Elite Four
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Champion [[{{{champion}}}|{{{champion}}}]]
[[| League]]
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Elite Four
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Champion [[{{{champion2}}}|{{{champion2}}}]]
 
Route 5
 
Route 7
Saffron City
Route 8
 
Route 6
 
Location
Kanto Saffron City Map.png
Location of Saffron City in Kanto.
Saffron City RBY.png Saffron City GSC.png Saffron City FRLG.png
Gen I Gen II Gen III

Saffron City (Japanese: ヤマブキシティ Yamabuki City) is a sprawling metropolis in the Kanto region. It lies in between Celadon City, Vermilion City, Lavender Town, and Cerulean City. It is home to Sabrina, the city's Gym Leader.

It is modeled after Japan's capital city of Tokyo and is the largest and one of the busiest cities in Kanto, being famous even in other regions. It is the tenth most populous city in the Pokémon world and one of the only cities in Kanto that has enough visible houses to accommodate its population in the games. The large Silph Co. headquarters building stands firm as the city's centerpiece while two Gyms dominate the north-eastern corner district. Not only is this the central business district of Kanto, it also holds the region's largest infrastructure, including the Magnet Train station, which allows ease of access between Kanto and Johto.

In the games

Motto

In the Japanese games, its motto is "Yamabuki is the color of golden radiance" (Japanese: ヤマブキきんいろかがやきのいろ). Its English motto was "Shining, Golden Land of Commerce" until Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, when it was changed to "Shining Big City".

Access

Generations I and III

Traveling to Saffron City is impossible at first, as the guards at the city's gates are thirsty and will not let anyone through. After giving any of the guards a drink from the Celadon Department Store in the Generation I games or Tea in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, they will let the player pass.

Generations II and IV

The player does not need to fulfill certain requirements in order to access the city.

Places of interest

Silph Co.'s headquarters

Main article: Silph Co.

The Silph Co. Headquarters is the largest and tallest building in the city. They are the leading manufacturer of Pokémon technology in the world, and produce a variety of goods for Trainers, such as the Poké Ball and the Silph Scope. Their status made them a target in the Generation I storyline, in which Team Rocket orchestrated the takeover of their headquarters in Saffron City. The player will arrive just in time to take on the mission of driving them out of the city, and the President of Silph will reveal afterwards the top-secret development Team Rocket was after: the Master Ball, which can catch any Pokémon without fail.

The Silph Co. Office Building is an eleven-floor skyscraper, and effectively a giant maze. People must navigate the building using warp tiles in order to reach different rooms. Some people hold a Card Key, which unlocks Silph's doors like a hotel key. During the events of the Team Rocket takeover, the player must find the Card Key on the fourth floor of the building. All the while, the player must battle numerous Team Rocket Grunts, including the Rocket Brothers, and one Juggler. After this, the player may continue on to the board room to face Giovanni for the Master Ball. After driving Team Rocket out of the Silph headquarters, the player is free to explore the building and talk to the employees.

In Generation II, Silph Co. has increased security, and the player is not allowed to enter the upper floors. One of the guards, however, will kindly give the player an Up-Grade for talking to him, which will allow a Porygon to evolve, through a trade, into Porygon2. In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, one of the Hoenn region's starter Pokémon may be obtained here towards the end of the game from the Hoenn Champion himself, Steven. The alternate forms of Rotom may also be accessed here in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, and the notebook present in the room Rotom's appliances can be found in indicates that Charon may have had past connection to the company.

Fighting Dojo

Main article: Fighting Dojo
The Fighting Dojo in FireRed and LeafGreen

In addition to Sabrina's Psychic-type Gym, there is also a secondary Gym, the Fighting Dojo, which specializes in Fighting-type Pokémon. It is where the player can obtain either Hitmonchan or Hitmonlee in Generations I and III but only if the Karate Master Kiyo (mistakenly called Koichi in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen) is defeated.

It has been established that the Fighting Dojo and the Saffron Gym once competed against each other to determine which one would be the Indigo League's sixth Gym. Due to the type advantage that the Psychic-type Pokémon that were trained at the Saffron Gym had over the Fighting-type Pokémon used by the Dojo, Saffron Gym easily won and became the official Gym.

The Dojo is closed in Generation II because the Karate Master is training in Johto's Mt. Mortar. In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the Gym Leaders of Kanto and Johto can be found here for a rematch, much like how the Sinnoh Gym Leaders can be found for a rematch in the Battleground in Pokémon Platinum. Unlike Platinum, the Leaders have set times at which they will appear and they will not arrive at the Dojo until certain conditions have been met elsewhere in the game. Specifically, each Leader's Pokégear telephone number must be obtained while he or she is not in their Gym. Once the Gym Leader has been telephoned, he or she will accept multiple rematches, provided it is still within their allotted time period.

Magnet Train station

Main article: Magnet Train
The Magnet Train at the station in Generation II

In the Generation II games and Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the Magnet Train runs from Saffron City to Goldenrod City in Johto, connecting the two regions. It is one of the few methods players can use to travel from region to region, and it will allow rapid travel between the two cities, going at over 340 miles per hour (550 kilometers per hour).

To board the train, the player must have a Pass. The Copycat in Saffron City has one and is willing to give it up as a reward for returning her the Poké Doll that Red gave to her three years before. Initially, the train is out of service as a minion of Team Rocket has stolen a valuable part from the Kanto Power Plant. After defeating him on Route 24, the player can retrieve the part from the Cerulean Gym and return it to the Power Plant. With the component back in place, the train will have the necessary power to run.

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, Vermilion City's Gym Leader Lt. Surge will come here and offer to trade his Pikachu for the player's Pikachu. This Pikachu is notable because it originates from a different language than that of the player's game: in the Japanese releases, it is English, whereas in the English releases, it is French.

Mr. Psychic's house

Mr. Psychic lives in a small house that is located on the southeastern side of the city, being better accessible by entering Saffron City from the southern entrance. He sits at a table in the middle of the room. When talked to for the first time in every game he is featured on, he will claim to know that the player really wants to receive a gift from him, giving away TM29 (Psychic) to the player.

Generations I-III

MR. PSYCHIC’S HOUSE

Generation IV

Don't Call Me Uncle Psychic!
Mr. Psychic's House

Mr Psychic House RBY.png

Mr Psychic House GSC.png

Mr Psychic House FRLG.png

Mr Psychic House HGSS.png

Mr. Psychic's house in Generation I Mr. Psychic's house in Generation II Mr. Psychic's house in
FireRed and LeafGreen
Mr. Psychic's house in
HeartGold and SoulSilver

Copycat's house

Main article: Copycat (character)

In the Generation I games and Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Copycat lives in a house that is located in the northwestern suburb of the city. She will give the TM for Mimic in the Generation I games or serve as the Move Tutor for it in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, in return for a Clefairy-style Poké Doll. In her bedroom, there is a SNES with a game that has Mario with a bucket on his head.

In between the events of Generations I and II, Copycat's house in Saffron City was torn down to make room for the Magnet Train station.

In the Generation II games and Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, Copycat's Clefairy doll goes missing, being found by a member of the Pokémon Fan Club in Vermilion City. When the player returns her lost doll, Copycat will reward them with a ticket to ride the Magnet Train that travels between Kanto and Johto.

Pokémon Trainer Fan Club

File:Saffron Trainer Fan Club.png
The Pokémon Trainer Fan Club in FireRed and LeafGreen

People gather to discuss their favorite celebrity Trainers at the Pokémon Trainer Fan Club, which only exists in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.

POKéMON TRAINER FAN CLUB
Many TRAINERS have scribbled their
names on this sign.


Saffron Gym

Main article: Saffron Gym
Saffron Gym in FireRed and LeafGreen

The Saffron Gym is the official Gym of Saffron City. It is based on Psychic-type Pokémon. The Gym Leader is Sabrina. Trainers who defeat her receive the Marsh Badge. The Saffron Gym is a maze of warp tiles and nine rooms, seven of which contain Trainers, while the other two are Sabrina's room and the entrance.

Demographics

In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, the population is 63, making it one of the biggest cities in the Pokémon world and the second biggest in Kanto.

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, Saffron City's population is 47.

Poké Mart

Generation I and III

Generation II

Generation IV - Bottom

Generation IV - Top

Items

Item Location Games
TM Psychic TM29 (Psychic) Gift from Mr. Psychic  R  B  Y  G  S  C  FR  LG  HG  SS 
TM Normal TM31 (Mimic) Gift from Copycat for bringing her a Poké Doll  R  B  Y 
Nugget Nugget In Copycat's room on her desk (hidden)  R  B  Y  FR  LG 
Focus Band Focus Band Bewteen two statue at the back of the Fighting Dojo  G  S  C 
Pass Pass Thank-you gift from Copycat for finding her doll  G  S  C  HG  SS 
Yellow Shard Yellow Shard Held by Volty  HG  SS 

Pokémon

Generation I

Pokémon Games Location Levels Rate
Gift Pokémon
Hitmonlee Hitmonlee
R B Y
Gift Gift
30 One
Hitmonchan Hitmonchan
R B Y
Gift Gift
30 One
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.


Generation III

Pokémon Games Location Levels Rate
Gift Pokémon
Hitmonlee Hitmonlee
FR LG
Gift Gift
25 One
Hitmonchan Hitmonchan
FR LG
Gift Gift
25 One
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.


Generation IV

Pokémon Games Location Levels Rate
Gift Pokémon
Pikachu Pikachu
HG SS
Pikachu Trade
Pikachu
The same as the Traded Pokémon One
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.


Trainer Tips

Generation I

TRAINER TIPS
New GREAT BALL
offers improved
capture rates.
Try it on those
hard-to-catch
POKéMON.

TRAINER TIPS
FULL HEAL cures
all ailments like
sleep and burns.
It costs a bit
more, but it's
more convenient.

Generation III

TRAINER TIPS
The new GREAT BALL offers improved
catching rates.
Try it on those hard-to-catch
POKéMON.

TRAINER TIPS
FULL HEAL cures all ailments like
burns, paralysis, poisoning,
freezing, and sleep.
It costs a bit more, but it's more
convenient than buying other items.

Differences in generations

In between the events of Generation I and II, Copycat's house in Saffron City was torn down to make room for the Magnet Train station.

In the Generation I games and Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, there is a sign advertising Silph Co.'s "latest product" with a release date not defined.

Unused map

The unused map of Saffron City from FireRed and LeafGreen

In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, if the overworld's collision data is bypassed in order to skip any of the gates surrounding the city, the player will access an alternate version of Saffron City, whereby all programmed events are disabled. This did not occur in Generation I. The reason for this may be due to the games being unable to load the map's tile sets properly, which explains the need for the gates to get in and out of the city.

It is very similar to the original map from Generation I in that its boundaries are set so that it leaves the gates outside of the map.

In the spin-off games

In Super Smash Bros.

Main article: Saffron City (stage)

Saffron City appears as a playable stage, specifically the roof of Silph Co., in Super Smash Bros. In the background, the text "Gotta Catch 'em All!" and "Route 5" can be seen. A mountain range in the background may be the same one that contains Mt. Moon, Victory Road, Cerulean Cave, and Mt. Silver. There is also a minor building with some blurry text that seems to start with "F", so it could possibly be the Fighting Dojo.

Certain Pokémon will emerge from the elevator in the Silph Co. building and attack briefly, similar to Pokémon summoned from Poké Balls. Occasionally, Pidgey, Fearow, Butterfree, and other Flying-type Pokémon will appear in the background.

During the intro, Pikachu can be seen rolling on a Poké Ball as a person walks by.

In Pokémon Pinball

In Pokémon Pinball, Saffron City appears on the Blue table. Catchable Pokémon include Ekans, Sandshrew, Vulpix, Meowth, Growlithe, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan and Lapras.

In the anime

Saffron City in the anime
Saffron Contest Hall

Saffron City first appeared in Abra and the Psychic Showdown. Ash used his Pikachu in a Gym battle against Abra. During the battle, it evolved into a Kadabra and easily defeated Pikachu. They had a rematch in Haunter versus Kadabra. Pikachu lost for a second time, but Ash's Haunter made Sabrina laugh, so she gave him the Marsh Badge and kept Haunter.

The city appeared again in The Saffron Con and A Hurdle for Squirtle, when May competed in and won her first Kanto Pokémon Contest.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Saffron City first appeared in Holy Moltres and Kalling Kadabra in the Red, Green & Blue arc. Sabrina had put a big force field over the city so nobody could get in and the Silph Co. building became Team Rocket's main base.

In the Pokémon Zensho manga

Satoshi arrives in Saffron City in the seventh chapter, Yamabuki City. With Sabrina's help, Satoshi defeated Giovanni, who had taken over the city and the Silph Co. office building. For his help, Satoshi earned the Marsh Badge.

Name origin

Language Name Origin
Japanese ヤマブキシティ Yamabuki City 山吹色 (yamabuki iro) refers to the golden color of Kerria flowers.
English Saffron City From saffron, a golden yellow color.
French Safrania From safran, saffron.
German Saffronia City From Safran, saffron.
Italian Zafferanopoli From zafferano, saffron, and the suffix -poli, meaning city.
Polish Safrania From French Safrania.
Spanish Ciudad Azafrán
Ciudad Saffron
Azafrán means saffron.
Korean 노랑시티 Norang City 노랑 (norang) means "yellow."
Chinese (Mandarin) 金黃市/金黄市 Jīnhuáng Shì 金黃/金黄 (jīnhuáng) means "golden yellow."
Chinese (Cantonese) 金黃市 Gamwong Si 金黃 (gamwong) also means "golden yellow."



Kanto
Boulder Badge.png Cascade Badge.png Thunder Badge.png Rainbow Badge.png Soul Badge.png Marsh Badge.png Volcano Badge.png Earth Badge.png
Settlements
Pallet TownViridian CityPewter CityCerulean CityVermilion CityLavender Town
Celadon CitySaffron CityFuchsia CityCinnabar IslandIndigo Plateau
Routes
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728
Landmarks
Professor Oak's LaboratoryViridian ForestDiglett's CavePewter Museum of ScienceMt. Moon (Square) • Cerulean Cave
Underground Path (Kanto Routes 5–6)Underground Path (Kanto Routes 7–8)S.S. AnneS.S. AquaSea CottageRock Tunnel
Power PlantCycling Road/Pokémon RoadTeam Rocket HideoutSilph Co.Magnet TrainPokémon TowerSafari Zone/Pal Park
GO ParkSeafoam IslandsPokémon MansionCinnabar LabPokémon League Reception GateVictory RoadTohjo Falls
Access to
Sevii IslandsJohto


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