# Pokémon Tour of Japan

The first four major regions introduced in the Pokémon universe are each inspired and based on parts of Japan. Since the location on which the game was based has not been officially announced, various speculations have been made. The cities and landmarks encountered in the media franchise are strikingly similar to real Japanese towns and geographical features. The Pokémon Tour will take you throughout these regions in real life, bring back the nostalgia and let you explore them as if you're a budding Pokémon trainer.

## Understand

The Pokémon franchise started off in the mid 1990s as a pair of video games, Pokémon Red and Green (later released outside of Japan as Pokémon Red and Blue). The success of the games spawned the creation of a hit anime series and popular trading card game, and led to Pokémon becoming the top-selling toy brand and overall the highest grossing media franchise in the world.

## Regions
### Kanto

The Kanto region (カントー地方 kantō chihō) in the Pokémon world, the first to be introduced, corresponds to the real Kanto region in Japan as well as the eastern fringes of neighboring Chubu. Like the real Kanto, the Pokémon Kanto region is driven by modernity, technological innovation and urban sprawl.

#### Pallet Town

* 35.546667139.4386111 Machida (町田). Mr. Taguchi of the producer said Pokemon was born from the experience of playing in Machida during childhood. (updated Jul 2021)
* 35.546667139.4530561 Serigaya Park (芹ヶ谷公園), 5-16 Haramachida, ☏ +81 42-724-4399. 06:00-18:00. (updated Jul 2021)
** Poke Lids -Pokemon Utility Hole Covers- (ポケふた -ポケモンマンホール-), 5-16 Haramachida. 06:00-18:00. A manhole drawn by the first three pokemon is installed. The poke lid is a Pokemon Go pokestop. (updated Jul 2021)
* 34.679528138.9453062 Shimoda (下田). (updated Jul 2021)

#### Viridian City

* 35.189444139.0247223 Hakone. Similarities between Hakone and Viridian City include both being enveloped in forests and surrounded by mountains. (updated Oct 2020)
* 35.13922138.9489224 Mishima (三島). (updated Jul 2021)
* Tokiwa town (常磐町). Tokiwa City (トキワシティ) is the original Japanese name of Viridian City. As a residential area, there is not much to see for tourists. (updated Jul 2021)

#### Viridian Forest

* 35.868611138.6708335 Okuchichibu Mountains (奥秩父山塊). (updated Jul 2021)

#### Pewter City

* 36.393143139.0656316 Maebashi (前橋). (updated Oct 2020)

#### Mount Moon

* 36.539576139.1663447 Mount Akagi (赤城山). (updated Oct 2020)

#### Cerulean City

* 36.096923140.1989948 Tsuchiura (土浦). (updated Oct 2020)

#### Vermilion City

Geographically, it is based on Chiba City (capital city of the Chiba Prefecture). However, Yokohama (capital city of the Kanagawa Prefecture) is the largest and most luxurious seaport of the three. Yokosuka has a United States Navy base, a possible inspiration for Vermilion Gym and Lt. Surge as an "American" soldier.
* 35.466112139.6224489 Yokohama (横浜). (updated Oct 2020)
* 35.250579139.66325610 Yokosuka (横須賀). (updated Jul 2021)
* 35.601154140.10652111 Port of Chiba (千葉港). (updated Jul 2021)

#### S.S. Anne

* 35.446682139.6512522 Hikawa Maru (氷川丸), ☏ +81 45-641-4362. 10:00-17:00. Closed on Mondays (Open if the Monday is a public holiday, closed on the following weekday).. ¥300. (updated Jul 2021)

#### Kanto Power Plant

* 36.466389140.60666712 Tōkai Nuclear Power Plant (東海原子力発電所). (updated Oct 2020)

#### Lavender Town

* 35.776667140.31833313 Narita (成田). (updated Oct 2020)
* 35.971515140.18572614 Ushiku (牛久). (updated Jul 2021)
* 35.965639140.64483315 Kashima (鹿嶋市). (updated Jul 2021)

#### Celadon City

* 35.701048139.70966516 Shinjuku (新宿). (updated Jul 2021)
* 35.542134139.44565517 Machida Station (町田駅). (updated Jul 2021)
* 35.614662139.52769618 Kawasaki (川崎). (updated Jul 2021)

#### Saffron City

* 35.680408139.7667419 Marunouchi, Chiyoda (丸の内). The Magnet Train station in Saffron City linking Kanto with Johto is based on 35.680833139.7669443 Tokyo Station , the main inter-city rail terminal in Tokyo and Japan's business station. The Magnet Train is the Pokemon equivalent of Japan's Tokaido Shinkansen or the planned magnetic levitation train between Tokyo and Osaka. (updated Jul 2021)

### Sevii Islands
#### One Island

* 34.366667139.26666720 Niijima (新島). (updated Jul 2021)
* 34.216944139.15416721 Kōzushima (神津島). (updated Jul 2021)
* 34.216944139.15416722 Shikinejima (式根島). (updated Jul 2021)
* 34.529139139.28191723 Toshima (利島). (updated Jul 2021)

#### Two Island

* 34.081944139.52638924 Miyakejima (三宅島). (updated Jul 2021)
* 33.874167139.60194425 Mikurajima (御蔵島). (updated Jul 2021)

#### Three Island

* 33.109444139.79138926 Hachijojima (八丈島). (updated Jul 2021)
* 33.125278139.68833327 Hachijō-kojima (八丈小島). (updated Jul 2021)

#### Four Island

* 32.457778139.75916728 Aogashima (青ヶ島). (updated Jul 2021)

#### Five Island

* 27.681944142.1429 Mukojima Islands (聟島列島). (updated Jul 2021)

#### Six Island

* 27.077778142.21666730 Chichijima Islands (父島列島). (updated Jul 2021)

#### Seven Island

* 26.65142.16666731 Hahajima (母島). (updated Jul 2021)

### Johto

The Johto region (ジョウト地方 jōto chihō) was introduced in the Generation II games, Pokémon Gold and Silver, and corresponds to the Kansai region of Japan.

#### Mt. Silver

* 35.360556138.72754 Mount Fuji. The encounter with Red, the player character with humble beginnings from the first Pokémon games, at Mt. Silver may be a reference to Kuninotokotachi lore.

#### New Bark Town

* 34.710889137.72619432 Hamamatsu. There's small wind-farm, like New Bark Town in HeartGold and SoulSilver version.

#### Violet City

* 34.685135.80477833 Nara. Home to many historic buildings and monuments.
* 34.683207135.8313025 Kōfuku-ji. A five-story pagoda, Kōfuku-ji is the second-largest pagoda in Japan, located on northeast of Nara City. It's a reference to Sprout Tower.
* 34.471306135.8207226 Asuka Village (明日香村). There are many archaeological sites in here such as Ishibutai Kofun (石舞台古墳) and Takamatsuzuka Tomb (高松塚古墳). An inspiration for Ruins of Alph.

#### Azalea Town

* 33.772361135.32152834 Minabe. Minabe Town is famous for its high-quality Japanese apricots, known as ubame, and high-quality charcoal, known as Binchōtan. Thos are same like the Azalea Town in the game.
* 34.452464136.7213047 Kumano Kodō (熊野古道). A ancient pilgrimage routes spread across the old-growth forest that connects various sacred shrines. In the game, there's a forest guardian shrine (Celebi) in the center of Ilex Forest.

#### Goldenrod City

* 34.69375135.50211135 Osaka. The largest and most populous city in the Kansai region, just like Goldenrod City in the game.
* 34.652222135.5061118 Tsūtenkaku (通天閣). Goldenrod Radio Tower reference.
* Namba Walk (なんばウォーク). Goldenrod Tunnel reference.

#### National Park

* 34.857632135.4787289 Meiji no Mori Minō Quasi-National Park.

#### Pokéathlon Dome

* 34.6693135.47610310 Kyocera Dome Osaka. A baseball stadium located in Osaka.

#### Ecruteak City

* 35.011611135.76811136 Kyoto (京都市).
* 34.98072135.7381511 Sai-ji (西寺). A reference for Burned Tower in the game. The temple was burnt down in 1233 and to this day hasn't been rebuilt.
* 35.0395135.728512 Kinkaku-ji (金閣). Kinkaku-ji was set on fire by a monk in 1950. The wall is covered with gold leaf. Atop the Kinkaku temple sits a golden statue of a rooster or phoenix (Ho-Oh). A reference for Bell Tower in the game.

### Hoenn

The Hoenn region (ホウエン地方 hōen chihō) was introduced in the Generation III games, Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, and corresponds to Japanese island of Kyushu.

### Sinnoh

The Sinnoh region (シンオウ地方 shin'ō chihō) was introduced in the Generation IV games, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, and corresponds to Japanese island of Hokkaido.

#### Jubilife City

* 43.062083141.35438937 Sapporo.
* 43.061111141.35638913 Sapporo TV Tower. Jubilife TV building reference.

#### Sunyshore City
### Almia
## See also

* Anime and manga in Japan