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.

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.

You may want to read Pokémon world in relation to the real world from Bulbapedia, the Wikipedia equivalent of Pokémon fandom, which describes real-life cities the Pokémon universe is based on.

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.

• 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)

• 35.232361139.1069443 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)

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

• 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)

• 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)

• 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)

The Sevii Islands (ナナシマ Nanashima) are a game-exclusive location that were introduced in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, the Generation III remakes of the Generation I games. They correspond to the real-life Ogasawara Islands.

• 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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

• 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.  

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

It is tricky to spot its model city. Most fans can tell you that it is based somewhere in the Chita Peninsula in Western Aichi Prefecture, but no one can tell you which city is modelled exactly. But, hey, since you are going to the Chita Peninsula, why not take a look at Nagoya or Tokoname, then?

• 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.  

• 33.772361135.32152834 Minabe. Minabe Town is famous for its high-quality Japanese apricots, known as ubame, and high-quality charcoal, known as Binchōtan. These attributes are the 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.  

• 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.  

There are two theories about where the park is based: One is the Expo Commemoration Park, the other is the Meiji no Mori Minō Quasi-National Park.

• 34.810122135.52769 Expo Commemoration Park (万博記念公園).  (updated Jul 2026)
• 34.857632135.47872810 Meiji no Mori Minō Quasi-National Park (明治の森箕面国定公園).  

• 34.6693135.47610311 Kyocera Dome Osaka. A baseball stadium located in Osaka.  

• 35.011611135.76811136 Kyoto (京都市).  
• 34.98072135.7381512 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.  
• 35.0395135.728513 Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺). 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.  

• 34.69017135.1954437 Kobe (神戸市). A large port city known for its steel industries. That's why you can ride a ship to Kanto, and Jasmine is a steel-type trainer.  

Cianwood is based on Naruto in Shikoku. In real life, the most common way to access the city from Kansai is using the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge from Kobe. You will pass the Awaji Island during the trip. By the way, you won't get there by surfing, will you?

• 34.1667134.616738 Naruto (鳴門市).  

• 34.966667136.16666739 Kōka (甲賀市). The city Mahogany Town is modelled. It is famous for its rich histroy of ninja. Welcome to the Home of the Ninja!  
• 35.255136.0840 Lake Biwa (琵琶湖). The largest freshwater lake in Japan. An inspiration for the Lake of Rage.  

You will access the Japan Alps if accessing from Kōka. Like what you have experienced in the Ice Path, accessing Japan Alps can be somewhat difficult. Fortnatelly, you can access large cities by trains or expressways.

• 36.2667136.941 Shirakawa (白川郷). The town Blackthorn City is based on. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you may want to have a trip there.  
• 36.145833137.25222242 Takayama (高山市). Another town Blackthorn City is based on.  

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.

• 30.57130.9843 Tanegashima (種子島). Tanegashima is home to Japan's space launch site. The Mossdeep Space Centre is based on Tanegashima Space Center.  (updated Jul 2026)

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.

• 43.062083141.35438944 Sapporo .  
• 43.061111141.35638914 Sapporo TV Tower. Jubilife TV building reference.  

• Anime and manga in Japan