A Traveler's Guide to the World of Pokémon/Regions/Kanto/Locations

This is a list of the major cities and locations from the fictional Kanto region featured in the Pokémon series. Unless otherwise noted, the video games referred to are Pokémon Red, Blue, the enhanced remake Yellow, and the third generation remakes FireRed and LeafGreen. Kanto was also accessible in the second generation games, Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, but many locations have changed, become inaccessible, or been removed entirely. Cities Many of the cities in Kanto are named after colors, such as Pewter City, Viridian City, Saffron City and so on. Pallet Town is possibly the kickoff to the series of colors, as Pallet (Palette) is a collection of colors. Pallet Town Pallet Town マサラタウン Masara Taun Masara Town in original Japanese language versions is the hometown of the protagonist, as well as Ash Ketchum, the protagonist of the Pokémon anime, and Red of Pokémon Adventures. It is also the home of Professor Oak, who gets them started with their first Pokémon, as well as Professor Oak's grandson (the player-named rival in the games, Gary Oak in the anime, and Blue in Pokémon Adventures). In the video games, Pallet Town is a fairly tiny village situated south of Viridian City and north of Cinnabar Island. It has only three buildings: the protagonist's home, the Oak residence (home to Professor Oak, the rival, and the rival's sister), and Professor Oak's laboratory. Even in Gold, Silver, and Crystal, while the protagonist and rival of Pokémon Red and Blue have grown up into respected Pokémon trainers, they still live at home in Pallet Town. In the anime, Pallet is a bit larger and more populous, with Professor Oak's laboratory situated on a hill overlooking the town. Ash Ketchum lives there, with his mother, Delia, and he returns there at the end of each saga of the anime. A number of episodes of Pokémon Chronicles are also set there. Viridian City Viridian City トキワシティ Tokiwa Shiti Tokiwa City in original Japanese language versions is the first major city the player visits in the games. It has the first Pokémon Centers and Pokémarts found in the game. At the Pokémart, the player will receive a package to deliver to Professor Oak in exchange for the Pokédex. When the player first arrives, the gym is locked. Once the other seven leaders are defeated, the gym leader, Giovanni, will re-open his gym. Viridian City is a prominent location in the anime, as the main character, Ash, constantly returns there. He first arrives in Episode 2, "Pokémon Emergency," to bring his badly injured Pikachu to be healed in the Pokémon Center. While there, Ash first meets Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy. Misty also confronts him about her wrecked bike, eventually deciding to join him. Jessie and James of Team Rocket also appear for the first time, and decide to follow Ash until they capture Pikachu. Pewter City Pewter City ニビシティ Nibi Shiti Nibi City in original Japanese language versions is located in northwest Kanto, between Viridian Forest and Mt. Moon. Pewter City is the first available city with a Gym Leader. In Gold, Silver, and Crystal, it appears after completion of the Pokémon League. Brock is the Pewter City Gym Leader, and specializes in Rock-type Pokémon. In the video games, the Museum is one of the main attractions of Pewter City. On the first floor, fossils of ancient Pokémon (such as Aerodactyl and Kabutops) are on display, and the second floor houses a space exhibit featuring several meteorites (thought to be Moon Stones) and a large Space Shuttle model. A fossil of the only obtainable Aerodactyl in the game is found here. The museum is closed in the Gold, Silver, and Crystal versions due to renovations. Cerulean City Cerulean City ハナダシティ Hanada Shiti Hanada City in original Japanese language versions is the third city visited in the Kanto region by the protagonist, and the location of the second Gym Leader, Misty. She is a Water-type trainer, who is in charge of a swimming pool-style arena. The city also has a Bike Shop; however, each bike costs $1,000,000, $1 higher than the maximum amount of money the protagonist can carry. To get a bike, the player needs to obtain a Bike Voucher from Vermilion City. In the anime, Cerulean City is an average-sized town. It has appeared in a number of episodes, as the gym is run by Misty's sisters. Gym battles take place on a swimming pool. Misty becomes the official Gym Leader at the end of the Johto saga, and her time at the Gym is a part of Pokémon Chronicles. Cerulean Cave Near the city is the Cerulean Cave ハナダのどうくつ Hanada no Dōkutsu Hanada Cave in original Japanese language versions, popularly known as the "Unknown Dungeon" ななしのどうくつ Nanashi no Dōkutsu. It is an optional dungeon filled with high-leveled Pokémon, and is the home to the strongest legendary Pokémon in Kanto, Mewtwo. The dungeon is so fearsome that a guard blocks the entrance, and will not let the player through until he or she has beaten the Elite Four. In Gold, Silver, and Crystal, the entrance has been flooded, and the player cannot access the location. Vermilion City Vermilion City クチバシティ Kuchiba Shiti Kuchiba City in original Japanese language versions is a large city that is home to the Electric-type gym leader Lt. Surge. Vermilion City is the only Kanto city to have a port, which houses a luxurious ship known as the S.S Anne. There, the player will encounter the rival again and battle him. After the player exits with the HM Cut, the ship will sail away. In FireRed and LeafGreen, after the player earns the seventh gym badge, the port will be reopened again; it is used to connect the Kanto region with the Sevii Islands. The Pokémon Fan Club is also located in Vermilion City. If the player listens to the president's story, he will give the player a Bike Voucher for chatting with him, which can be exchanged for a Bike in Cerulean City. Lavender Town Lavender Town シオンタウン Shion Taun Shion Town in original Japanese language versions has the Pokémon Tower, which is the only place where one can catch a Gastly. It is one of the smallest towns in the region. The kindly Mr. Fuji lives there, and the town believed to be heavily haunted by Ghost-type Pokémon. In the Gold, Silver, and Crystal versions, the tower is replaced by a radio tower, and the Pokémon graves have been moved to a different house. Pokémon Tower The Pokémon Tower ポケモンタワー Pokemon Tawā is located in Lavender Town, built as a Pokémon graveyard. Memorial services are held here. The Channelers all speak of a ghost that haunts the tower. If the player doesn't have the Silph Scope, a device to identify ghosts, they will appear strange shadows with eyes, and the player cannot battle them. Upon reaching the top floor, the player will find Mr. Fuji, an old man that cares about Pokémon and is popular in Lavender Town. He will give the player the Pokéflute, which is needed to wake the Snorlax that are blocking two key routes. Celadon City Celadon City タマムシシティ Tamamushi Shiti Tamamushi City in original Japanese language versions is the second largest city in Kanto. It is home to a department store (the largest Pokémart in Kanto), a hotel, a Game Corner and a mansion. The fourth Gym is found in Celadon City, and houses Erika and her trainers, who use mainly Grass-type Pokémon. At the Celadon Game Corner, players may play casino games using a currency of coins. These coins can be redeemed at a shop next door to redeem prizes, such as rare Pokémon or Technical Machines. At the mansion, the player can some tea, which gives the player access to Saffron City. By entering from the back side of the mansion, the player can also receive an Eevee. Game designer Game Freak also placed members of the development team in the mansion. After the player has completed the Pokédex (obtained all 150 Pokémon), the Game Freak designer will give the player a diploma as a reward for finishing the game. However, contrary to popular belief, the conversation ends here. The game designer will not give the player any Pokémon or any gifts and will only present this diploma. Celadon Game Corner The Game Corner is "the playground for grown-ups" and is run by the criminal syndicate Team Rocket. The player can play slot machines and earn coins to exchange for prizes such as TMs or a Pokémon next door. Underneath the Game Corner lies the Team Rocket Hideout, where the boss Giovanni is waiting. After he is defeated, he and all the Team Rocket members in Cerulean City will leave. The Silph Scope, required in order to see ghosts in Pokémon Tower, is found here. In Gold, Silver, and Crystal, the name is changed to Celadon Game Corner and its slogan to "The playground for everybody." Team Rocket's hideout is gone. Fuchsia City Fuchsia City セキチクシティ Sekichiku Shiti Sekichiku City in original Japanese language versions is the southernmost city on the Kanto mainland. It is most notable for housing the Safari Zone, a large area to the north of the city where players can catch Pokémon that cannot be found anywhere else. Koga is the Fuchsia City Gym Leader. In Gold, Silver, and Crystal, he is replaced by his daughter, Janine. Both use Poison-type Pokémon. In FireRed and LeafGreen, Janine is seen above the Chansey enclosure in the Pokémon zoo below the Safari Zone. Saffron City Saffron City ヤマブキシティ Yamabuki Shiti Yamabuki City in original Japanese language versions is one of the larger cities of Kanto. It is most notable for housing Silph Co., a massive office complex that spans 11 floors. It is also notable for having two separate gyms, though one is unofficial. Two Gyms exist in Saffron City. One is the official Pokémon League Gym, a group of Psychic-type trainers led by Sabrina, the gym leader. Next to it stands the Fighting Dojo, an unofficial gym made up of Fighting-type trainers. City residents say that the Fighting Dojo was once an official League Gym, but lost its status to the rival Psychic gym. Defeating the Dojo Master will earn the player a rare Pokémon, either Hitmonchan or Hitmonlee. In the center of town is a tall building that houses Silph Co., a company dedicated to creating tools related to Pokémon, especially for Pokémon trainers. Objects created by Silph include the Pokémon Porygon, the Up-Grade (to evolve Porygon to Porygon2), Master Balls, and TMs and HMs. In order to access most of the city, the player must liberate Silph Co. from the control of Team Rocket. Silph Co. is a very elaborate location that utilizes teleport pads to warp the player from location to location. Team Rocket grunts and scientists are scattered around the place, making it more difficult to move around. At the top floor, Giovanni is waiting. After the player defeats him, he disappears along with all the other members of Team Rocket. In Gold, Silver, and Crystal, Silph Co. has improved security and the player can no longer see the top floors. Saffron also houses the Magnet Train, which runs between Saffron and Goldenrod City in the Johto region. Also, the player can no longer battle in the Fighting Dojo, as Master Kiyo has left for Johto. In Super Smash Bros., Saffron City is a playable stage, housing Silph Co. and other two buildings. Cinnabar Island Cinnabar Island グレンじま or グレンタウン Guren-jima or Guren Taun Guren Island or Guren Town in original Japanese language versions is home to a laboratory and an old, abandoned mansion. One can go to the laboratory to trade some Pokémon and identify the fossils found in Pewter City and Mt. Moon. The Gym is initially locked; after retrieving the key from the mansion, the player can challenge the Gym Leader Blaine, a Fire-type Pokémon trainer. In Gold, Silver, and Crystal, Cinnabar Island has been destroyed in a volcanic eruption, and every building on the island except the Pokémon Center is gone. Blaine has relocated his gym to the nearby Seafoam Islands, which in turn was reduced to a small cavern. Pokémon Mansion The Pokémon Mansion is an old, burned down mansion on Cinnabar Island. Pokémon researcher Mr. Fuji lived there until Mewtwo was born and destroyed it. The key to accessing the Cinnabar Gym is located within this mansion. Different areas can be accessed by pressing switches hidden in the Mewtwo statues. There are also some trainers and wild Pokémon in the mansion, as well as diaries containing brief information on Mewtwo's creation and Mew. Other locations Viridian Forest Viridian Forest トキワのもり Tokiwa no Mori Tokiwa Forest in original Japanese language versions is is a forest that lies between Viridian City and Pewter City. The woods are filled a large quantity of Bug-type-using trainers and Bug Pokémon. Inside, the Pokémon franchise's mascot, Pikachu, can be found. In Gold, Silver, and Crystal, the forest has been cut down and the tall grass removed, so wild Pokemon cannot be caught there anymore.http://www.serebii.net/pokedex/025.shtml Pikachu's location on Serebii.net 2006-12-18 Mt. Moon Mt. Moon オツキミやま Otsukimi-yama Mt. Otsukimi in original Japanese language versions is a mountain that lies between Pewter City and Cerulean City. As it cannot be climbed, players must hike through the cave area. It is a three-floor dungeon with multiple paths. At the end of the path, a nerd holds two ancient fossils. After the player defeats him, he concedes and lets the player take one fossil. Contrary to popular belief, the nerd is not a part of Team Rocket, for it is never stated so by the game. In Gold, Silver, and Crystal, Mt. Moon is reduced to a simple path. It also contains an additional exit, which leads to the Mt. Moon Square, an open space in the middle of Mt. Moon where Clefairy play during Monday nights. If the player watches the Clefairy dance around a rock then break it using Rock Smash, they can obtain a Moon Stone. Rock Tunnel Rock Tunnel イワヤマトンネル Iwa Yama Tonneru lit. "rock mountain tunnel" is a cave that connects Cerulean City and Lavender Town. It's notable for being the only cave in Kanto which needs the HM Flash. Diglett's Cave Diglett's Cave is a long tunnel that was dug by wild Diglett and Dugtrio between Route 2 south of Pewter City and Route 11 on the eastern edge of Vermillion City. After the trainer enters Cerulean City, the only foot-path back to Pewter City, Viridian City, and Pallet Town is through this cave. Wild Diglett and Dugtrio can be found in here. Safari Zone Safari Zone The Safari Zone サファリゾーン Safari Zōn is a wide-open area in Fuchsia City where the player can play a Pokémon-catching game. For a small fee, the players are given thirty Safari Balls (a special type of Pokéball) and may capture Pokémon in the Safari Zone until they have walked a certain number of steps. Players may not use Pokémon of their own to battle the wild Pokémon in the Safari Zone. Several types of Pokémon are found nowhere else. Seafoam Islands The Seafoam Islands ふたごじま Futago-jima Twin Islands in original Japanese language versions are a set of caves between Fuchsia City and Cinnabar Island. The legendary Pokémon Articuno resides in this area. During the second generation, as Cinnabar Island has been destroyed by a volcano, Blaine moved his gym to the Seafoam Islands. Power Plant The Power Plant むじんはつでんしょ Mujin Hatsudensho lit. "unmanned power plant" is an abandoned building, secretly found between the entrance and exit of the Rock Tunnel. At the end of the building is the legendary Pokémon Zapdos. In Gold, Silver, and Crystal, the Power Plant has been reactivated and is used to run the Magnet Train. Zapdos is no longer there. In the anime, the Power Plant is known as the Battle Factory and is one of the seven Frontier facilities.February 2007 Its leader, Noland uses an Articuno to battle Ash's Charizard. Victory Road Victory Road チャンピオンロード Chanpion Rōdo Champion Road in original Japanese language versions is a cave that holds the only way to the Indigo Plateau, accessed to the west and north of Viridian City. The protagonist must have all eight badges to enter. Victory Road contains many high-level Pokémon, including the legendary Pokémon Moltres. http://www.serebii.net/pokedex/146.shtml Moltres' location on Serebii.net 2006-12-18 Indigo Plateau The Indigo Plateau セキエイこうげん Sekiei Kōgen Sekiei Plateau in original Japanese language versions is the headquarters of the Pokémon League, located in northwest Kanto. In order to reach Indigo Plateau, trainers must collect all eight Gym Badges of Kanto or Johto and pass through Victory Road, a cave located at the foot of the Plateau that spans through Routes 22 and 23. Trainers face off with the Elite Four and the current Champion to become the new Champion. The Elite Four are considered to the be the strongest trainers in the land, and each trainer specializes in a different type of Pokémon. The player must defeat all four trainers and the Champion consecutively to defeat the game and be crowned as the new Champion. The Elite Four use these Pokémon: Lorelei - She specializes in Water/Ice Pokémon. Bruno - He specializes in Fighting Pokémon. Agatha - She specializes in Ghost/Poison Pokémon. Lance - He specializes in Dragon Pokémon. In the last room, the player meets the current Champion, his or her rival. In Gold, Silver, and Crystal, the Elite Four has three new members, and each one specializes in different types: Will - He specializes in Psychic Pokémon. Koga - He specializes in Poison Pokémon. Bruno - He specializes in Fighting Pokémon. Karen - She specializes in Dark Pokémon. Champion Lance - He specializes in Dragon Pokémon. In the anime, an annual tournament is held in the Indigo Stadium between trainers; the last trainer standing is crowned Champion. It is unknown whether or not the Champion faces off against the Elite Four afterwards. The Pokémon Village, a resort which caters to the Pokémon trainers and other people who have come to watch the competition, is located at the center of the Plateau. Once Pokémon Contests come to Kanto, the yearly Grand Festival is held here as well. References