Region

A region is defined as a large, established territory in the Pokémon franchise.

Description[]

A region is the overall setting of various Pokémon media. It consists of several cities and towns that the player must explore in order to fulfill many waiting challenges such as Gyms, Pokémon Contests, and/or saving a region from a villainous team. The player can find different types of wild Pokémon at different locations, namely routes, as well as other helpful items and characters. A majority of regions have their own Pokémon Professor, who provides a first partner Pokémon and a Pokédex to a Pokémon Trainer for their journey. Each region also has eight Gym Leaders, along with the regional Elite Four and the Pokémon Champion. In rare cases, regions have shared Elite Four divisions, such as Johto and Kanto.

Most regions are on separate continents, the first few of which are based on Japan. Since Generation V, regions have been based on locations in the Western world.

Many regions have been introduced in the core series before making their way over into related media such as Pokémon the Series and Pokémon Adventures. Several regions have been introduced in spin-off games and one in the Pokémon anime.

Usually, the different regions are not accessible from one another via land (or at all within a single game), with the exception being Kanto, which can be accessed from Johto and vice versa in the Generation II games and their remakes Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version.

In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, the game takes place in a region inhabited only by Pokémon, not any humans.

Main regions[]

Kanto[]

Kanto is a region introduced in Generation I. It is the main setting of Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Blue Version, Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition, and both pairs of remakes, Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version and Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!.

The Pokémon Professor of Kanto is Professor Oak. The Kanto first partner Pokémon received from him is either Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle in Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Blue Version and the remakes Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version. In Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition, the player's first partner is a Pikachu incapable of evolving, while their rival's is an Eevee. In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!, the first partner is Pikachu and Eevee, respectively, neither of which can evolve.

Kanto is where roughly the second half of Pokémon Gold Version and Pokémon Silver Version, Pokémon Crystal Version, and the remakes Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version take place, but it is not the main setting in any of these. Furthermore, the player not receive a first partner Pokémon in the regions since their Pokémon journey begins in Johto.

In Pokémon the Series, the first season, the last part of the eighth season, the ninth season, and the final part of the sixteenth season all take place in Kanto. The protagonists of this region in the anime are Ash Ketchum , Misty and Brock .

In Pokémon Adventures, the events of the Red, Green & Blue Chapter take place in Kanto, involving Red, Blue, and Green trying to stop the schemes of Team Rocket. In the Yellow Chapter, Yellow tries to stop the Elite Four.

It represents its namesake region in Japan, Kantō.

Johto[]

Johto is a region introduced in Generation II. It is where part of Pokémon Gold Version and Pokémon Silver Version, Pokémon Crystal Version, and the remakes Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version take place.

The Pokémon Professor of Johto is Professor Elm, and the Johto first partner Pokémon received from him can be either Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile.

In Pokémon the Series, Ash, Brock, and Misty continue their journey in the Johto region during seasons 3, 4, and 5.

In Pokémon Adventures, the events of the Gold & Silver Chapter, the Crystal Chapter, and the HeartGold & SoulSilver Chapter take place in Johto. Furthermore, the Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys also takes place in Johto.

Johto is geographically similar to the Kansai, eastern Shikoku, and western Tōkai regions of Japan.

Hoenn[]

Hoenn is a region introduced in Generation III. It is where Pokémon Ruby Version and Pokémon Sapphire Version, Pokémon Emerald Version, and the remakes Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire take place.

The Pokémon Professor of Hoenn is Professor Birch, and the Hoenn first partner Pokémon can be either Treecko, Torchic, or Mudkip.

In Pokémon the Series, Hoenn is where the events of seasons 6, 7, and and 8 take place. Starting with this region, Ash's travel companions would begin to change because he retains Brock as a travel companion but not Misty, although Ash is joined by May and Max.

Three sagas of Pokémon Adventures take place in Hoenn: Ruby & Sapphire Chapter, where Ruby and Sapphire have a bet to coomplete the Pokémon Contests and Gyms within 80 days; Emerald Chapter, where Emerald aims to defeat the Battle Frontier; and the Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Chapter, where the three protagonists have the mission to stop the meteorite as well as both Team Magma and Team Aqua.

Hoenn is based on Kyūshū, another real-life location in Japan.

Sevii Islands[]

The Sevii Islands are a group of nine islands located south of the Kanto region. They appear only in Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version and the FireRed & LeafGreen Chapter of Pokémon Adventures, with the latter involving a plot in which Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow try to stop Team Rocket from taking control of Deoxys. One of the islands, Birth Island, can be visited in Pokémon Emerald Version through a special event.

Sinnoh[]

Sinnoh is a region introduced in Generation IV. It is where Pokémon Diamond Version and Pokémon Pearl Version, Pokémon Platinum Version, and the remakes Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl take place. There is a nearby area named Battle Zone that consider themselves autonomous from the Sinnoh region.

The Pokémon Professor of Sinnoh is Professor Rowan, and the Sinnoh first partner Pokémon can be either Turtwig, Chimchar, or Piplup.

In Pokémon the Series, Sinnoh is where seasons 10, 11, 12, and 13 take place. May and Max are no longer part of Ash's group, though Dawn accompanies him and Brock.

In Pokémon Adventures, Sinnoh is where the events of the Diamond & Pearl Chapter and the Platinum Chapter take place. The region is also where the events of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure! take place.

Sinnoh is based on the Hokkaidō island of Japan.

Unova[]

Unova is a region introduced in Generation V. It is where Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version and Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 take place.

The Pokémon Professor of Unova is Professor Juniper, and the Unova first partner Pokémon can be either Snivy, Tepig, or Oshawott.

In Pokémon the Series, Unova is where seasons 14, 15, and most of 16 take place. Both Brock and Dawn leave Ash's group, although Cilan and Iris fill in for them instead.

In Pokémon Adventures, Unova is where the events of both the Black & White Chapter and the Black 2 & White 2 Chapter take place.

Unova is based on New York City in the United States, which makes it the first region in a non-spin-off Pokémon game that isn't based on a location in Japan.

Kalos[]

Kalos is a region introduced in Generation VI. It is where the events of Pokémon X and Pokémon Y take place.

The Pokémon Professor of Kalos is Professor Sycamore, and the Kalos first partner Pokémon can be either Chespin, Fennekin, or Froakie.

In Pokémon the Series, Kalos is where seasons 17, 18, and 19 take place. Both Cilan and Iris leave Ash, but he is joined by Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie.

In Pokémon Adventures, Kalos is where the events of the X & Y Chapter take place.

Kalos is based on France, becoming another region to not be based on a real-life area in Japan.

Alola[]

Alola is a region introduced in Generation VII. It is an archipelago made up of four islands—Melemele Island, Akala Island, Ula'ula Island, and Poni Island—and the events of Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon and Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon take place here.

The main Pokémon Professor of Alola is Professor Kukui, and the other two are his wife, Professor Burnet, and a relative of Professor Oak, Samson Oak. The Alola first partner Pokémon can be either Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio.

In Pokémon the Series, Alola is where seasons 20 21, and 22 take place. Ash loses all three of his Kalos companions but is joined by Lillie, Mallow, Kiawe, Lana, and Sophocles.

In Pokémon Adventures, Alola is where the events of the Sun & Moon Chapter take place, starring the characters Sun and Moon.

Alola is based on Hawaii, one of the fifty states of America, making it the second region based on a location in America.

Galar[]

Galar is a region introduced in Generation VIII. It is where the events of Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield take place.

The Pokémon Professor of Galar is Professor Magnolia, although Sonia also becomes a Professor later on. The Galar first partner Pokémon can be either Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble.

In Pokémon the Series, Galar is where part of season 23 and the entirety of season 24 take place. Ash loses all of his Alolan travel companions but is partnered with Goh.

In Pokémon Adventures, Galar is where the events of the Sword & Shield Chapter take place.

Galar is based on the United Kingdom, becoming the second region to be based on a location in Europe.

Hisui[]

Hisui was Sinnoh from many years ago. It was introduced in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, a Generation VIII game, making the first instance that a second region had been introduced during a generation, excluding the Sevii Islands in Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version. The Pokémon Professor of Hisui is Professor Laventon.

Paldea[]

Paldea is a region introduced in Generation IX. It is where the events of Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet take place.

Paldea is the first region to have a different Pokémon Professor per game version, with Professor Sada being the professor of Pokémon Scarlet and Professor Turo of Pokémon Violet. The Paldea first partner Pokémon can be either Sprigatito, Fuecoco, or Quaxly.

In Pokémon the Series, season 26 takes place in Paldea. It is the first region that does not center around Ash's journey, with the focus being on Liko, Roy, and Dot instead.

In Pokémon Adventures, the Scarlet & Violet Chapter focus on the travels of Violet Lang and Scarlet Koito within the Paldea region.

Paldea is based on Spain, being the third region to be based on a European country.

Prakraisburg[]

Kitakami[]

Kitakami is a region introduced in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero (The Teal Mask). According to legend the Loyal Three saved Mossui Town, a location in Kitakami, from Ogerpon.

Spinoff regions[]

Orre[]

Orre is the main setting of Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness. It features several battle facilities. The Pokémon Professor of the region is Professor Krane. The player's first partner Pokémon here is both Espeon and Umbreon in Pokémon Colosseum or Eevee in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness. This region is based on Arizona, making it the second region to be inspired by a US state and the third region inspired by somewhere in the US. It's also the first region to not be based on a location in Japan.

Pokémon Ranger series[]

The regions in the Pokémon Ranger series are smaller and lack any traditional Pokémon Trainers, with characters preferring to keep Pokémon as pets.

Fiore[]

Fiore is where the events of Pokémon Ranger take place. Unlike other regions, the player's first partner Pokémon depends on their gender, with Minun being for the boy protagonist and Plusle for the girl protagonist. The Pokémon Professor of the region is Professor Hastings.

Almia[]

Almia is where the events of Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia take place. Professor Hastings returns as the Pokémon Professor, and he is the first Pokémon Professor to have this title in more than one region. The player can choose either Munchlax, Pachirisu, or Starly as their first partner Pokémon.

Oblivia[]

Oblivia is where the events of Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs take place. The region's Pokémon Professor is once again Professor Hastings.

Ransei[]

Ransei is where the events of Pokémon Conquest take place. The island is shaped exactly like Arceus.

Pasio[]

Pasio is the region where Pokémon Masters takes place. Pasio is home to a variety of environments, including glaciers, volcanoes, and its largest town of Centra City. No wild Pokémon reside on this island, only Trainers and their sync partner.

Lental[]

Lental is the region where New Pokémon Snap takes place. It is home to an abundance of different Pokémon in its many varying environments.

Anime-exclusive regions[]

Orange Islands[]

The Orange Islands, formally the Orange Archipelago, is a group of anime exclusive islands that Ash and his friends traveled through during the Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands arc.

Decolore Islands[]

The Decolore Islands appear only in season 16 of Pokémon the Series.

Appearances[]

Anime[]

Ash has traveled with his friends to every region from the core series except Sevii Islands, on his quest to become a Pokémon Master. In addition, Ash also visits several towns and locations that are not in the core series, as well as the Orange Islands and Decolore Islands, both of which are regions that are not in the core series.

v · d · e Regions

Core series	Kanto Sevii Islands Johto Hoenn Sinnoh Battle Zone Hisui Unova Kalos Alola Galar Isle of Armor Crown Tundra Paldea Kitakami

Others	Orre Fiore Almia Oblivia Ransei Ferrum Pasio Lental Aeos Island

Pokémon the Series	Orange Islands Decolore Islands