Each of the nine main Pokémon regions is based on a real place. Four are parts of Japan, one is the New York City area, one is Hawaii, and three are in Europe. Some are stated by the game makers, and others are what fans noticed.
The region list and "how sure" ratings come from the pokee.si regions guide. The city matches come from Bulbapedia's page on the Pokémon world, which is itself marked as fan speculation, so we call most of them fan comparisons. For release order, see regions in order.
The nine regions and their real places
| Region | Real place | How sure |
|---|---|---|
| Kanto | The Kantō region of Japan (the area around Tokyo) | stated |
| Johto | The Kansai region of Japan (Kyoto and Osaka) | stated |
| Hoenn | The Japanese island of Kyushu, turned 90 degrees | stated |
| Sinnoh | The Japanese island of Hokkaido | stated |
| Unova | The New York City area, United States | stated |
| Kalos | France (mainly the northern half) | stated |
| Alola | The Hawaiian Islands, United States | stated |
| Galar | The United Kingdom (mostly Great Britain) | stated |
| Paldea | The Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) | likely |
"Stated" means the developers have said it. "Likely" means fans agree on the real place, but there is no single official statement. Take Paldea: its buildings, food, music and Spanish names point to Spain, with some Portuguese touches in the west.
Japan: Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh
The first four regions are based on Japan, where Pokémon is made.
- Kanto shares its name with the real Kantō region. That much is stated. City matches are fan ideas: Saffron City looks like Tokyo, and Cinnabar Island is compared to Izu Ōshima. The Sevii Islands are based on the Izu and Bonin Islands, two island groups off the coast of Tokyo.
- Johto is based on Kansai. Fans match Ecruteak City to Kyoto and Goldenrod City to Osaka. Mt. Silver is compared to Mount Fuji.
- Hoenn is Kyushu rotated a quarter turn counterclockwise. Junichi Masuda said the turn helped the map fit the wide Game Boy Advance screen. Fans compare Mt. Chimney to Mount Aso.
- Sinnoh's shape follows Hokkaido. Bulbapedia says it also draws on the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin. Fans match Jubilife City to Sapporo and Lake Verity to Lake Tōya.
Kitakami, the area added by a Scarlet and Violet expansion, is based on the Tōhoku region of northern Japan. Fans link it to mountain and apple-growing areas there, but that is an inference. Hisui is the old Sinnoh, so it shares the Hokkaido link.
The United States: Unova and Alola
Game director Junichi Masuda said Unova draws on the New York City area. Bulbapedia adds parts of New Jersey and Long Island. Fans match Castelia City to Lower Manhattan, Nimbasa City to Midtown Manhattan and Times Square, and Skyarrow Bridge to the Brooklyn Bridge.
Alola is Hawaii, and the name echoes "aloha". Fans match Hau'oli City to Honolulu and Mount Lanakila to Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea.
Europe: Kalos, Galar and Paldea
Kalos is France. Lumiose City is Paris, and this one is official: Bulbapedia cites the official video that revealed Honedge for it. Its Prism Tower looks like the Eiffel Tower, though that match is a fan comparison.
Galar is the United Kingdom. An official Galar guide brochure names two cities: Motostoke is Manchester and Wyndon is London. Fans also match Hammerlocke to Birmingham. The Isle of Armor is based on the Isle of Man and the Crown Tundra on Scotland.
Paldea is Spain and Portugal. Fans match Mesagoza to Madrid and Toledo, Medali to Valladolid and Mérida, and Casseroya Lake to Ribeira Sacra.
City and landmark matches
Here are the matches in one place. Only the "Official" rows are confirmed.
| Region | Place in the game | Real place | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanto | Saffron City | Tokyo (Shinjuku and Chiyoda) | Fan comparison |
| Johto | Ecruteak City | Kyoto | Fan comparison |
| Hoenn | Mt. Chimney | Mount Aso | Fan comparison |
| Sinnoh | Jubilife City | Sapporo | Fan comparison |
| Unova | Castelia City | Lower Manhattan | Fan comparison |
| Unova | Skyarrow Bridge | the Brooklyn Bridge | Fan comparison |
| Kalos | Lumiose City | Paris | Official |
| Kalos | Prism Tower | the Eiffel Tower | Fan comparison |
| Alola | Hau'oli City | Honolulu | Fan comparison |
| Galar | Motostoke | Manchester | Official |
| Galar | Wyndon | London | Official |
| Paldea | Mesagoza | Madrid and Toledo | Fan comparison |
A real place outside the main games
Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness are set in Orre. Orre was inspired by Phoenix, Arizona, and this was confirmed in a Nintendo interview.
Where to go next
Each region has its own page in the regions guide. To see which games came out when, use the games timeline. The regions in order lesson lets you practise the order, and the pronunciation guide helps with names like Kitakami and Ecruteak.