The Kanto region a region of the Pokémon world. It is located east of Johto, and as revealed by the radio show Sinnoh Sound, is located south of Sinnoh. It was the first region to be introduced. It is setting of the Generation I games and FireRed and LeafGreen; it is also accessible in Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver after the quest in Johto is completed.
All cities in Kanto are named after colors (Viridian City, Lavender Town, Indigo Plateau, etc.), with the exception of Pallet Town, which is also a reference to color. Professor Oak is the resident Pokémon professor and gives Pokémon Trainers a choice between Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle as their starter Pokémon, though in Yellow the only choice is a Pikachu that he recently caught, although he did have an Eevee. In the games, the player begins his or her journey in Pallet Town and ends it at the Indigo Plateau.
It is based on and named after the real Kantō region (関東, meaning "east of the barrier") in Japan. Unlike almost every other region, which are specific to their own generations, Kanto has been explorable in all prior generations of Pokémon games. However, it is not the primary region in the Generation II and IV games it appears in, in which players explore the neighboring Johto region before exploring Kanto.
The artwork of Kanto in Generation I and Generation II depict Kanto as grassland, with very few trees. In Generation III and Generation IV, Kanto is seen with more trees, making it less like grassland.
Etymology and design concept
Connection to Japan
- Main article: Pokémon world in relation to the real world
Regardless of their proximity, the people of Johto and those of Kanto are set apart by many cultural differences. Kanto is based on the real Kantō region in Japan. Compared to the traditional Kansai region (where Johto is based), Kanto is modern and technological, which is reflected in the look of the cities and the buildings like the Pokémon Lab of Cinnabar Island and the Power Plant. This fact is also reflected in Kanto being the only Pokémon region without any legends, myths, or traditions related to Pokémon, and being the centerpoint for innovation, with the Poké Ball's ultimate upgrade, the Master Ball, being recently invented by Silph Co. The soil of the Kantō region is volcanic, referencing the in-game Kanto region's inability to maintain a berry crop in Generation II, Generation III and Generation IV. People from Kanto are considered to be sophisticated, reserved and formal. Kansai and Kantō, however different, are the two most important areas of Honshū, the largest island in Japan, and, much like Johto and Kanto, represent a harmony of contrasting cultures living together. The cultural divide is most noticeable in the games, as the player talks to and learns about the denizens of both regions.
Tokyo, which the commercial Celadon City and the financial Saffron City are based on, is the most important commercial and economic center of Japan. Yokohama, which Vermilion City is based on, is the main and largest seaport of Japan.
History
The Kanto region is home to a lot of Pokémon and has a rich history of creating Pokémon with technology.
Researchers of Kanto have been great at their job. Some researcher working for the evil organization Team Rocket cloned Mew through its genes and created the Genetic Pokémon Mewtwo. Porygon, the Virtual Pokémon, was also created by humans in Kanto.
In contemporary history, Red/Leaf is given a Pokémon by Professor Oak for personal safety. Professor Oak also gives his grandson, Blue, a Pokémon and asks Blue and Red/Leaf to help him fill the Pokédex, a complete encyclopedia on Pokémon. Thus, the journey of Red/Leaf begins. Red/Leaf travels across the Kanto region and collects all eight Gym badges. During his/her journey, Red/Leaf comes across Team Rocket, an evil organization behind wrongdoings about Pokémon. Red/Leaf stops Team Rocket and defeats Giovanni, their boss as well as the Gym leader of Viridian Gym, who then disbands Team Rocket. In the meantime, Blue, who has also collected all of the Kanto Gym badges, defeats the Elite Four at the Indigo League and becomes the champion of the Kanto region. Finally, Red/Leaf makes it up to him and defeats him to gain the title of the Indigo League Champion.
Three years later, Ethan/Kris/Lyra from Johto comes to Kanto and collects all eight Kanto Gym badges. Ethan/Kris/Lyra is the current Indigo League Champion and has also met and defeated Red.
- Map of the Kanto region from Generation I
- Map of the Kanto region from Generation II
- Map of the Kanto region from Generation III
- In-game map of the Kanto region from Generation IV
Cities, routes, and other locations
The Kanto region features ten towns and cities. There is a wide variety of towns and cities throughout the region; from the large, urban Saffron City to the quiet, quaint town of Pallet. Kanto features a Pokémon League, like most other regions in the Pokémon world. However, since Kanto shares its borders with Johto, it also shares the same Pokémon League. Kanto and Johto are the only known regions that can be crossed with relative ease. Even though Kanto and Johto are culturally and socially different, the two regions are actually very similar in terms of geography.
The Kanto region includes 28 different routes, which acts as roads to cities and towns or points of interest. The Johto region follows Kanto's route number which ends at Route 28 in the Kanto region and begins with Johto's Route 29. Unlike other regions, Kanto does not have routes featuring any sort of weather conditions, such as Hoenn's Route 119 which rains and thunders constantly and Sinnoh's Route 217 in which hail regularly falls. The Kanto region seems to have the most temperate climate of the five main regions.
The connecting landmass between Kanto and Johto doesn't appear to be a fine line; but more or less a blurry one. Route 28 is technically owned by Kanto; however, it bridges the border between the two regions, making it the only route in history that enters two regions at one time. This is similar to Routes 26 and 27, that are strictly Kanto locations; however, they are able to be transported to via HM02 (Fly) from Johto in Generation IV.
Demographics
Including all the cities and towns in the Kanto region, the total population in FireRed and LeafGreen is 391.
Cities/Towns
| Map | City/Town | Population | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Pallet Town | 10 | A fairly new and quiet town. It's a small and pretty place. |
 | Viridian City | 30 | A beautiful city that is enveloped in green year-round. |
 | Pewter City | 33 | A quiet city nestled between rugged mountains and rocks. |
 | Cerulean City | 32 | A beautiful city with flowing water and blooming flowers. |
 | Vermilion City | 29 | A southern city that is bathed in orange by the setting sun. |
 | Lavender Town | 41 | A small town covered in a beautiful hue of purple. |
 | Celadon City | 82 | A rich, rainbow colored city where people and Pokémon gather. |
 | Fuchsia City | 35 | A historic village that has become new. |
 | Saffron City | 63 | The biggest city in Kanto, shining with a golden light. |
 | Cinnabar Island | 36 / 9 | A town used to be here until it was swept away by an eruption. |
Anime-exclusive locations
| Picture | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
 | Bill's Lighthouse | Bill's Lighthouse is located somewhere near Cerulean City. |
 | Cameran Palace | Cameran Palace is located in the center of Rota. |
 | Camomile Island | It is an island located in the Kanto region. |
 | Celadon University | Celadon University is located in Celadon City and has been mentioned numerous times in the anime, but is only seen in the manga. |
 | Chrysanthemum Island | A popular tourist destination in Kanto featuring a beach and a Contest hall. |
 | Commerce City | It is a large city with a park and is located somewhere in Kanto. |
 | Dark City | A town located between the Safari Zone and Cinnabar Island. |
 | Fennel Valley | It is a valley located in the Kanto region. |
 | Gaiva Dam | The dam was once being constructed near Fuchsia City. The workers abandoned the dam due to wanting to protecting the surrounding habitat. The dam eventually gets destroyed by Team Rocket. |
 | Gardenia Town | The town has a Contest hall and is located in Kanto. |
 | Grampa Canyon | A canyon located outside of Neon Town. |
 | Gringey City | A once-thriving city that over-expanded with its factories. As a result, the city has become polluted and practically abandoned. It is located between Celadon City and Fuchsia City. |
 | Hidden Village | Hidden Village is located between Cerulean City and Vermilion City. Run by Melanie, the village is a place for Pokémon who have been abandoned by their trainers. She takes care of them until they're ready to return to the wild. |
 | HopHopHop Town | HopHopHop Town is an urban settlement located on the outskirts of Celadon City. |
 | House of Imite | The House of Imite is located between the Safari Zone and Cinnabar Island. Home to Duplica and her Ditto, The House of Imite is also where Duplica and her Ditto perform shows for audiences. |
 | Leaf Forest | This forest has an unusual power that can suddenly cause Grass-type Pokémon to evolve. |
 | Maiden's Peak | Maiden's Peak is a town located near Saffron City. The town is known for its haunting legend and its festival which is held at the end of every summer. |
 | Matcha City | Matcha City is the location of Dr. Akihabara's laboratory. |
 | Metallica Island | It is an island located near the Seafoam Islands and the Battle Palace is located there. |
 | Mossgreen Village | It is a small town located between the Safari Zone and Cinnabar Island. |
 | Mt. Hideaway | It is a large mountain located near Pallet Town. |
 | Mulberry Town | Mulberry Town is located in the Kanto region and has a Contest hall. |
 | Neon Town | It is a vibrant town located between the Safari Zone and Cinnabar Island. |
 | New Island | New Island is the setting of the first movie. It was once the location of Team Rocket secret laboratory. Later in the movie, Mewtwo takes over the island and creates a fortress after the destruction of the laboratory. |
 | Pokélantis | Pokélantis is a lost empire in the proximity of Pewter City. In present day, all that remained of the once thriving city was the tomb of the king who once ruled it. Brandon decided to investigate which ultimately led to the discovery of the tomb, which is baited with many traps. |
 | Pokémon Land | Pokémon Land is an amusement park located near Porta Vista. |
 | Pokémon Tech | It serves as a school for those who do not wish to travel to collect the eight gym badges. It is also known as Pokémon Technical and is located in between Cerulean City and Vermilion City. |
 | Pokémopolis | Pokémopolis is an ancient civilization in close proximity to Pallet Town. It made its only anime appearance in The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis. |
 | Porta Vista | Porta Vista is a popular tourist destination located between Maiden's Peak and Vermilion City. |
 | Potpourri Island | It is an island located in Kanto's seas. |
 | Rifure Village | It is a tiny establishment located near Cerulean City. |
 | Rota | A medieval themed city where Cameran Palace is located. |
 | Sable City | Sable City is located near Pewter City. |
 | Sayda Island | It is a heavily forested island home to the Sayda Lab. |
 | Scissor Street | It is home to many salons for improving a Pokémon's appearance and strength. |
 | Silver Town | A town located in Kanto. |
 | Stone Town | Stone Town is a tiny establishment located between the Safari Zone and Cinnabar Island. |
 | Sunny Town | Sunny Town is located at one end of the Cycling Road. |
 | Team Rocket Academy | People train here to become members of Team Rocket. |
 | Terracotta Town | A seaside town established on steep cliffs. The town is famous for its unofficial Pokémon Contests. |
 | Tree of Beginning | It is a gigantic living organism made up of crystals. It is north of Pewter City and Mt. Moon. |
 | Wisteria Town | Wisteria Town is located in Kanto. |
 | Xanadu Nursery | It is a large greenhouse located near Pallet Town. |
Mentioned only
| Name | Notes |
|---|---|
| Crimson City | Mentioned in The Fourth Round Rumble. |
| Frodomar City | Mentioned in Celebi and Joy. It is allegedly the hometown of Ritchie. |
Areas of interest
| Image(s) | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| FR/LG | HG/SS | |
 |  | Cerulean Cave |
 |  | Diglett's Cave |
 |  | Indigo Plateau |
 |  | Mt. Moon |
 | N/A | Pokémon Mansion |
 |  | Pokémon Tower (Generations I and III) Lavender Radio Tower (Generations II and IV) |
 |  | Power Plant |
 |  | Rock Tunnel |
 |  | Celadon Game Corner |
 |  | Safari Zone (Gens I and III) Pal Park (Generation IV) |
 |  | Seafoam Islands |
 |  | Silph Co. |
 |  | Victory Road |
 |  | Viridian Forest |
 | Pokémon Stadium (according to its in-game location information in Super Smash Bros.) | |
Routes
Routes in Kanto began the numbering process, going from 1 to 25 in Generation I and Generation III, but adding three routes to connect to Johto (26, 27, and 28) in Generation II and Generation IV.
Geography
The Kanto region has a very temperate climate and not many notable landscape features, though this may be due to the region's origins in the Generation I games.
The majority of the Kanto region are forests and plains. Many of the major Kanto cities are in the center of the region, with close access to virtually every environment such as the sea, mountains, forests, etc. Kanto is mostly dominated by land, but has a large bay in the middle which opens to a sea in the southwest. Kanto has a contrast between urban cities and rural towns. however, Cinnabar Island is unique in a way that it is built on top of a mountain. The rest of Kanto's cities and towns are generic. Kanto has several mountain ranges, which are mostly in northern and western Kanto. The Indigo Plateau and Victory Road mountain range divides Kanto from the neighboring Johto region.
Differences between Generations
Between Generation I and Generation III, Kanto is very much the same with some alterations in respect to the improved graphics and gameplay in the remakes. Additionally in FireRed and LeafGreen, a chain of islands known as the Sevii Islands, located east and southeast of Kanto, are unlocked throughout the player's quest, with the first three accessible once Blaine is defeated on Cinnabar Island. Becoming the Pokémon Champion and getting the National Pokédex unlocks the other islands which make up this archipelago.
In the Generation II games as well as HeartGold and SoulSilver, trainers may travel from Johto to Kanto and notice that changes have occurred as a result of three years having passed since the time of the Generation I games and FireRed and LeafGreen:
- The Safari Zone has closed as a result of the warden taking a trip. In Generation II, it is simply inaccessible during normal gameplay while it has been relocated to Johto in Generation IV, with the original area now housing a Pal Park.
- Cerulean Cave has collapsed. In Generation IV, however; it has since been re-excavated.
- Cinnabar Island has been destroyed by an eruption of the volcano, and its Gym has been relocated to the Seafoam Islands.
- In Generation II only, Viridian Forest has become smaller
- Mt. Moon has decreased in size due to rock slides.
- The Power Plant has become functional.
- The Pokémon Tower has become a radio tower. The Pokémon graves it housed have been moved to the House of Memories
- Blue has taken over Viridian Gym since Giovanni's retreat for training and remodeled the Gym to suit his tastes.
- Janine has taken over Fuchsia Gym since her father Koga has been promoted to the Elite Four.
- In Generation II only, the Pewter Museum of Science is closed for renovations.
Indigo League
- Main article: Indigo League
Gym Leaders
| Indigo League | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generations I, II, III, and IV | Region: Kanto | ||||
| Gym Leader Japanese | Location Japanese | Type | Badge | ||
 Brock タケシ Takeshi | Pewter City ニビシティ Nibi City | Rock |  Boulder Badge | ||
 Misty カスミ Kasumi | Cerulean City ハナダシティ Hanada City | Water |  Cascade Badge | ||
 Lt. Surge マチス Matis | Vermilion City クチバシティ Kuchiba City | Electric |  Thunder Badge | ||
 Erika エリカ Erika | Celadon City タマムシシティ Tamamushi City | Grass |  Rainbow Badge | ||
 Koga キョウ Kyō I III |  Janine アンズ Anzu II IV | Fuchsia City セキチクシティ Sekichiku City | Poison |  Soul Badge | |
 Sabrina ナツメ Natsume | Saffron City ヤマブキシティ Yamabuki City | Psychic |  Marsh Badge | ||
 Blaine カツラ Katsura | Cinnabar Island グレンじま Guren Island I III | Fire |  Volcano Badge | ||
| Seafoam Islands ふたごじま Twin Islands II IV | |||||
 Giovanni サカキ Sakaki I III |  Blue グリーン Green II IV | Viridian City トキワシティ Tokiwa City | Ground | Various |  Earth Badge |
Elite Four
| Indigo League | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation I, II, III, and IV | |||
| Member Japanese | Type | ||
 Lorelei カンナ KannaI III |  Will イツキ ItsukiII IV | Ice | Psychic |
 Bruno シバ SibaI III | Koga キョウ KyōII IV | Fighting | Poison |
 Agatha キクコ KikukoI III |  Bruno シバ SibaII IV | Ghost | Fighting |
 Lance ワタル WataruI III |  Karen カリン KarinII IV | Dragon | Dark |
 Champion Blue グリーン GreenI III |  Champion Lance ワタル WataruII IV | Various | Dragon |
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