Johto

Johto ジョウト Jōto
General
Introduced in:	Gold/Silver/Crystal
New Pokémon:	100
Professor:	Professor Elm
Regional villains:	Team Rocket
Starter Pokémon:	Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile

The Johto region (ジョウト地方 Jōto-chihō), meaning "castle palace" (城都 jōto) and "lattice-shaped palace" (条都 jōto), is a region connected to the western part of Kanto. It was introduced in Generation II, Gold and Silver, and Crystal later seen in their remakes, HeartGold and SoulSilver. The third, fourth, and fifth seasons of the anime are also set there. In the games, all its cities have plant-themed or colour-themed names. Johto is geographically similar to the Kansai, eastern Shikoku and western Tōkai regions of Japan. There are old-fashioned cities reminiscent of Nara and Kyoto and a modern commercial city reminiscent of Osaka. Some inhabitants speak the Kansai dialect in the Japanese releases of the games.

The mythology of the Johto region features Ho-Oh, the Rainbow Pokémon guardian of the skies, and Lugia, the Diving Pokémon guardian of the seas, who previously perched on the Bell and Brass Towers respectively in Ecruteak City. When the Brass Tower burned down in a thunderstorm, Lugia flew away, and three Pokémon died in the process. Ho-Oh revived these Pokémon, creating Raikou, Entei, and Suicune. Lugia's home, the Whirl Islands, were also created when the Pokémon dispelled a war over a singular island, splitting it into four islands and making them its home, producing powerful whirlpools to protect itself. Celebi, the Time Travel Pokémon, also calls Johto its home, residing in the Ilex Forest where it brings Pokémon and Trainers forward and back in time.

100 previously unknown Pokémon reside in Johto. In the Generation II games, the player's home town is New Bark Town, where they can choose either Chikorita, Cyndaquil, or Totodile as their first Pokémon.

Geography

The terrain of Johto is similar to that of Kanto, with a jagged mountain range in the north-east, descending to a boundless ocean in the south-west.

Locations

Cities/Towns

• New Bark Town
• Cherrygrove City
• Violet City
• Azalea Town
• Goldenrod City
• Ecruteak City
• Olivine City
• Cianwood City
• Mahogany Town
• Blackthorn City

Areas of Interest

• Ruins of Alph
• Slowpoke Well
• Union Cave
• Ilex Forest
• Radio Tower
• National Park
• Tin Tower\Bell Tower
• Burned Tower
• Sprout Tower
• Whirl Islands
• Safari Zone (HeartGold and SoulSilver only)
• Dark Cave
• Mt. Mortar
• Lake of Rage
• Dragon's Den
• Tohjo Falls
• Indigo Plateau
• Battle Frontier (HeartGold and SoulSilver only)
• Mt. Silver
• Sinjoh Ruins (HeartGold and SoulSilver only [accessible only after recieving Wi-Fi Event Arceus])

Routes

Johto's routes start where Kanto left off: routes in Johto are numbered 29-48, where Kanto's are 1-28.

29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 (HeartGold and SoulSilver only) 48 (HeartGold and SoulSilver only)

The Pokémon League

The Johto League is the greatest aspiration of all Trainers. Because they are neighboring regions, Johto and Kanto share the same Elite Four, located at Indigo Plateau. One Badge from each Johto Gym is required to enter.

Gym Leaders

Name	Settlement	Type	Signature Pokémon	Badge
Falkner	Violet City	Flying	/()	Zephyr Badge
Bugsy	Azalea Town	Bug	/()	Hive Badge
Whitney	Goldenrod City	Normal		Plain Badge
Morty	Ecruteak City	Ghost		Fog Badge
Chuck	Cianwood City	Fighting		Storm Badge
Jasmine	Olivine City	Steel		Mineral Badge
Pryce	Mahogany Town	Ice	/()	Glacier Badge
Clair	Blackthorn City	Dragon		Rising Badge

Elite Four and the Champion

Name	Type	Signature Pokémon
Will	Psychic
Koga	Poison
Bruno	Fighting	/
Karen	Dark	//
Champion Lance	Dragon

Real-life Connection

Following the tradition, the Johto region is based on a real-world region of Japan, the Kansai region, just as Kanto is based on the real Kanto region in Japan.

Trivia

• Apart from Unova, Johto is the last region to be featured on a newer handheld (GBA & DS).
• Johto was the first region to introduce areas to plant berries.
• Johto is the only region to display a new female main character when the game returned for a newer system release.
• Of all of the regions, Johto introduced the lowest amount of new Pokémon, with only 100.
• Johto lacks many elements that other regions have. Most of these are caused because due to Johto sharing them with Kanto. Therefore, it is the only region without:

1. an Electric-type Gym.
2. its own set of Fossil Pokémon,
3. a Pokemon burial ground,
4. a museum,
5. prior to Generation IV, a true Regional Pokedex,
6. an N in its English name.

• Johto shares its Pokemon League, Storage System developer, and villainous team with Kanto.
• All of the cities in Johto are named after plants.
• It's the only region when Ash Ketchum did not meet a new traveling companion.