Johto Region

Johto (Japanese: ジョウト地方 Jōto-chihō) is the second region in the Pokemon franchise, introduced in Generation II with Pokemon Gold and Silver. Located west of Kanto, Johto is based on the real-world Kansai region of Japan and represents a significant evolution in Pokemon game design, introducing 100 new Pokemon, day/night cycles, and a deeper connection to traditional Japanese culture.^[1]

Overview

Attribute	Details
Based On	Kansai, Japan
Generation	II
Native Pokemon	100 (Gen II)
Gym Leaders	8
Professor	Professor Elm
Champion	Lance
Games	Gold/Silver/Crystal, HeartGold/SoulSilver

Geography

Map Layout

Johto is arranged with diverse terrain and traditional architecture:

Direction	Key Locations
South	New Bark Town, Cherrygrove City
West	Cianwood City, Whirl Islands
North	Ecruteak City, Blackthorn City
East	Violet City, Mahogany Town
Center	Goldenrod City, National Park

Major Cities and Towns

Location	Gym Leader	Type	Badge
New Bark Town	—	—	Starting town
Cherrygrove City	—	—	First city
Violet City	Falkner	Flying	Zephyr Badge
Azalea Town	Bugsy	Bug	Hive Badge
Goldenrod City	Whitney	Normal	Plain Badge
Ecruteak City	Morty	Ghost	Fog Badge
Cianwood City	Chuck	Fighting	Storm Badge
Olivine City	Jasmine	Steel	Mineral Badge
Mahogany Town	Pryce	Ice	Glacier Badge
Blackthorn City	Clair	Dragon	Rising Badge

Notable Locations

New Bark Town

Attribute	Details
Role	Player's hometown
Notable	Professor Elm's Lab
Pokemon	Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile

Sprout Tower

Attribute	Details
Location	Violet City
Type	Multi-story pagoda
Notable	Swaying structure, Elder Li
Pokemon	Rattata, Bellsprout

Ruins of Alph

Attribute	Details
Location	Southwest of Violet City
Role	Ancient archaeological site
Notable	Unown chambers, puzzles
Pokemon	28 forms of Unown

Bell Tower

Attribute	Details
Location	Ecruteak City
Role	Sacred tower
Notable	Ho-Oh's roost
Pokemon	Ho-Oh (requires Rainbow Wing)
Height	10 floors

Burned Tower

Attribute	Details
Location	Ecruteak City
Role	Ruined counterpart to Bell Tower
History	Burned 150 years ago
Notable	Legendary Beasts awakening
Pokemon	Raikou, Entei, Suicune (flee)

Lake of Rage

Attribute	Details
Location	North of Mahogany Town
Notable	Red Gyarados
Storyline	Team Rocket radio waves
Size	Largest lake in Johto

Whirl Islands

Attribute	Details
Location	Between Cianwood and Olivine
Type	Cave archipelago
Notable	Lugia's chamber
Pokemon	Lugia (requires Silver Wing)
Hazards	Whirlpools, complex layout

Mt. Silver

Attribute	Details
Access	Post-game only
Location	Eastern border with Kanto
Notable	Highest mountain, Red encounter
Pokemon	High-level wild Pokemon
Difficulty	Strongest trainers

Ilex Forest

Attribute	Details
Location	West of Azalea Town
Type	Dense forest
Notable	Shrine, Celebi event
Pokemon	Oddish, Paras, Metapod
NPC	Forest Guardian

National Park

Attribute	Details
Location	Between Goldenrod and Ecruteak
Role	Recreation area
Event	Bug-Catching Contest (Tues/Thurs/Sat)
Pokemon	Contest Pokemon vary by day

Slowpoke Well

Attribute	Details
Location	Azalea Town
Role	Underground well
Storyline	Team Rocket Slowpoke harvesting
Pokemon	Slowpoke, Zubat

Ice Path

Attribute	Details
Location	Between Mahogany and Blackthorn
Type	Ice cave
Puzzle	Ice sliding puzzles
Pokemon	Swinub, Delibird, Jynx

Union Cave

Attribute	Details
Location	Between Azalea and Violet
Type	Multi-level cave
Notable	Lapras on Fridays
Pokemon	Geodude, Sandshrew, Lapras

Dragon's Den

Attribute	Details
Location	Behind Blackthorn Gym
Access	Post-8th badge
Role	Dragon training ground
Notable	Dragon Shrine, Elder
Pokemon	Dratini line

Dark Cave

Attribute	Details
Location	Multiple entrances
Type	Optional cave
Requirement	Flash recommended
Pokemon	Geodude, Zubat, Dunsparce

Pokemon League

Gym Leaders

Order	Leader	City	Type	Badge	Signature Pokemon
1	Falkner	Violet	Flying	Zephyr	Pidgeot
2	Bugsy	Azalea	Bug	Hive	Scyther
3	Whitney	Goldenrod	Normal	Plain	Miltank
4	Morty	Ecruteak	Ghost	Fog	Gengar
5	Chuck	Cianwood	Fighting	Storm	Poliwrath
6	Jasmine	Olivine	Steel	Mineral	Steelix
7	Pryce	Mahogany	Ice	Glacier	Piloswine
8	Clair	Blackthorn	Dragon	Rising	Kingdra

Elite Four

The Johto Elite Four shares Indigo Plateau with Kanto:

Member	Type	Signature Pokemon	Notes
Will	Psychic	Xatu	New member in Gen II
Koga	Poison	Crobat	Former Kanto Gym Leader
Bruno	Fighting	Machamp	Returning from Gen I
Karen	Dark	Houndoom	First Dark-type specialist

Champion

Champion	Games	Signature	Team
Lance	GSC, HGSS	Dragonite (3×)	Dragon master
Level Range	44-50 (GSC)	46-50 (HGSS)	Strongest trainer

Native Pokemon

Starter Pokemon

Pokemon	Pokedex #	Type	Final Form	Final Type
Chikorita	#152	Grass	Meganium	Grass
Cyndaquil	#155	Fire	Typhlosion	Fire
Totodile	#158	Water	Feraligatr	Water

Legendary Pokemon

Pokemon	Pokedex #	Type	Location	Lore
Raikou	#243	Electric	Roaming	Thunder Beast
Entei	#244	Fire	Roaming	Volcano Beast
Suicune	#245	Water	Roaming/Tin Tower	Aurora Beast
Lugia	#249	Psychic/Flying	Whirl Islands	Diving Pokemon
Ho-Oh	#250	Fire/Flying	Bell Tower	Rainbow Pokemon
Celebi	#251	Psychic/Grass	Ilex Forest	Time Travel Pokemon

Iconic Johto Pokemon

Pokemon	Pokedex #	Notable For	Type
Ampharos	#181	Lighthouse Pokemon	Electric
Typhlosion	#157	Starter final form	Fire
Umbreon	#197	Dark Eeveelution	Dark
Espeon	#196	Psychic Eeveelution	Psychic
Heracross	#214	Bug/Fighting powerhouse	Bug/Fighting
Tyranitar	#248	Pseudo-legendary	Rock/Dark
Scizor	#212	Metal Coat evolution	Bug/Steel
Kingdra	#230	Dragon-type Water evolution	Water/Dragon
Steelix	#208	Onix evolution	Steel/Ground
Crobat	#169	Friendship evolution	Poison/Flying
Houndoom	#229	Dark/Fire type	Dark/Fire
Politoed	#186	King's Rock evolution	Water
Slowking	#199	King's Rock evolution	Water/Psychic
Sneasel	#215	Dark/Ice type	Dark/Ice
Skarmory	#227	Steel/Flying defensive	Steel/Flying

Important Characters

Professor Elm

Attribute	Details
Role	Regional Professor
Research	Pokemon breeding and evolution
Location	New Bark Town
Gift	Starter Pokemon, Pokedex
Relationship	Professor Oak's student
Expertise	Pokemon eggs, evolution

Silver (Rival)

Attribute	Details
Role	Main rival
Identity	Giovanni's son
Starter	Counter to player's choice
Arc	Learns compassion for Pokemon
Notable	Steals starter from Elm's lab
Development	Character growth throughout game

Lance

Attribute	Details
Roles	Champion, Dragon Master
Team	Multiple Dragonite
Storyline	Investigates Team Rocket
Location	Lake of Rage, Dragon's Den
Status	Kanto Elite Four member (Gen I)

Eusine

Attribute	Details
Role	Suicune researcher
Goal	Capture/befriend Suicune
Appearances	Multiple locations
Notable	Obsessed with Suicune
Expanded	Major role in Crystal

Team Rocket Leadership

Character	Role	Details
Giovanni	Former Boss	Absent, in hiding
Archer	Acting Leader	Takes over operations
Ariana	Executive	Female admin
Petrel	Executive	Disguise expert
Proton	Executive	Ruthless admin

Team Rocket's Return

Attribute	Details
Goal	Recall Giovanni, world domination
Operations	Lake of Rage radio experiment
Base	Mahogany Town hideout
Technology	Radio wave Pokemon control
Fate	Disbanded after Goldenrod takeover

Other Notable Characters

Character	Role	Location
Mr. Pokemon	Item collector	Route 30
Kurt	Pokeball craftsman	Azalea Town
Bill's Grandfather	Photo quest giver	Route 25
DJ Mary	Radio DJ	Goldenrod Radio Tower
DJ Ben	Radio DJ	Goldenrod Radio Tower
Kimono Girls	Dancers	Ecruteak City
Wise Trio	Legendary Beast summoners	Bell Tower

History in Games

Generation II (1999-2001)

Game	Platform	Release	Features
Gold	Game Boy Color	1999 (JP), 2000 (NA)	Day/night cycle, breeding
Silver	Game Boy Color	1999 (JP), 2000 (NA)	Version exclusives
Crystal	Game Boy Color	2000 (JP), 2001 (NA)	Female player, Suicune story, battle tower

Innovations

Feature	Description
Day/Night Cycle	Time-based events and Pokemon
Breeding	Pokemon eggs and baby Pokemon
Held Items	Pokemon can hold items
Shinies	1/8192 chance alternate colors
Friendship	Pokemon happiness system
Pokemon Genders	Male and female Pokemon
Steel Type	New type introduced
Dark Type	New type introduced
Pokegear	Phone, radio, map functions

Generation IV (2009-2010)

Game	Platform	Release	Features
HeartGold	Nintendo DS	2009 (JP), 2010 (NA)	Full 3D, following Pokemon
SoulSilver	Nintendo DS	2009 (JP), 2010 (NA)	Pokewalker accessory

Enhanced Features

Feature	Description
Following Pokemon	Partner walks behind player
Pokewalker	Pedometer peripheral device
Touch Screen	Enhanced UI and interactions
Safari Zone	Customizable zone
Battle Frontier	Post-game facility
Kanto Access	Fully explorable Kanto region

Appearances in Other Media

Game/Media	Role	Year
Pokemon Stadium 2	Battle settings	2000
Pokemon Masters EX	Character appearances	2019
Pokemon GO	Gen II Pokemon	2017
Pokemon Anime	Johto League arc	1999-2002
Pokemon Adventures Manga	Gold/Silver/Crystal arc	1997-2001

Cultural Significance

Traditional Japanese Aesthetics

Johto emphasizes traditional Japanese culture more than any other region:

Element	In-Game Representation
Architecture	Pagodas, traditional buildings
Temples	Bell Tower, Burned Tower
Shrines	Ilex Forest shrine, Dragon Shrine
Mythology	Legendary Beasts, Ho-Oh legend
Kimono	Kimono Girls in Ecruteak
Tea Ceremony	Ecruteak cultural elements

Game Design Evolution

Innovation	Impact
Internal Clock	Real-time gameplay
Breeding System	Competitive Pokemon foundation
Special/Physical Split (Gen IV)	Competitive balance (HGSS)
Two Regions	Post-game Kanto exploration
Backwards Compatible	Trade with Gen I (Time Capsule)

Connection to Kanto

Aspect	Details
Geography	Western neighbor to Kanto
Pokemon League	Shares Indigo Plateau
Post-Game	Entire Kanto region accessible
Characters	Blue, Red, Professor Oak appear
Level Curve	Lower levels than Kanto portion
Mt. Silver	Connects both regions

Real-World Connection

Johto is based on the Kansai region of Japan:

In-Game	Real-World Equivalent	Notes
Ecruteak City	Kyoto	Traditional architecture, temples
Goldenrod City	Osaka	Commercial center
Violet City	Nara	Sprout Tower = Horyu-ji
Bell Tower	Kinkaku-ji	Golden Pavilion inspiration
Lake of Rage	Lake Biwa	Largest lake in Japan
Mt. Silver	Mount Hiei	Sacred mountain
Olivine City	Kobe	Port city
Cianwood City	Wakayama	Coastal city

Legacy

Impact	Details
Fan Favorite	Often cited as best region
Nostalgia	Golden age of Pokemon
Music	Iconic soundtrack (Ecruteak, National Park)
Difficulty	Challenging gym leaders (Whitney's Miltank)
Post-Game	Set standard for post-game content
Remakes	HGSS considered best remakes

Version Differences

Gold vs. Silver Exclusives

Pokemon	Gold	Silver
Legendaries	Ho-Oh (earlier)	Lugia (earlier)
Exclusives	Mankey, Gligar, Teddiursa	Vulpix, Skarmory, Phanpy

Crystal Additions

Feature	Description
Female Player	First selectable female protagonist
Suicune	Expanded storyline, catchable
Battle Tower	First battle facility
Animations	Enhanced battle animations
Move Tutors	Special move teachers

HeartGold vs. SoulSilver

Feature	HeartGold	SoulSilver
Legendary	Ho-Oh focus	Lugia focus
Exclusives	Mankey, Gligar, Spinarak	Vulpix, Teddiursa, Ledyba

Johto League (Anime)

Aspect	Details
Arc Duration	Episodes 119-276 (158 episodes)
Conference	Silver Conference
Location	Silver Town
Ash's Placement	Top 8
Gym Badges	Same as games
Traveling Companions	Misty, Brock

Johto Grand Festival

Aspect	Details
Type	Pokemon Contest event
Location	Lake of Rage area
Participants	May (later series)
Ribbon Count	5 required to enter

References

^Pokemon Gold and Silver — Game Freak / Nintendo (1999)
^Pokemon Crystal — Game Freak / Nintendo (2001)
^Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver — Game Freak / Nintendo (2009)
^Johto — Bulbapedia (2024)
^Johto Region — Serebii.net (2024)
^Official Pokemon Website — The Pokemon Company (2024)