The nine main-series Pokémon regions take inspiration from real-world geography, but they are not exact maps of countries. The first four draw on parts of Japan; Unova and Alola are inspired by places in the United States; Kalos and Galar draw on France and the United Kingdom; and Paldea is based on the Iberian Peninsula. Official Pokémon material confirms the New York City inspiration for Unova and UK locations for Galar. The other mappings below come from the secondary reference Bulbapedia.
Every main-series Pokémon region and its real-world inspiration
Use these as broad geographic comparisons, not one-to-one political equivalents. The fictional regions adapt and combine real places rather than reproducing their borders.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Pokémon Pokopia - Nintendo Switch 2 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Pokémon Violet - US Version | $51.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Pokémon Legends: Arceus - US Version | $54.25 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Pokemon Shining Pearl - Nintendo Switch Shining Pearl Edition | $52.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| Pokémon region | Real-world inspiration | How to describe the connection |
|---|---|---|
| Kanto | Kantō, Japan, with some eastern Chūbu influence | A broad Japanese geographic inspiration, not a precise administrative map. |
| Johto | Kansai, Japan, with parts of Chūbu and a small area of Shikoku | A blend of Japanese regions and nearby geography. |
| Hoenn | Kyushu and nearby islands, including Okinawa influences | It draws on more than Kyushu alone. |
| Sinnoh | Hokkaido, with additional northern influences including the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin | Describe these as inspirations; the fictional region is not a political equivalent of those places. |
| Unova | New York City and its surrounding metropolitan area | The Pokémon Company identifies New York City as its inspiration and describes it as the first region inspired by parts of the United States, specifically the city. |
| Kalos | France, particularly northern Metropolitan France | France is a useful shorthand, but Kalos is not a literal outline of the whole country. |
| Alola | Hawaii, a U.S. state | Hawaii is a state, not a country. |
| Galar | The United Kingdom, with emphasis on Great Britain | The official brochure says Game Freak based Galar on real-world locations across the United Kingdom. |
| Paldea | The Iberian Peninsula, including Spain and neighboring areas | Spain is the central shorthand, but the inspiration is broader than Spain alone. |
Bulbapedia’s region reference is the source for the full set of geographic mappings. Official Pokémon sources separately support the Unova and Galar descriptions: The Pokémon Company’s Unova feature and its Galar Tour Brochure.
How the regions group geographically
- Japan: Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh draw on different Japanese regions and islands. Their fictional maps adapt or combine geography rather than matching real-world administrative boundaries.
- United States: Unova is associated with New York City and its surroundings; Alola is inspired by Hawaii, a U.S. state.
- Western Europe: Kalos draws on France, while Galar draws on locations across the United Kingdom.
- Iberian Peninsula: Paldea draws on a broader area that includes Spain and neighboring parts of the peninsula.
These groupings are useful shorthand, but the strength of the evidence differs. Official Pokémon material explicitly identifies New York City for Unova and the United Kingdom for Galar. The other row-by-row mappings in the table are reported by the secondary reference rather than independently confirmed by the official material cited here.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- Shape the world and build a cozy new life with Pokémon as a Ditto transformed to look like a human.
- Use other Pokémon’s moves, like Bulbasaur’s Leafage, to revitalize and navigate the world around you.
- Meet and befriend more Pokémon as you help nature flourish.
- Gather materials to create items and furniture, till the fields to grow delicious crops, build homes for the Pokémon you meet, and more—there’s so much to do!
- Experience a world with varied weather, real-time days and nights, and other surprises.
Are Kitakami and Hisui separate Pokémon regions?
Kitakami
Kitakami is a featured land in the core games and is associated with Japan’s Tōhoku region. Its classification is uncertain: the reference does not establish whether Kitakami is a distinct region, part of a larger one, or neither. It is therefore better to call it a setting or land than to present it as an unambiguous tenth region.
Hisui
Hisui is the historical name associated with Sinnoh in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It represents Sinnoh’s past, not a separate real-world country mapping.
Rank #2
- Embark on a new Pokémon adventure
- Catch, battle, and train Pokémon in the Paldea Region, a vast land filled with lakes, towering peaks, wastelands, small towns, and sprawling cities.
- Choose either Sprigatito, Fuecoco, or Quaxly, to be your first partner Pokémon before setting off on your journey through Paldea.
- Embark on an independent study called the Treasure Hunt to gain new experiences, meet new people, and find your very own treasure.
What counts as the nine core-series regions?
The nine are Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Alola, Galar, and Paldea. The Pokémon Evolutions press page lists the first eight in reverse order of their debuts; Bulbapedia’s reference includes Paldea as the ninth core-series region. See the official Pokémon Evolutions press page for the first-eight sequence.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Revisit the Sinnoh region from the original Pokémon Pearl Version game and set off to try and become the Champion of the Pokémon League
- The Pokémon Shining Pearl game brings new life to this remade classic with added features
- Explore the Grand Underground to dig up items and Pokémon Fossils, build a Secret Base, and more.
- Test your style and rhythm in a Super Contest Show
- A reimagined adventure, now for the Nintendo Switch system
Rank #3
- Action meets RPG in this new take on the Pokémon series
- Study Pokémon behaviors, sneak up on them, and toss a well-aimed Poké Ball to catch them
- Unleash moves in the speedy agile style or the powerful strong style in battles
- Travel to the Hisui region—the Sinnoh of old—and build the region’s first Pokédex
- Learn about the Mythical Pokémon Arceus, the key to this mysterious tale
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
