First introduced in Ruby & Sapphire, the Hoenn region was the setting of an exciting new era for the Pokemon franchise. Previously, series creator Satoshi Tajiri had designed the first region of Kanto based on his memories of growing up in Japan's Kantō region. Now, it was time for director Junichi Masuda to pay tribute to the Japanese island o🥀f Kyūshū, where his parents were from.

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Kyūshū is Japan's third-largest island. When creating the map of Hoenn, the team realized that Kyūshū would have to be flipped 90° to provide the most p💜layable experience. Some locations in Hoenn are also influenced by and geographically linked to surrounding islands.

10 Rustboro City - Kitakyushu, Fukuoka P𒁏refecture ♏

Panorama of Kitakyushu, Japan, which Rustboro City in Pokemon may be based on

If Rustboro City is the easternmost city of the Hoenn Region, the﷽n geographically it must be linked to Kitakyushu, the northernmost city of Kyushu. Kitakyushu has plants belonging to the Nippon Steel Corporation, as well as several public🧸 and private universities.

Rustboro City as it appears in Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire

These facilities are represented by Hoenn's Devon Corporation, owned by the father of 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Steel-type specialist Steven 🌜Stone. Just behind Fukuoka, Kitakyushu is the second-largest city on th🥀e island of Kyushu.

9 🐬 Dewford Town - Tsushima, Nagasaki Prefecture

Satellite image of Tsushima, Japan, which Dewford Town in Pokemon may be based on

Tsushima is both a city and an island located right between Kyushu and South Korea. Despite being the geographical inspiration for Dewford Town, Tsushima is actually better known in video games as the setting of 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Ghost of Tsushima.

Dewford Town as it appears in Pokemon Emerald

The town has even used the game to promote to🔜urism to the island. Just like players in Dewford Town, visitors to Tsushima would be able to find plenty of anglers and a ferry to the mainland.

8 Petalburg City - Fukuoka,🐷 Fukuoka Prefecture ♕

Fukuoka, Japan, which Petalburg City in Pokemon may be based on

Petalburg City is arguably the most simplified settlement in Hoenn when compared to its real-world counterpart, which is Fukuoka. A🐽s the capital and largest city on the island, Fukuoka has an entire metropolitan area unseen in the games. The city is one of the cheapest to live in Japan, as well as a popular destination for tourists due to its many museums and s𓄧hopping centres.

Petalburg City as it appears in Pokemon Emerald

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Junichi Masuda's parents are from Kurate, a small district in the Fukuoka Prefecture, which could explain why the player's father, Norman, is the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Gym Leader of Petalburg.

7 Lavaridge Town - Aso, Kumamღoto 🤡Prefecture

An onsen in Aso, Japan, which Lavaridge Town in Pokemon may be based on

Similar to Mahogany Town's relationship with Kōka in the Generation II games, the city of Aso was only a town when Ruby & Sapphire were released. Aso ultimately merged with other nearby towns to become a city in 2004, the same year 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Pokemon Emerald was released.

Lavaridge Town Hot Springs as it appears in Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire

Approximately 600 hot springs can be found around the A𒅌so are🌟a, due to its proximity to Mount Aso, Japan's largest active volcano. Mount Aso directly influenced the location of Mt. Chimney in the Pokemon games.

6 ♏ Fortree City - Kobayashi, Miyazaki Prefecture 💛

Field in Kobayashi, Japan, which Fortree City in Pokemon may be based on

Kobayashi, literally translating to 'small forest,' is roughly the geographical counterpart to 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Fortree City. Much of Fortree City's layout appears to be inspired by Sukimu Land, an area of Kobayashi with various bridges that🅷 overlook lush green landscapes and waterfalls.

Official artwork of Fortree City as it appears in Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire

The city is known for its natural beauty,🌞 featuring several mountains, shrines, and fields of Cosmos flowers. A celebration called the Firefly F☂estival can be witnessed every May in Kobayashi's Idenoyama Park.

5 ✱ Slateport City - Nagasaki, Nagas🎶aki Prefecture

Panorama view of Nagasaki, Japan, which Slateport City in Pokemon is based on

Nagasaki has a long, r🧜ich history of trading with other nations as a port city, much like its Pokemon equivalent. In the games, Captain Stern is responsible for having built Sl🅺ateport's Museum, Stern's Shipyard, and the S.S. Tidal.

Slateport City as it appears in Pokemon omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire

Likewise, Nagasaki is known for its nautical museums, shipbuilding industry, and busy harbour𝄹s. There are also several seafood dishes native to N🐻agasaki, some of which are sold at street markets that are represented by Slateport's own outdoor Market.

4 Mossdeep City - Tanegashima, Kagoshima Prefecture ꩲ

Tanegashima Space Center in Japan, which Mossdeep City in Pokemon may be based on

The island of Tanegashima can be accessed by way of a ferry and includes a city and two villages. Like Mossdeep, this distant island is home💜 to a rocket-launch area known as the Tanegashima Space Centre.

Mossdeep City as it appears in Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire

Unfortunately, visitors cannot walk in and travel to space like in 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire's Delta Episode. As the primary spaceport for the Japan Aerospace Exploratioꦰn Agency (JAXA), Tanegashima has been long assoꦗciated with evolving technology.

3 Sootopolis City - Yakushi🃏ma, Kagoshima Prefecture

Yakushima, Japan, which Sootopolis City in Pokemon may be based on

In all Pokemon games featuring Hoenn, Sootopolis and Mossdeep City are separated by a large underwater trench. In🐽 the same nature, the island town of Yakushima i✤s separated from Tanegashima via the Vincennes Strait. Similar to Sootopolis City, Yakushima has a rugged terrain.

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Unlike its Pokemon counterpart, however, there are no gigantic craters on this island. It is speculated that the general appearance of Sootopolis wasꦆ instead based on Santorini, an island in Greece. Rockets launching from Tanegashima Space Centre can be seen from Yakushima.

2 🗹 Ever Grande City - Okinawa Island, Okinawa Prefecture ꦬ

A cape in Okinawa, Japan, which Ever Grande City in Pokemon may be based on

The Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost prefecture of Japan and thus has to be the easternmost location in Hoenn: Ever Grande City. The island features several natural rock formations which are alluded to🍎 by the rocky Victory Road. Off the coast of Ever Grande City is the Mirage Island, which only appears under extremely rare circumstances in the games.

Ever Grande City as it appears in Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire

In the real world, a coral habitat in Okinawa known as Yaebishi appears above the surface for only a few days a year. Comparisons have also been drawn between the appearances of the Hoenn Pokemon Lไeague building and Shuri Castle in Naha, Okinawa.

1 ꦗ Littleroot Town - Imari, Saga Prefecture 🌞

Imari, Japan, which Littleroot Town in Pokemon may be based on

Littleroot Town is where players met 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Torchic, Mudkip, and Treeko for the first time back in 2002. It✱ is difficult to pinpo♐int the exact geographical counterpart for Littleroot Town, as there aren't many landmarks in the fictional town to distinguish it.

Littleroot Town as it appears in Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire

However, its quaint population and geographical location relate it closest to the town of Imari, known for Imari porcelain. The village area, Imari Okawachiyama, is frequented by visitors to enjoy the local shꦐrines, intrica🤡te porcelain designs, and beautiful lush mountains.

NEXT: Pokemon: 10 Thingsꦗ You Need to Know About 🗹The Ruby & Sapphire Beta