While newer games are based on other countries, the original 4 gens and the spin offs are based on regions of Japan, so let us begin.
KANTO
The most seen region in the pokemon series appearing in four of six generations. Kanto is based on the industrial area of Japan of the same name. This is why this area is the only one who has no legends regarding pokemon (The legendary birds are legendaries yes, but they have no legend surrounding them) as well as lack of wild areas, mostly being ordinary wild grass roads. The cities of Saffron and Celadon are based on the country's capital Tokyo. The Kanto region in real life is situated around a volcano meaning the soil in the area is volcanic as well, which is why berries cannot grow in the Kanto region in the pokemon games.
JOHTO
Johto is based upon the Kansai region which lies to the southwest of the real Kanto. Unlike Kanto, Kansai is more involved in old cultures of Japan. Kyoto is located in Kansai which is filled with ancient shrines, temples, palaces and gardens and is the inspiration for Ecruteak City. People in Kansai are usually more relaxed and however different Kanto and Kansai are, they are the 2 most important areas of Honshu the largest island in japan and represent a harmony of contrasting cultures living together just like Kanto and Johto.
SEVII ISLANDS/ORANGE ISLANDS
AS SEEN IN: Fire Red/Leaf Green
Known as the orange islands in the anime. The Sevii Islands are based on the Izu Islands which are located south east of Honshu. The islands are mostly uninhabited and it's population measures around 25,000. This is shown in game as the islands total is only 68 and most of the islands are uninhabited by people.
HOENN
AS SEEN IN: Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald
Hoenn is based on the subtropical western island of Kyushu which has it's own volcano and is filled with hot springs, which exist in Lavaridge town. This also includes the Ryukyu islands of the coast of mainland japan.
SINNOH
AS SEEN IN: Diamond/Pearl/Platinum
Sinnoh is based on the snowy region of Japan called Hokkaido. The cities Jubilife and Veilstone are based on Sapparo City and Abashiri city respectively. The centre of Sinnon is Mt. Coronet which is based on the Ezo mountain range which include Teshio Mountains, the Kitami Mountains, the Ishikari Mountains, the Yubari Mountains, and the Hidaka Mountains. The three lakes of Sinnoh are based on Lake Tōya, Lake Kussharo and Lake Kutcharo.
FIORE
AS SEEN IN: Pokemon Ranger
Fiore is based on the northern edge of Honshu, though very loosely.
ALMIA
AS SEEN IN: Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia
Almia is on the western 'tailpiece' of Hokkaido. Once again this is based very loosely.
OBLIVIA
AS SEEN IN: Pokemon Ranger: Guardian Signs
Oblivia is based upon the Oki islands northwest of Kyoto and north of Matsue. Once again loosely based on the area as all the pokemon ranger games are. The names of Oblivia's islands are based on the seven solfège syllables of music notation, do, re, mi, fa, so, la, and ti: DOlce Island, REnbow Island, MItonga Island, FAldera Island, SOphian Island, LAyuda Island and TIlikule Island.
RANSEI
AS SEEN IN: Pokemon Conquest
Ransei is the only area not based on a real place, shape wise. Ransei however is based upon Feudal Japan, rather than a specific region. The region is shaped like the god pokemon Arceus.
All of these regions have been based on Japan as shown in the map below:
Now that we've finished Japan, let's move onto the regions based on the US of A.
ORRE
AS SEEN IN: Pokemon Colosseum /Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness
Orre is a region with no wild pokemon and is heavily based on Phoenix, Arizona with the area being mostly desert like the Arizona desert with a few town dotted around the map. Pokemon are obtained from imports from Kanto, Johto and Hoenn.
UNOVA
AS SEEN IN: Black/White/Black 2/White 2
Unova is heavily based on the Manhatten area of New York City especially the region's capital Castelia which is filled with skyscrapers and has a lighthouse on a island off the coast in the same position as the statue of liberty in real life (it's even called Liberty Garden). Though the creators took some liberties with a desert north of Castelia, the following city is based off Broadway. Nacrene City, with its restored storehouses, is reminiscent of the ubiquitous lofts in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The battle subway is reminiscent of the New York subway system and the Skyarrow bridge is the Brooklyn bridge.
And now we present the newest region.
KALOS
AS SEEN IN: X/Y
Kalos the newest region is based on Northern France with it's capitol Lumiose in the exact same place as Paris on the map which also includes it's own version of the Eiffel Tower, called the Prism Tower (which contains the 5th gym). It features mass amounts of rivers and waterways snaking through much of the landscape. The region is divided into 3 sections the eastern being based on the French Alps. Landmarks such as the Palace of Versailles appears as Parfum palace as well as the Channel Islands called the Azure bay and with cities such as Coumarine which is based on Calais.
So it begs the question, where will Pokemon go now, now that it's left Japan. Only time will tell, though I wouldn't put it past them to make Southern France next. Hell they could do that with the current gen as 3ds games are capable of DLC. But I doubt it. anyway, I've been TheJoelMH signing off.
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