What real-life places do GameFreak base their region names on?

What is the correspondence between the Regions in the World of Pokémon and Real-life places on Earth?

Kanto: ?Johto: ?Hoenn: ?Sinnoh: ?Unova: ?Kalos: ?

I know the Alola region is based on the Hawaiian Islands and comes from the Hawaiian word “Aloha”.

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The existing answer has some errors in it. I’ll make a list here, it’s almost universally accepted which areas each region is based on. Credit to Bulbapedia forthis visualisation, which shows the first four regions as well as the Sevii Islands projected onto Japan.

TheKanto region is based on the real-lifeKantō regionon Japan’s south-east coast. Celadon City and Saffron City are apparently based on Tokyo, and Vermilion City is apparently based on Yokohama, Japan’s largest seaport city. The name “Kanto” derives from 関東, meaning “east of the barrier”.

TheSevii Islands are based on the real-lifeIzu IslandsandBonin Islands, located off Japan’s southern coast. One through Four Island are based on the Izu Islands, whilst Six and Seven Islands are based on the Bonin Islands. “Sevii” does not derive from kanji, but likely relates to “seven”, since this is the number of islands in the area.

TheJohto region is based on the real-lifeKansai regionin Japan, located to the direct west of Kantō just like in the Pokemon games. Kyoto was likely the basis for Ecruteak City, due to the vast history that both cities have in their respective universes. Junichi Masuda claims on hisblogthat “Johto” means “castle palace” and “lattice-shaped palace”.

TheHoenn region is based on the real-lifeKyushu regionin southern Japan. The Hoenn region is rotated about 90 degrees from its real-life counterpart, so the origin may not be apparent at first. Rustboro City is probably based on Kyushu’s largest city Fukuoka. “Hoenn” derives from 豊縁 which means “abundant relations”.

TheSinnoh region is based on the real-lifeHokkaido region, the prominent island in the north of Japan. The region’s largest city Sapporo likely inspired Jubilife City, and the Russian island ofSakhalinis almost certainly the origin of the Battle Area. “Sinnoh” apparently references “mysteries” (神奥).

Since Generation 4, the developers of Pokemon moved away from Japan and have taken inspiration from international locations for their map designs. These places are listed below.

TheUnova region is based heavily onNew York Cityin the United States. Castelia City is a clear reference to Manhattan and the Skyarrow Bridge is likely based on the Brooklyn Bridge. The region’s design does however, feature prominent differences to the industrial New York metro. “Unova” might relate to the Latinunumandnova, meaning “one” and “new” in English.

TheKalos region is based on northernFrance. Lumiose City is clearly based on Paris, and the Prism Tower within it is inspired by the Eiffel Tower. Various aspects of French culture and lifestyle are referenced and reflected in X/Y’s storyline and region design. “Kalos” derives from the Greek κάλλος, meaning “beauty”.

TheAlola region is very clearly inspired byHawaii, an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean and a state of the USA. The four islands of Alola each have distinct connections to the geography and culture of four prominent islands in Hawaii: O’ahu, Maui, Hawaii Island and Kaua’i. “Alola” may referenceola, Hawaiian for “life” andaloha, a traditional Hawaiian greeting.

TheGalar region is inspired byGreat Britain, the main constituent territory of the United Kingdom. The region is rotated 180 degrees from its real-life counterpart, with areas inspired by England and Wales in the north and the Scotland-inspired Crown Tundra to the south. The Isle of Armor is inspired by theIsle of Man, which is another territory of the UK.

ThePaldea region is inspired by theIberian Peninsula, which includes the real-life nation states of Spain, Portugal, and Andorra. The region is predominantly inspired by the culture of Spain, though its western areas such as Cascarrafa and Porto Marinada are clearly Portuguese-inspired. The Kitakami region appearing in the Teal Mask DLC is apparently inspired by the Tōhoku region of Japan.

Bulbapedia has a very expansive list of more individual locations within each region that may have been inspired by real-life locations,linked here.

Please feel free to disagree with my answers, as these are probably wrong, but this is what I remember:

Kanto: The area around Tokyo, Japan

The Orange Islands: The Phillipenes and Indonesia

Johto: Just south of Kanto’s Inspiration, around where the original capital was in ancient times

Hoenn: The Florida Keys

Sinnoh-Canada

Unova- New York City

Kalos -France (I mean, what other capital has a massive historic tower in the middle of it? What other country is so love-oriented?

Alola- Hawaii (If this wasn’t you answer, then you either haven’t played it, or are the most morinic man alive)

As I said, If you disagree, please tell me.