Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire: Hoenn and Kyushu

Brendan or May has just moved to Littleroot Town, a small village where the game begins. The player picks Treecko, Torchic or Mudkip to protect Professor Birch from a wild Poochyena, and the adventure starts from there. The whole region is modelled on Kyushu, though the English article notes that Hoenn is rotated 90° against the real island to balance the gameplay. The French article on Pokémon places says the starting town is inspired by Imari.

Location precision: The game names no real place, so this is an outside reading; the pin marks the centre of Imari.

Rustboro is the first big city, home of the Devon Corporation and of the first gym, where Roxanne, the Rock-type leader, hands out the Stone Badge. The French article on Pokémon places says the city represents Kitakyushu.

Location precision: The identification comes from a reference article, not from the developers; the pin marks the centre of Kitakyushu.

Slateport is a port town known for its market, its museum and its contest hall. The museum is an oceanographic one. The French article on Pokémon places identifies Slateport with Nagasaki. The match is a reading of the map, not an official statement.

Location precision: The identification comes from a reference article, not from the developers; the pin marks the centre of Nagasaki.

Mt. Chimney is a volcano near Lavaridge, and its crater is the stage for a clash between Team Aqua and Team Magma, the two rival gangs who want to reshape the world of Hoenn. The French article on Pokémon places says the volcano represents Mount Aso.

Location precision: The game never names a real volcano; the pin marks Mount Aso as named in a reference article.

Mt. Pyre is an island cemetery, and on its summit rest the blue and red orbs. One of them is soon in the villains' hands: the team's leader uses a mystical orb to awaken the slumbering Groudon or Kyogre, bringing drought in Ruby or heavy rain in Sapphire. The French article on Pokémon places says Mt. Pyre corresponds to Sakurajima.

Location precision: The identification comes from a reference article, not from the developers; the pin marks the Sakurajima volcano.

Mossdeep sits on an island and holds the Psychic gym run by the twins Tate and Liza. It also has a space centre, a research centre that sends rockets into space. The French article on Pokémon places says the city represents Nishinoomote, the main town of the island of Tanegashima.

Location precision: The identification comes from a reference article, not from the developers; the pin marks the town of Nishinoomote.

Sootopolis is hidden in the hollow of a rock and can be reached only by air or from the depths of the sea. Here the story peaks: the awakened Groudon or Kyogre brings a region-wide climate change that lasts until it is defeated or captured. The French article on Pokémon places says Sootopolis represents Yakushima.

Location precision: The identification comes from a reference article, not from the developers; the pin marks the island of Yakushima, not a single spot.

The Sealed Chamber is an underwater cave where the first peoples of Hoenn once lived. Inside, a riddle must be solved to free the legendary golems. The French article on Pokémon places says it corresponds to the underwater monument of Yonaguni.

Location precision: The identification comes from a reference article, not from the developers; the pin marks the Yonaguni Monument off Yonaguni Island.