Hit up Goldenrod City and take a stroll through National Park.
Pokemon Center TCG is celebrating 30 years of Pokémon by looking back at the regions that have captured the hearts of fans across the world. Get ready to take a few trips down memory lane as we explore and reflect on iconic locations and encounters from regions across the Pokémon world. We recently highlighted the Kanto region, and today we’re remembering some of the Johto region’s finest moments.
Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver were released in Japan almost 27 years ago, so there’s a ton of history, but we’ve narrowed it down to a few key moments—some you can enshrine in your own space with nifty items from Pokémon Center TCG, including the new Johto Explore Pokémon Poster and Johto Paired Pikachu Plush.
Ilex Forest
Ilex Forest was as cool as it was mysterious. You first wandered into the forest in pursuit of an extra spry Farfetch’d, hoping to acquire the HM Cut to continue your journey toward Azalea Town. If you were especially vigilant, you found a man who gifted you a TM containing Headbutt. Headbutting a tree was the only way to find the newly discovered Pineco!
Most impressive and mysterious of all was the Ilex Forest Shrine. Here, you could encounter the Mythical Pokémon Celebi in the Virtual Console version of Pokémon Crystal after carefully placing your GS Ball at the altar. If you brought a Celebi from a promotional event to the same location in Pokémon HeartGold and Pokémon SoulSilver, Celebi would take you back in time for an epic battle with none other than Team Rocket’s boss, Giovanni!
Goh also found the shrine in the Pokémon Journeys: The Series episode “Time After Time!” while on a catching spree in Ilex Forest. During his foray, he found a note from a childhood friend on the shrine, which reunited him with a long-lost friend!
You can bring home a friend inspired by the lore of the Ilex Forest Shrine with a Celebi Sitting Cuties plush.
Goldenrod City
It’s the “Happening Big City!”
Goldenrod City lived up to its “Happening Big City” tagline with its high-class department store, radio tower, and—you guessed it—Pokémon Gym that sowed fear into Trainers for generations. It’s here you battled Whitney in the Pokémon video games, and if you weren’t prepared for her Miltank’s Rollout attack, you were likely sent packing to the Pokémon Center.
Notice: If you click on the YouTube video above, you will leave Pokemon.com. The Pokémon Company International is not responsible for the content of any linked website that is not operated by The Pokémon Company International. Please note that these websites’ privacy policies and security practices may differ from The Pokémon Company International’s standards.
Ash had the same experience battling her in the Pokémon the Series episode “A Goldenrod Opportunity,” so you’re in good company. You’ll see plenty of what Goldenrod City has to offer in the episode, alongside the exciting battle between Ash’s Pikachu and Whitney’s Miltank. The saga continues in “A Dairy Tale Ending,” where Ash visits a Miltank farm and learns more about the Pokémon before his big rematch!
Goldenrod City remains so iconic that you can even see the Goldenrod Radio Tower in the background of numerous Pokémon TCG cards! There’s no Miltank card artwork featuring the memorable tower, but you can always channel the might of Whitney’s trusted partner Pokémon in your next battle.
National Park
We all needed a breather after a heated battle with Whitney, and there was perhaps no location more serene in Johto than the National Park. Filled with leisurely people, delightful vegetation, benches galore, and—of course—Pokémon, this placid park reminded us to take a moment and relax. At least until it’s Bug-type catching time.
Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday in Pokémon Gold, Pokémon Silver, Pokémon Crystal, Pokémon HeartGold, and Pokémon SoulSilver, the National Park hosts a Bug Catching Contest where the Trainer who catches the most impressive Bug-type Pokémon wins! The grand prize is none other than a Sun Stone. Perhaps more importantly: participating in the contest was the only way to catch Scyther and Pinsir in these games.
Ash and Casey participated in the Bug Catching Contest in the Pokémon the Series episode “The Bug Stops Here,” and Ash ended up winning the whole thing by catching the always-intimidating Beedrill! He eventually gifted the Beedrill to Casey, so Beedrill never battled on Ash’s team, but it’s a buzzingly good piece of trivia. If you want to make even more memories with the National Park, you can find a lovely poster featuring the center fountain, a puzzle to piece the scene together yourself, and more!
Ecruteak City
It doesn’t get more Johto than Ecruteak City. Here stands the site of the Burned Tower, where you first encountered Raikou, Entei, and Suicune in Pokémon Gold, Pokémon Silver, Pokémon Crystal, Pokémon HeartGold, and Pokémon SoulSilver. Legend has it that these Pokémon perished in the fire that destroyed the Brass Tower but were resurrected by Ho-Oh. You could encounter Ho-Oh yourself at the top of the Tin Tower in Pokémon Gold and the top of the Bell Tower in Pokémon HeartGold.
Notice: If you click on the YouTube video above, you will leave Pokemoncentertcg.com. The Pokémon Company International is not responsible for the content of any linked website that The Pokémon Company International does not operate. Please note that these websites’ privacy policies and security practices may differ from The Pokémon Company International’s standards.
You might also remember battling the Kimono Girls at the Ecruteak Dance Theater, where they each unveiled their Eevee Evolution of choice. The Kimono Girls play a key role in helping you encounter Ho-Oh in Pokémon HeartGold and Lugia in Pokémon SoulSilver, contributing to the legend of these two Pokémon. In the Pokémon Evolutions episode “The Show,” you can witness a Kimono Girls performance with some superstar attendees, including Ecruteak City’s Gym Leader Morty, plus a pair of Pikachu resembling the newly-released Johto Region Paired Pikachu plush!
Olivine City
Speaking of Gym Leaders, do you remember helping Jasmine and Amphy the Ampharos at the Olivine Lighthouse? In Pokémon Gold, Pokémon Silver, Pokémon Crystal, Pokémon HeartGold, and Pokémon SoulSilver, you lent a hand by delivering medicine to Jasmine and Amphy so the lighthouse could shine bright once again—and, of course, so you could ultimately battle Jasmine and her Steel-type Pokémon.
Ash, Misty, and Brock gave Jasmine a hand in nursing Amphy to health in the Pokémon the Series episode “Fight for the Light,” so if you’re looking for another heartwarming experience featuring Amphy, you can find the full episode where the gang explores Olivine City. Ash and Jasmine’s eventual battle in “Nerves of Steelix” is available to watch, too!
You’ll notice that Jasmine from the Scarlet & Violet—Surging Sparks expansion and Ampharos from the HeartGold & SoulSilver expansion feature the Olivine Lighthouse in the background, further solidifying the lighthouse, Jasmine, and Ampharos as true icons of the Johto region. And you can brighten your space with an Ampharos of your own by picking up an Ampharos Sitting Cuties plush.
The Lake of Rage
We couldn’t go down the Johto memory lane without shouting out the Lake of Rage, one of the most recognizable Pokémon video game locations. It’s here where most Trainers probably encountered their first-ever Shiny Pokémon—the especially violent red Gyarados forced to evolve by Team Rocket. Catching the Gyarados was optional, but who could pass up such an opportunity? In Pokémon Generations, you can watch Lance and his trusty Dragonite briefly take it on before felling Team Rocket and their nefarious operation.
We hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane through the Johto region, Trainers! If you want to channel the vibes of the protagonists themselves, why not bring the Johto Paired Pikachu Plush along for the ride as you rewatch and replay a well-deserved journey through Johto?
