Pokémon Gold and Silver are primarily set in the Johto region.
Johto is situated west of Kanto, the setting of Pokémon Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow. The games let players explore a new landscape while also returning to Kanto after completing the main Johto adventure.
Gold and Silver introduced 100 new Pokémon, bringing the total number of known species to 251 at the time. They also added features such as a day-and-night cycle, breeding, held items, and Pokémon with different genders.
The region draws heavily on Japan's Kansai and Tōkai areas. Its towns include traditional architecture and landmarks, making Johto feel culturally distinct from the more modern Kanto setting.