Which Japanese island inspired the Pokémon games’ Sinnoh region?

The Pokémon games’ Sinnoh region was inspired by Japan’s island of Hokkaido.

Sinnoh is the setting of Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, as well as their remakes Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Its broad northern geography, snowy areas, large mountain range, and surrounding seas reflect aspects of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost major island.

The region is not a direct map of Hokkaido. Game Freak rearranged and renamed locations to create routes, towns, caves, and Pokémon habitats suitable for a role-playing game. Mount Coronet divides much of Sinnoh and acts as a major geographic feature throughout the story.

Sinnoh’s real-world inspiration is part of a larger pattern in the series. Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn were also based on Japanese regions, while later settings such as Unova and Kalos drew more strongly from areas outside Japan.