The remakes Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl give players a second chance to visit the Sinnoh region 15 years after it first debuted. Known for its close attachments to legend and tradition, Sinnoh is a land of myth, where history quite literally comes to life.
Like other places in the Pokémon world, Sinnoh is full of charming towns and cities, each imbued with the region's distinctive aura of mysticism. Some of these locations perfectly represent Sinnoh's folklore, paying respect to the region's roots; others are modern and sprawling, signifying the land's constant evolutions. They all contribute to making Sinnoh one of the best regions in the Pokémon world, and fans can't wait to explore it again.
Floaroma Town
Small but charming, Floaroma Town is wholesomeness come to life. Once a barren and inhospitable hill, the town came bursting with flowers when a certain someone thanked nature for all the blessings in the world. Folklore claims the Mythical Sinnoh Pokémon Shaymin made flowers bloom, choosing the town and its Flower Paradise as its home.
With a population of just 29, there isn't much to do in Floaroma besides collecting the equipment necessary for planting berries. However, the town is worth a visit just for the pleasure of watching thousands of flowers blowing with the wind.
Snowpoint City
Every region in the Pokémon world has its obligatory wintery town. In Sinnoh's case, it's Snowpoint City, located in the northernmost part of the land. Sinnoh is home to the Ice-type Gym and one of the last locations players visit in a BDSP playthrough.
Snowpoint City also includes an ancient temple said to house the Legendary Pokémon Regigigas. Snowpoint is perpetually covered in snow, and accessing it by foot is inconvenient because of the harsh conditions in the neighboring routes and the city itself. This winter wonderland has a distinctive air of seclusion and melancholy, and while it might not be to everyone's tastes, it is undoubtedly one of Sinnoh's most distinctive settlements.
Jubilife City
The Pokémon anime claims Jubilife is Sinnoh's largest city and the sixth-largest in the Pokémon world. It is the most modernized by far, built on land carved by the residents of the neighboring Oreburgh City. Jubilife has many diversions and places of interest, including the Training School, the Poketch Company, the Sinnoh TV Station, and the Global Trade Station.
There's no gym in the city. Instead, players can spend their time enjoying the scenery and getting acquainted with the Sinnoh region. Jubilife is an early stop in the game, offering the perfect chance for new players to marvel at the region's modern aspects before delving deeper into its lore and mystery.
Eterna City
With a distinctive quiet and peaceful vibe, Eterna City is one of the oldest in Sinnoh. Nowhere is that clearer than in the music; indeed, Eterna's memorable theme ranks as one of Gen IV's most relaxing and wholesome. A statue of the version-exclusive Legendary rests on the city's eastern side, the centerpiece of Eterna's appeal.
The grass-type gym leader, Gardenia, calls Eterna home. Other notable places include Team Galactic's building on the north side and the bicycle shop on the south. Squeezed in between Eterna Forest and Mt. Coronet, Eterna seems like a land stuck in the same place. It's safe, reliable, familiar, and a great place to grow old in, eventually.
Veilstone City
Veilstone City has quite a distinctive look. "Hewn from the rock," the welcoming plaque reads, correctly capturing the location's essence in just a few words. Veilstone's houses and buildings rise above the ground in small rocky platforms, islands of stone that turn the once asphalt streets into grey rivers.
Maylene, the Fighting-type gym leader, awaits new challengers in Veilstone. Team Galactic has another building there, but the city's most famous landmark is the department store, which towers above all neighboring structures and sells all kinds of goodies, including useful and convenient items for Pokémon battles. Finally, the Veilstone Game Corner adds to the city's mischievous air, turning it into a one-of-a-kind spot in the otherwise demure Sinnoh.
Pastoria City
Pastoria City is notorious for being near the region's most prominent swamp, the Great Marsh. An Eden for Water-type Pokémon, Pastoria is logically home to the Water Gym, led by the extravagant Crasher Wake. Surrounded by trees and water, Pastoria is almost a hideaway, a haven from the outside world.
There are few places of interest besides the gym and the marsh, although the Scarf Guy and the Move Reminder live in houses to the east. However, experiencing the calm and naturalistic vibe should be reason enough for any player to want to stay in Pastoria City.
Celestic Town
When talking about Sinnoh's myth, all roads lead to Ceelstic Town. The living embodiment of the region's folklore, Celestic is a tiny town of only 22 inhabitants who go to considerable lengths to preserve Sinnoh's traditions and old ways of life.
Cynthia, the best league champion in Pokémon, has plenty of relatives living in Celestic. However, the town's most famous location is the ruins at its center, with walls that depict the legend of Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie. Celestic's importance in Sinnoh history cannot be understated, as it represents the very history upon which the entire region rises.
Sunnyshore City
Sunnyshore is the last city that players visit in the Gen IV games. It's home to the electric-type gym, led by the ever-debonair Volkner. In many ways, Sunnyshore is Sinnoh's most futuristic settlement, perhaps even more than Jubilife, thanks to its solar panels that power every aspect of the city, from the roads to the houses.
The city's one downside is that it only has one entrance, Route 222, which remains blocked until after the player defeats the region's villainous organization, Team Galactic, and catches the box-art Legendary. Still, it's worth the wait. Sunnyshore lives up to its reputation, embodying the brighter tomorrow that Sinnoh strives for every day.
Canalave City
Lying on the westernmost side of Sinnoh, Canalave City seems detached from the region, at least at first sight. Narrow and shaped like an elongated H, Canalave still makes the most out of its space, housing the region's only library, a treasure chest of information for all those interested in Sinnoh's extensive lore. The city also includes a steel-type gym, the Move Reminder's house, and a mysterious building that seems perpetually locked.
Canalave stands out for its distinctive and exotic air, a foreign aspect that makes it seem not entirely at home in Sinnoh. At the same time, the city captures everything that Sinnoh represents, blending past and present to achieve true balance. Canalave's other distinctive feature is the music. Indeed, its theme is a piano melody unlike any other, a soothing tune that evokes memories from a melancholy past.
Hearthome City
Super contests play a prominent role in the Sinnoh region. They are a way of life, almost as crucial as Pokémon training. Hearthome City, one of the best locations to visit in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, is home to the Super Contest Hall, where Pokémon contests occur. Hearthome is the fifth-largest city in the Pokémon world and the center of Sinnoh's social life.
Hearthome has several other locations that make it the ultimate destination in Sinnoh. Trainers can challenge Fantina, one of the leading ghost-type trainers in the Pokémon world, at the city's gym. The Poffin House allows players to cook treats to enhance their Pokémon's qualities. The Pokémon Fan Club, one of the franchise's sweetest aspects, also has a chapter in Hearthome. Finally, the city houses a church-like structure, making it one of the few religious references in a Pokémon game.