Lavender Town
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Map description
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Location  Location of Lavender Town in Kanto. | |||||||||||||||
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Lavender Town (Japanese: シオンタウン Cion Town) is a small town located in northeast Kanto, just south of the Rock Tunnel. Though the Lavender Town of Generation I and Generation III is known mainly for ghost sightings in the Pokémon Tower and as the main gravesite of Pokémon, it is noticeably modernized in Generation II and Generation IV with the inclusion of a broadcasting station.
According to the citizens of the town during Generations I and III, Lavender Town is known as the grave site of Pokémon. All the memorial services are held in Pokémon Tower. According to local citizens, the ghosts that appear in the Tower are the spirits of Pokémon that have died or were killed (the latter is the case with the mother Marowak in the tower, which died at Team Rocket's hands). North of Lavender is Route 10 and the Rock Tunnel. West of the town is Route 8, while to the south is Route 12 and the Silence Bridge.
Places of interest
Pokémon Tower
- Main article: Pokémon Tower
In Generation I, Pokémon Tower is a seven-floor graveyard that holds the grave of departed Pokémon. On all seven floors, the tower houses hundreds of graves of deceased Pokémon. Many people visit the building daily to pay their respects to the fallen. On all floors other than the first two, though, the possibility of being attacked by wild Pokémon is present. Populated by Channelers, it was notable for numerous ghost sightings (Pokémon killed by Team Rocket), as well as the location of Team Rocket's kidnapping of Mr. Fuji. Although players can encounter Ghost-type Pokémon here, they can not be seen or captured unless they have a Silph Scope.
Aside from graves, the tower is home to wild Cubone as well as many Ghost-type Pokémon. In Generation I and Generation III, Team Rocket tried to steal the Cubone to sell their valuable skulls. In the process, a mother Marowak that was protecting her Cubone child was killed. The ghost of the mother Marowak haunted the tower until Red/Leaf was able to knock it out, setting her spirit free. The Ghost-type Pokémon in the tower appear to have a unique ability to disguise themselves as the ghosts of humans. However, a Silph Scope will reveal their true natures and identity, allowing the Pokémon to be engaged in battle. Any Pokémon who attempts to fight ghosts without a Silph Scope will be "too scared to move."
- Generation I
May the Souls of
POKéMON Rest Easy
POKéMON TOWER
- Generation III
Kanto Radio Tower
In Generation II and IV, the tower was converted to the Kanto Radio Tower, with all graves being moved to either the House of Memories or underground. The new House of Memories is placed where the Poké Mart has been before. The Kanto radio tower can be entered, like its Johto counterpart, but only the ground floor, as the upper floors are completely off limits. This was done to prevent a similar take over that was seen in Johto. Talking to the receptionist on the ground floor, the player can receive a Pokégear radio card for Kanto.
The Radio Tower broadcasts music and radio programs, including the Poké Flute channel, to the radios and Pokégear of Kanto. After restoring power to Kanto by fixing the generator at the Power Plant, Trainers can receive the EXPN Card from the manager of the tower, allowing Pokégears to tune into the Poké Flute channel, which can be used to move Snorlax from its slumber. Unlike the Goldenrod Radio Tower in Goldenrod City, only one floor, the ground floor, is open to the public as a result of Team Rocket's infiltration of the Goldenrod tower. The stairs in Generation II lead down into a basement instead of up into the tower, but the player is blocked by a guard.
- Generation II
KANTO RADIO
STATION
Your Favorite
Programs On-Air
Around the Clock!
- Generation IV
Lavender Volunteer Pokémon House
The Lavender Volunteer Pokémon House, located in central Lavender Town, was founded by Mr. Fuji. The organization exists to care for abandoned and orphaned Pokémon. Many members of the organization live in the safe house, looking after the abandoned Pokémon. Many Pokémon have stayed at the Volunteer Pokémon House over time, including Psyduck, Nidorino and after the Team Rocket attack on the Pokémon Tower, Cubone. Cubone has been Mr. Fuji's biggest concern ever since the attack on the Pokémon Tower and the death of its mother, praying for it every night and caring for it everyday in the Volunteer Pokémon House. After going through the Pokémon Tower and defeating Team Rocket, Mr. Fuji will give the player a Poké Flute in gratitude.
The Lavender Volunteer Pokémon House is in fact Mr. Fuji's own house, however, it is designed for abandoned Pokémon. There is a pen in the corner for Pokémon to play in, and a kitchen area that has a delicious smelling odor admitting from it. There are also Pokémon magazines lined on the shelf, such as the Pokémon Insider, Pokémon Fan, and on the table there is an open copy of Pokémon Fan Magazine with a clipping of the Monthly Grand Prize Draw application form missing. In addition to this there are several different kind of pot plants around the room and a TV with a show about a Pokémon having fun.
- Generations I/II
LAVENDER VOLUNTEER
POKéMON HOUSE
- Generation III
- Generation IV
Name Rater
- Main article: Name Rater
The Name Rater is located in the south end of town, and allows the player to change, or grant a nickname to any of their Pokémon. If the Pokémon was caught by the player that currently owns it, he'll say that the name could be better and offer the player the option of changing it. If the Pokémon he's judging was obtained via a trade, he will say that the name is perfect and refuse to change it. However, if both players have identical Trainer IDs and secret IDs, he will allow name changes.
House of Memories
- Main article: House of Memories
The House of Memories, named Soul House in Generation II, is a small building located on the south-eastern side of Lavender Town during the events of Generation II and IV. The House of Memories was built to hold graves from the Pokémon Tower when it was converted to the Kanto Radio Tower. There are many chambers within the building, but they cannot be accessed by anyone other than Mr. Fuji. There are no wild Pokémon or Trainer battles found within the House of Memories.
- Generation II
SOUL HOUSE
May the Souls Of
POKéMON Rest Easy
- Generation IV
Silph Scope advertisement
In Generation I and FireRed and LeafGreen, there's a sign advertising the Silph Scope.
- Generation I
New SILPH SCOPE!
Make the Invisible
Plain to See!
SILPH CO.
- Generation III
Demographics
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
Lavender Town's population is 41. Most of the population here are brought up living around the Pokémon Tower, so they believe in ghosts and they are very religious, attending services at the Tower and praying for Pokémon's well-being. The number makes it the third largest settlement in Kanto.
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the population of Lavender Town is 30. Lavender Town suffered a large decline in population from FireRed and LeafGreen to HeartGold and SoulSilver.
Poké Mart
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Items
| Item | Location | Games | |
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Poké Flute | Obtained from Mr. Fuji after the player defeats Team Rocket in the Pokémon Tower. | R B Y FR LG |
Difference between generations
Generation I and III
Lavender Town is very consistent in the way of layout, a Pokémon Center in the north-western district of the town, the Pokémon Tower on the eastern side of town, the Lavender Volunteer Pokémon House, located in central Lavender Town, the Name Rater and other residential house on the southern side, and the Poké Mart located on the south-eastern side. The Pokémon Tower in Generation I is cave-like on the outside with the Tower covered by rocks and mountain, however, this isn't the case in Generation III and the building is a complete tower. Apart from this, most aesthetic features have been enhanced. Trees have become bigger, the cement road has been changed to a gravel path, flowers are more visible and most other sprites have been upgraded to Generation III standards.
Generation II and IV
In Generation II and IV only, the tower was converted into a Radio Tower, broadcasting music and radio programs, including the Poké Flute channel, to the radios and Pokégear of Kanto. Unlike the Goldenrod Radio Tower in Goldenrod City, only one floor, the ground floor, is open to the public as a result of Team Rocket's infiltration of the Goldenrod tower. The stairs in Generation II lead down into a basement instead of up into the tower, but the player is blocked by a guard.
To compensate for the loss of the burial site, the graves were moved to a small building, the Soul House, at the south end of the town. Most of them were placed in secret chambers that only Mr. Fuji knows about. In Generation IV, the Soul House was renamed House of Memories. The House of Memories was built over the Poké Mart, which was relocated next to the Pokémon Center in the north-western district of Lavender Town.
In the spin-off games
In Pokémon Pinball
In Pokémon Pinball, Lavender Town appears on the Red table; catchable Pokémon include Pidgey, Ekans, Mankey, Growlithe, Magnemite, Gastly, Cubone, Electabuzz and Zapdos.
In the anime
In the anime, Ash travels to Lavender Town to catch a Ghost-type Pokémon to fight Sabrina, and ends up befriending a Haunter. Only the Pokémon Tower is seen during the episode and it is different from the tower in the games. The tower is home to some playful Gengar, Haunter and Gastly. The Battle Dome is also located near the city.
In the manga
In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga
In the The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga, Ash visits Lavender Town in the chapter Haunting My Dreams. After reuniting with Brock and challenging Sabrina in Saffron City, they travel to Lavender Town when a giant Haunter who has been terrorizing people and Pokémon in the area for years sucks out Sabrina's soul. Originally planning to capture the Haunter, known as the Black Fog, it explodes using Selfdestruct rather than allow itself to be captured by humans.
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
In the Red, Green & Blue arc of the Pokémon Adventures manga, Lavender Town appears in Sigh For Psyduck and again in That Awful Arbok!. Red was traveling through Lavender Town when it was raining, trying to ask for a place to shelter, but the townspeople did not listen. Then, a man named Mr. Fuji came up to Red whilst paying his respects to his Doduo, which had passed away. At Mr. Fuji's home, Fuji told Red about a cemetery that was haunted by ghosts, then telling Red that the townspeople wouldn't listen because they were afraid of the ghosts. He later told Red that Blue had passed through, had gone to Lavender Tower, and hadn't come back for months.
So Red went there to investigate and found many gravestones. Then a Psyduck came out from behind the shadows only to find out it was a zombie, then other zombie Pokémon came out. Red decided to attack with Bulbasaur's Razor Leaf to only do nothing, until Bulbasaur used Vine Whip which turned it to dust and bones. Suddenly all the other zombie Pokémon started attacking, under the control of a ghost. Red then saw Blue with his Charmeleon started attacking Red, suddenly a Gastly appeared only to be attacked by Blue which took the curse of Blue and his Charmeleon with a bit of help from Red. Suddenly, Koga appeared with an Arbok which was spewing venom everywhere. After a big battle, Blue's Charmeleon cut Arbok in half, and Koga made a hasty getaway with his Golbat. Mr. Fuji's Doduo had a place to rest in peace.
Trivia
- Lavender Town's Japanese motto is シオンは むらさき とうとい いろ "Shion is the color of purple nobility."
- In the German versions, Lavender Town is called Lavandia, the same name as the French for Mauville City.
- Its English motto before Generation IV was "The Noble Purple Town".
- In the Japanese edition of the Christian Bible, Mt. Zion is called シオンの山 Shion no San, which is the same as the Japanese name of Lavender Town.
- There's a popular urban legend about "The Lavender Town Tone", where the music caused children from 7-12 that caused a string of illnesses and suicides in Japan after hearing the music. The music was changed in the US Version with Nintendo given no reason for the change.
Name origin
| Language | Name | Origin |
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| Japanese | シオンタウン Cion Town | 紫苑色 (shion iro) refers to the purple color of Tatarian Aster. |
| English | Lavender Town | From lavender, a pale purple color. |
| French | Lavanville | From lavande, lavender, and ville, town. |
| German | Lavandia | From Lavendel, lavender. |
| Italian | Lavandonia | From lavanda, lavender. |
| Polish | Lawandia | From German Lavandia. |
| Czech | Levandulové město | Levandule means lavender (a type of flower) and město means city or town. |
| Spanish | Pueblo Lavanda Ciudad Lavender |
From pueblo, village, and lavanda, lavender. |
| Brazil (anime) | Cidade de Lavanda | Lavanda means lavender. |
| Korean | 보라타운 Bora Town | 보라 (bora) means violet. |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 紫苑鎮/紫苑镇 Zǐyuàn Zhèn | From its Japanese name. 紫苑 (zǐyuàn) literally means "purple garden." |
| Chinese (Cantonese) | 紫苑鎮 Jíyún Jan | From its Japanese name. |
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This article is part of Project Cities and Towns, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on every city and town in the Pokémon world. |
