Gate

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A lookout station

Lookout stations are prominent features of routes in the Pokémon world. They are usually placed at junctions between different routes, or placed between a route and a city.

In the games

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Inside a lookout station in Generation I

Generation I

In Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, lookout stations serve to separate two areas, and also to guard the corresponding route, which is why an Officer usually resides inside. Upon speaking to the Officer, they may offer words of advice or information about the route or city that the lookout station guards. In Generation I, certain lookout stations contained a second floor that contained a spot where binoculars could be used to see faraway landmarks, or even certain Pokémon. This generation also contained certain lookout stations that prohibited entry until the Officer, who claimed to be thirsty, was given a drink that could be bought at the Celadon Department Store. These lookout stations all lead to Saffron City.

Generation II

Much like Generation I, lookout stations serve to separate two areas. Unlike other buildings, the player can often ride their bicycle through these buildings to guarantee fast transportation. Randy, a non-player character, will give a Spearow to the player in the lookout station north of Goldenrod City.

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Red inside a lookout station in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

Generation III

Lookout stations were sparse in the Generation III games set in Hoenn. There are just two lookout stations, each connected to the Seaside Cycling Road. Players may not ride bicycles as they travel away from the Cycling Road, but are forced upon their bicycle if traveling toward it. If the bicycle has not been obtained, they may not enter.

In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, lookout stations serve the same purpose as in Generation I. Because players can now trade items attached to a Pokémon, the key item Tea was introduced. This served the same purpose as the drink from the original games. Professor Oak's aides will meet the player on the second floor of some lookout stations. He will check the Pokédex, and will reward the player if he or she has caught a given number. Lookout stations exist also in the Sevii Islands, giving access from the port to each town.

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Lucas, an officer, and a fisherman inside a lookout station in Pokémon Platinum

Generation IV

Much like in past generations, the lookout stations in Generation IV serve to separate two areas. In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, the player cannot ride their bicycle through these buildings, but this is possible in Pokémon Platinum. Officers do not watch over the route, but other travelers can be found inside, as well as a map showing the player's current location.

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Ethan and Larvitar in a Lookout station in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

Practical use

The lookout stations, however, also have a practical use within the games' programming. As a player moves from route to city, the map tilesets (textures in Generation IV) must be loaded for each. While this is easy when a city connects to relatively few routes, where all can use the same tileset, areas like Saffron City and Jubilife City, which connect to many different areas, would need to load multiple tilesets/textures, potentially slowing down the game or even crashing it. The programmers, realizing this, broke up the overworld with these gatehouses to assure crash-free gameplay, and to properly display the routes/towns/cities.

List of lookout stations

Connecting areas		Region	Notes
Route 1	Viridian City	Kanto	Only in Generation IV.
Route 5	Saffron City	Kanto	Officer requires Fresh Water, Soda Pop, or Lemonade to pass in Generation I, or Tea in Generation III.
Route 6	Saffron City	Kanto	Officer requires Fresh Water, Soda Pop, or Lemonade to pass in Generation I, or Tea in Generation III.
Route 7	Saffron City	Kanto	Officer requires Fresh Water, Soda Pop, or Lemonade to pass in Generation I, or Tea in Generation III.
Route 8	Saffron City	Kanto	Officer requires Fresh Water, Soda Pop, or Lemonade to pass in Generation I, or Tea in Generation III.
Route 11	Route 12	Kanto	Has a second floor. Removed in Generation II.
Route 15	Fuchsia City	Kanto	Has a second floor.
Route 16	Celadon City	Kanto	Has a second floor; Cycling Road.
Route 18	Fuchsia City	Kanto	Has a second floor; Cycling Road.
Route 19	Fuchsia City	Kanto	Only in Generations II and IV.
Route 31	Violet City	Johto	Lyra/Ethan will give the player the Vs. Recorder in Generation IV.
Route 35	Goldenrod City	Johto	Officer will give away a Spearow with mail to deliver.
Route 36	Violet City	Johto	Generation IV only.
Route 38	Ecruteak City	Johto
Route 42	Ecruteak City	Johto
Route 43	Mahogany Town	Johto	Only lookout station within a town.
Route 46	Route 29	Johto
Route 110	Route 110	Hoenn	Entrance to Seaside Cycling Road.
Route 110	Route 110	Hoenn	Entrance to Seaside Cycling Road.
Route 114	Route 115	Hoenn	Meteor Falls; serves similar purpose.
Route 116	Verdanturf Town	Hoenn	Rusturf Tunnel; serves similar purpose.
Route 203	Oreburgh City	Sinnoh	Oreburgh Gate; serves similar purpose.
Route 206	Eterna City	Sinnoh	Cycling Road; Rowan's aide will give players the Exp. Share after they have seen at least 35 or more Pokémon on their Pokédex.
Route 206	Route 206	Sinnoh	Cycling Road
Route 208	Hearthome City	Sinnoh
Route 209	Hearthome City	Sinnoh	Blocked until the player meets Fantina (Diamond and Pearl) or until the player defeats Fantina (Pokémon Platinum)
Route 212	Hearthome City	Sinnoh
Route 213	Pastoria City	Sinnoh
Route 214	Veilstone City	Sinnoh
Route 215	Veilstone City	Sinnoh
Route 218	Jubilife City	Sinnoh	Fisherman will give the player an Old Rod.
Route 218	Canalave City	Sinnoh	Rowan's aide will upgrade the player's Pokédex so that they can see a Pokémon's forms.
Route 222	Sunyshore City	Sinnoh
Route 225	Fight Area	Sinnoh	Blocked until the player receives the National Pokédex. The person blocking it will give the player a Super Rod after receiving the National Pokédex.
Route 226	Route 228	Sinnoh