The Shinto Ruins (Japanese: シントいせきShinto Ruins) are a location in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. It is not a part of any known region, but its entry is found in Johto.
Artwork of Arceus creating a Palkia in the Shinto Ruins
The entrance to the Shinto Ruins is at the Ruins of Alph. Bringing an Arceus from a Nintendo event here will unlock the new area, but this will only occur if the Arceus is currently the player's partner Pokémon and was traded from Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. Cynthia will be found waiting for the player, and will tell them that Arceus has the ability to create newborn Pokémon. She will escort the player into the ruins and show them an area called the Triad Stage (Japanese: みつぶたい) that is linked to Arceus's power of creation. The player will get a choice to obtain only one of either Dialga, Palkia, or Giratina at level 1, equipped with their respective orbs. Arceus must be the only Pokémon in the player's party for this to occur, and a PC is inside the cabin near the ruins for the player to use.
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.
The background music in this area is an arrangement of themes used in and on Mt. Coronet, indicating a possible connection.
The name may be a portmanteau of Shin'ō and Jōto, as it is a place where the architecture and legends of both regions meet.
It may also be a pun on the Japanese native religion of Shinto, whose creation story is heavily referenced by the dragon trio, Arceus, and Spear Pillar.
The Shinto Ruins are outside the range of the map, and therefore technically are not part of the Ruins of Alph, or the regions of Johto and Kanto. It is unknown where exactly they are in relation to Sinnoh and Mt. Coronet.
The creation event that takes place here includes real-life pictures in the game. This is the first time this has happened in any Pokémon canon.
Choosing the Giratina from the event is the only way to get a Griesous Orb in a Hg or Ss game (and therefore the only way to change a Giratina to Origin Forme in HgSs), as it cannot be traded from one game to another.
