Johto was the second region introduced in the Pokémon series – making its debut in Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal. It was later revisited with the remakes of the Gen II games, titled HeartGold and SoulSilver. The Johto region is home to many new Pokémon for trainers to catch, as well as many hidden areas to discover.
Some of the areas on this list cannot be reached through normal gameplay, but require the use of a cheating device – like the GameShark. Nevertheless, these areas are located within the game’s code and can be visited by players if they wish.
10 The Missing House In Olivine City
Hidden within the code of Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal is a house in Olivine City. This house isn’t present during normal play, but with the use of one of the previously mentioned cheating devices a player can enter this house. Inside the house are a woman, and a Rhydon which seems to be suffering from an illness. After speaking to the woman the Rhydon changes into a Clefairy. One can only speculate as to why this was cut from the game. It seems like it was intended to be a fetch quest to get medicine for the Rhydon. The fact that the woman mentions the location of a pharmacy lends a little evidence to this hypothesis.
9 The Not-So-Lonely Hidden Forest
This location is another not normally reachable. Using a cheating device, the player must teach Cyndaquil the Fly move – which it can’t normally learn. When Cyndaquil uses Fly the player can find themselves in the middle of a forest. The player will be stuck unless a cheat code is entered to allow walking through barriers. The player will also notice they are not alone in the forest. Also in the forest is an NPC. This NPC will now persistently appear near the player as the game is played. In other words, Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal have an in-game Creepypasta for players to experience.
8 Slowpoke Well
This is one of those hidden areas that players find, but don’t have the necessary moves (like Surf or Strength) to allow access at the time. These out-of-the-way areas are then often forgotten as a player continues with the game. The Slowpoke Well is a location and quest in Azalea Town. The player must go down the well and rescue a Slowpoke from Team Rocket. This doesn’t take long; which makes it easier to miss the fact that the underground area continues if the player has the Surf and Strength HMs. The eventually player discovers a ladder leading down to another area. In this area is a man who gives the player the King’s Rock and TM18 (Rain Dance).
7 The Kanto Region
After beating the Elite Four and Pokémon Champion of the Johto region, many players assumed the game was over and decided to start playing another game. Those players missed out on a lot of content, because after defeating the Pokémon Champion a player can visit the Kanto region (from Gen I) and challenge the gym leaders and collect the badges of this region.
This, of course, allows players to also catch the Pokémon exclusive to the Kanto region. This nearly doubles the amount of gameplay and gives the game a more epic feel. This is a feature that should have been in every subsequent Pokémon game.
6 Two Secret Fishing Spots
There are a couple of hidden fishing spots in Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal. The first is hidden in plain sight, but still easy to miss. There are fishing spots is in Misty’s gym; located in Cerulean City (in Kanto). Inside her gym there are pools of water that can be fished by the player. The other fishing spot requires a cheating device. This is called the Map 0xDA00 map glitch. Using this code places the player in a glitched area where fishing is allowed. This allows the player to catch some very rare and powerful Pokémon - like Ho-Oh and Jolteon.
5 The Berserk Gene
This is a location/item that is incredibly easy to miss for a couple of reasons. First this secret is in the Kanto region, and it requires talking to the right person to find. Near the Unknown Dungeon in Gen I (where Mewtwo is found) there is a row of houses with a large backyard. Talking to the man in the yard reveals that a hidden item is nearby. By searching the area the player can find the Berserk Gene. This is a consumable item that raises the user’s attack power two stages, but this item also causes the user to become confused for 256 turns.
4 Whirl Islands
If the player Surfs south from Olivine City they will eventually come to a path to the left. This leads to the Whirl Islands – where a legendary Pokémon can be caught. In addition to Surf the player will also need a Pokémon in the party with the Whirlpool move. The player needs to make their way to the north-east island, get past the whirlpool, and reach the cave entrance by going around the island (using Surf one more time). Inside this cave Lugia can be caught – this is one of the best Pokémon available in the game.
3 Moltres’ Lair
Motlres is a powerful Pokémon that can be tricky to locate. To find this legendary Pokémon’s location the player will need a party of Pokémon with the Surf, Waterfall, and Rock Climb. The player will need to go to Mt. Silver. Upon entering the player needs to use Surf to get to the waterfall to the left of the entrance.
Using Waterfall will allow the player to travel up the waterfall. From here the player must go to the left use Rock Climb once to go up a level, then again to get back down. After “climbing” another waterfall the path will lead to Moltres’ lair – where this legendary Pokémon can be caught.
2 Trainer House
Once a player has access to the Kanto region they should head to Viridian City. In this city is a Trainer House that will allow players to duel against NPCs. However, there are two glitches associated with this house that change the game in dramatic ways. The Unown Glitch can cause the player to fight (and possibly catch) wild legendary Pokémon of incredibly high level. The other method is referred to as the Time Glitch, and is not nearly as useful. This method causes the player to face a trainer with a party of Pokémon that have already fainted; doing this will require the game to be reset.
1 Safari Zone
The Safari Zone in the Gen I games was a location a lot of players spent a huge amount of time. Players paid a set amount and were given some Pokéballs and a time limit to catch Pokémon in this isolated refuge. Unfortunately, after reaching the Kanto region players discover that the Safari Zone was omitted. Using a cheating device the Safari Zone in Kanto can be reached; however, it is glitched, incomplete, and the tall grass is devoid of any wild Pokémon. Players may still use the fishing rod to catch wild Pokémon though.