From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

Lavender Town (Japanese: シオンタウン Sion Town) is a small town located in northeast Kanto, just south of the Rock Tunnel.

The citizens of Lavender Town in Generations I, III, and VII claim Lavender Town is known mainly for ghost sightings in the Pokémon Tower and as the main gravesite of Pokémon. In Generations II and IV, the town is noticeably modernized with the inclusion of a broadcasting station. The citizens claim the ghosts that appear in the Tower are the spirits of Pokémon that have died.

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.

Slogan

Generations I-III

The Noble Purple Town (Japanese: シオンは むらさき とうとい いろ Sion is the color of purple nobility.)

Generation IV

The Noble Town (Japanese: とうとさの にじむ まち The town oozing with nobleness.)

Places of interest

Pokémon Tower

Main article: Pokémon Tower

In Generations I, III, and VII, 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. Prior to the player's visit, 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 the player confronted it, calming her spirit and allowing her to pass on into the afterlife.

The Ghost-type Pokémon in the tower appear to have a unique ability to disguise themselves as literal ghosts. Any Pokémon who attempts to fight ghosts without the trainer having a Silph Scope will be "too scared to move" and hence will be unable to attack or do anything else except run. However, the Silph Scope will reveal their true natures and identity, allowing the Pokémon to be engaged in battle.

Kanto Radio Tower

In Generations 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 Kanto 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. The stairs in Generation II lead down into a basement instead of up into the tower, but the player is blocked by a guard.

Lavender Volunteer Pokémon House

The inside of the Volunteer House

The Lavender Volunteer Pokémon House (Japanese: あいのボランティアポケモンハウス Caring Volunteer Pokémon House), located in central Lavender Town, was founded by Mr. Fuji in order 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.

A newborn Cubone has been Mr. Fuji's biggest concern ever since the attack on the Pokémon Tower and the death of its mother at the hands of Team Rocket, with him 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 player then uses this flute to progress the game.

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.

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 southeastern 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.

Silph Scope advertisement

In Generation I and FireRed and LeafGreen, there's a sign advertising the Silph Scope.

New SILPH SCOPE!

Make the Invisible Plain to See!

SILPH CO.



Demographics

Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow

Lavender Town's population is 36. Most of these people are inside the Pokémon Tower.

Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal

Lavender Town's population is 27. This decline is due to the Pokémon Tower being converted into the Kanto Radio Tower.

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

Items

Pokémon

Generation VII

Pokémon Games Location Levels Rate While riding a Flying Pokémon Pidgey P E Midair 3-56 60% Pidgeotto P E Midair 3-56 35% Pidgeot P E Midair 3-56 5% Special Pokémon Diglett

Alolan Form P E Trade

Diglett 25 Unlimited 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.

Trainers

Generation VII

Difference between generations

Generation I, III and VII

Lavender Town is very consistent in the way of layout, with a Pokémon Center in the northwestern 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 southeastern 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 later generations 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 graphics have been upgraded.

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 northwestern 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

Lavender Town in the anime

In the main series

Lavender Town appeared in The Tower of Terror, where Ash traveled there to catch a Ghost-type Pokémon to fight Sabrina, and ended up befriending a Haunter. Focused mainly on the Pokémon Tower, its features are very different to its in-game design. The tower is home to some playful Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar. When Ash and Pikachu were flying with the Ghost Pokémon, Lavender Town's skyscrapers were seen in the background.

The Battle Dome is located south of Lavender Town.



In Pokémon Origins

Lavender Town played a major role in File 2: Cubone. After making his way to Lavender Town through Rock Tunnel, Red soon heard how Team Rocket had taken over the Pokémon Tower as their new base, and that Mr. Fuji, a local resident, had been captured by them when he had tried to convince them to leave. Willing to help driving Team Rocket away and save Mr. Fuji, Red volunteered to go into the tower, despite the persistent rumors of a ghost appearing there.

Blue, overhearing the conversation, decided save Mr. Fuji himself and become the hero instead of Red. However, on the fifth floor of the Pokémon Tower, he encountered a ghost, which chased him down several floors, where here encountered Red. As Red bravely stayed to battle the ghost, Blue snuck past them back upstairs, where he stole a Silph Scope from a Team Rocket Grunt. He took the Scope to Red, who was able to use it to identify the ghost as the mother of Cubone, Marowak, who had been killed by Team Rocket. After the ghost of Marowak had been calmed down, Red entered the top floor, defeated Team Rocket in a battle, and saved Mr. Fuji. As a thanks for driving Team Rocket away, Mr. Fuji gave Red a Poké Flute and a pair of mysterious gems. Afterwards, Red departed Lavender Town to continue his journey.

Lavender Town made a reappearance in File 4: Charizard, where Mr. Fuji learned from Reina how Blue had been defeated by a really strong Psychic-type Pokémon at the Cerulean Cave. Hearing this, Mr. Fuji understood what the Pokémon in question was. Later, when Red headed to Cerulean Cave to catch the Pokémon, Mewtwo, Mr. Fuji, upon hearing of this, understood that Red's only hope of victory lied within the stones he had given him, revealed to be a Key Stone and a Charizardite X from the Kalos region. Sure enough, his prediction soon came true, as Red managed to use the stones to Mega Evolve his Charizard and defeat Mewtwo, giving him a chance to catch it.

In the manga

Lavender Town in The Electric Tale of Pikachu

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga

Ash visited Lavender Town in Haunting My Dreams. After reuniting with Brock and challenging Sabrina in Saffron City, they traveled to Lavender Town to stop a giant Haunter called the Black Fog, which was sucking out people and Pokémon's souls with its Dream Eater. Although Ash's plan to contain the Black Fog in a giant Poké Ball failed, escaping from it weakened Black Fog enough for it to become able to be caught in a regular Poké Ball. However, when Ash tried to catch the Ghost type, it opted to kill itself with Self-Destruct rather than let itself be caught by a human.

Lavender Town in Pokémon Adventures

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Lavender Town appeared in Sigh For Psyduck and That Awful Arbok!. After arriving to the town, Red met Mr. Fuji, and learned that Blue had disappeared into the ghost-infested Pokémon Tower two weeks earlier. Wanting to figure out what was going on, Red also entered the tower, encountering multiple zombie Pokémon and a mind-controlled Blue there. With Saur's help, Red was able to free Blue from the control of the Gastly that was possessing him and the zombies. Together, he and Blue found out that the culprit behind everything was Koga, an elite member of Team Rocket. Although Koga tried to kill the two with his Arbok, Blue was able to defeat it with his Charmeleon, allowing the two Trainers to escape the tower alive.

Pokémon House in Pokémon Zensho

In the Pokémon Zensho manga

Lavender Town appeared in Celadon City. After visiting the Pokémon House, Satoshi entered the Pokémon Tower, but was scared away by the ghosts inside. He then witnessed a couple of Team Rocket Grunts and overheard them talking about the Silph Scope, deciding to follow them. After visiting Celadon City and obtaining both the Rainbow Badge and a Silph Scope, Satoshi returned to Lavender Town and started climbing the tower, now being able to recognize the ghosts inside as Ghost-type Pokémon. At the top floor, he met Mr. Fuji and confronted Giovanni. However, thanks to the Marowak ghost, Team Rocket was driven off, allowing Mr. Fuji to calm Marowak's spirit and thus let it pass on to the afterlife.



Trivia

In the German versions, Lavender Town is called Lavandia, which is the same as the French name of Mauville City.

In the Japanese edition of the Christian Bible, Mount Zion is called シオンの 山 Mount Shion , which is the same as the Japanese name of Lavender Town.

, which is the same as the Japanese name of Lavender Town. Contrary to popular belief, the Lavender Town background music was not altered between releases in Generation I.

In the Generation I games, after rescuing Mr. Fuji atop the Pokémon Tower, the player is automatically warped to his house, landing on the welcome mat's right tile. Due to an oddity, if the player then tries to immediately turn around and leave without moving from the tile, they will be unable to (even after saving and resetting the game). Walking at least one tile in any direction will restore the normal behavior of the mat's tile.

Name origin

Language Name Origin Japanese シオンタウン Shion Town From 紫苑色 shion-iro, the light purple color of the 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 Spanish Pueblo Lavanda From lavanda, lavender Ciudad Lavender * From its English name Korean 보라타운 Bora Town From 보라 bora, violet Chinese ( Mandarin ) 紫苑鎮 / 紫苑镇 Zǐyuàn Zhèn From 紫苑 zǐyuàn, purple garden Chinese ( Cantonese ) 紫苑鎮 Jíyún Jan' From 紫苑 jíyún, purple garden Czech Levandulové město From levandule (lavender) and město (town, city) Norwegian Lavender Town Same as English name Polish Lawandia From its German name Brazilian Portuguese Cidade de Lavender *

Cidade de Lavanda *

Cidade Lavender * From its English name Russian Лавандия Lavandiya From лаванда lavanda (lavandula), similar to English name Swedish Lavenderstaden From English name Vietnamese Thị trấn Shion Transliteration of its Japanese name





