8 top cities for Pokemon Go players in Asia and beyond

Still can’t get enough of Pokemon Go? Nab the region-specific Pokemon and up your chances of catching as many as you can, while exploring these cities. From Tokyo to New York, here’s a list of the top places to go.

Explore top must-sees around the world while trying to catch them all on mobile game Pokemon Go, in your pursuit to become one of the very best Pokemon masters around.

While we’re not suggesting that you have your eyes perpetually glued to your screen throughout the trip (do watch for traffic!), you can get more mileage out of your trip by seeking out the region-specific Pokemon to add to your Pokedex. Another perk: the distances you cover while wandering around cities could easily hatch more than a few Pokemon eggs.

So if you’re infected with that feverish desire to catch them all, here are some places you should consider visiting during your upcoming trips.

Taipei, Taiwan

Image: @valfrid.chen0427/ Instagram

You might just run into Farfetch’d, the region-specific pokemon you can only find in Asia while walking around the busy streets of Taipei. Flock towards landmarks such as Taipei 101 (which is incidentally a Pokemon gym) in the Xinyi district. Other Pokemon spotted in the area include Pikachu, Eevee and Golduck.

Eevee spotted at Taipei 101. Image: @andriahuang/Instagram

Another popular Pokemon Go stop is Taipei Zoo, where users have shared in-game snaps of creatures such as Sandshrew, Farfetch’d, Pikachu, Eevee as well as the usual Pidgey and Bellsprout in the game. Other sites of interest to Pokemon trainers include Taipei Main Station and Taipei Songshan Tobacco Plant.

Sandshrew spotted at Taipei Zoo. Image: @mikeofkings1/ Instagram

Tokyo, Japan

As any good Pokemon Go player would know, the creatures tend to converge around busy city centres and Tokyo is no exception. Tourist sites such as Senso-ji Temple, Meiji-Jigu Shrine and Tokyo Tower are chock full of Pokemon sightings while the busy districts of Shibuya, Akihabara and Roppongi are as popular for its many PokeStops. The region-specific Pokemon Farfetch’d can also be found within the city too.

A Dratini sighted at Ueno Park. Image: @shokotam/ Instagram

Savvy trainers might wish to explore the city’s many parks as well. Highlights include Ueno Park, which attracted mini stampedes at Ueno Park due to the Dratini nest near the Shinobazu Pond, reported news blog Rocket News 24.

If you’re willing to travel a bit further for Pokemon, another must-visit is the Hamacho Park in Chuo Ward. According to Rocket News 24, it’s full of PokeStops and a selection of harder to find pokemon such as Abra, Kadabra, Lickitung and Scyther.

Hong Kong

This densely populated city is just as full of Pokemon; just make sure to watch where you’re going so that you don’t bump into other commuters.

Shop and explore districts such as Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok on foot, walk along the coastline of Hong Kong Island (Central Pier is a popular spot) and still catch Pokemon before heading home at the Hong Kong Airport. You can also refer to this map by South China Morning Post to suss out the city’s many PokeStops.

The crowds at Victoria Park. Image: @stevenkwok12/ Instagram

According to this Pokemon Go Reddit thread for Hong Kong, parks and gardens that trainers should flock to include Kowloon Tsai Park (for Electabuzz), Victoria Park (Pikachu, Staryu, Eevee and sometimes rarer finds like Lapras and Snorlax), Po Tsui Park (Jynx), Morse Park (Machops) and Signal Hill Garden (Farfetch’d).

One particular hotel, Ovolo Hotel in Hong Kong has also made the news by branding as the city’s most Pokemon Go-friendly hotel. It regularly releases lures to attract Pokemon while offering charging stations, themed cocktails and prizes for aspiring Pokemon masters.

Sydney, Australia

Kangaskhan spotted at Central railway station. Image: @panyingchu/ Instagram

Sightings of the Kangaroo-like Pokemon Kangaskhan have centred in Australasia so far. Players in Australia have shared snaps of the Pokemon on social media, at attractions such as Sydney’s Central Railway Station as well as seemingly random spots at playgrounds, grassy patches and even at carpark lots.

Psyduck spotted at Sydney Opera House. Image: @leukeh/ Instagram

In terms of more picturesque destinations, must-visit PokeStops include the area around Sydney Circular Quay (Pikachu, Sandslash, Vulpix, Jigglypuff), Darling Harbour (Psyduck, Poliwhirl, Magnemite), Surry Hills (Blastoise, Seel, Cubone). If you’re looking for more locations, see the lists by Finder.com.au for common sightings of Pokemon in Sydney, Melbourne and other cities in Australia.

Singapore

The city’s full of Pokemon Go enthusiasts, some of whom have compiled a detailed map on Pokemon sightings throughout the island.

A Snorlax at the Singapore Zoo. Image: @aud3863/ Instagram

Popular tourist (and Pokemon Go) destinations visitors should visit include Marina Bay Sands, Sentosa island (particularly the Resorts World Sentosa attractions), Esplanade, the group of zoological parks (Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Safari) at Mandai, as well as malls such as VivoCity and ION Orchard.

Tentacruel at the Esplanade waterfront. Image: @skipintro/ Instagram

As with many other cities in the world, the parks are the go-to for more unusual finds. This includes UNESCO World Heritage site Singapore Botanic Gardens, along with the cool conservatories of Gardens by the Bay, plus neighbourhood parks such as Yishun Park.

London, United Kingdom

See the best of London, while looking out for Mr Mime, the Europe-exclusive Pokemon which has been spotted in cities around Western Europe. It’s commonly sighted at city centres. Locations that it has been sighted at include Tate Modern, as well as train stations along the Jubilee line.

Mr Mime at a train station in London. Image: @peterg153/ Instagram

Be sure to check the app while close to landmarks such as The Shard, Big Ben, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral as well as attractions such as the London Zoo.

Lickitung at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Image: @pokemonlondon/ Instagram

Look up maps created by users such as this and that if you feel the need to maximise your chances of completing your Pokedex.

Paris, France

Complete your checklist of going to the usual must-sees such as the Eiffel Tower, while hopefully catching some of the more elusive Pokemon.

A Scyther spotted in the area around the Eiffel Tower. Image: @cvxfreak/ Twitter

Popular Pokemon Go sites around the city include Place Vendome, Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Garden) near the Louvre Museum, Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Gardens), Les Invalides, Champs de Mars and along the canals of Quai d'Orsay.

If you’re willing to venture beyond the city centre for more greenery (and okay, more Pokemon), head to parks such as Parc de la Villette and Parc Buttes-Chaumont in the 19th arrondissement; read the user-compiled list of locations on this Reddit thread.

Image: @bobbykymo/ Instagram

Good news for travellers: you might just spot a Mr Mime while in Paris too. Sites it has been spotted at include Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, Square de la Marne and Jardin Emile Gallé; Reddit users have also reported a higher occurrence of Mr Mime sightings, as of 20 Aug.

Image: @lightedpixelsphotography/ Instagram

New York, United States

Get to catch one of the region-specific Pokemon Tauros, which has been spotted around North America. Although it’s hard to pin it to a particular spot, you can up your chances of sighting that and more unusual finds by visiting Central Park, a hotspot for Pokemon Go trainers in the city.

Tauros spotted in Central Park. Image: @memegagann/ Instagram

Rare Pokemon such as Aerodactyl, Chansey, Dragonite and Electabuzz have been spotted in Central Park, according to lifestyle platform Timeout New York. Other must-visit sites include Times Square (Magnemite, Ponyta, Jigglypuff, Rhyhorn), Union Square Park (Oddish, Jynx, Haunter), Rockefeller Centre (Meowth, Eevee).

Magnemite at Times Square in New York. Image: @TimesSquareNYC/ Twitter

If you have the time, check out the Colonie Center of Albany, which has turned its mall lobby into a Pokemon Go arena. The shopping complex been designated as a Pokemon gym; you’ll also find a few PokeStops located within the mall.

Colonie Center of Albany. Image: @theroccosays/ Instagram