All people who originally started in Kanto must have a Pokémon with Surf to get to the Johto Region. This is the required Kanto - Johto starter place.

Route 26 is a north-south route located in southwest Kanto. The route, featured only in games featuring both Johto and Kanto, is one of the longest routes in Kanto history. Its northern terminus is located at the Pokémon League Reception Gate, where it connects to Route 22, Route 28 and Victory Road. The southern terminus is on a bridge east of Tohjo Falls, where it becomes Route 27.

Route 27 is an east-west route located in extreme southwest Kanto. The eastern terminus is at Route 26 east of Tohjo Falls. The western terminus is at the Johto-Kanto border, where Route 27 becomes part of New Bark Town.

From its southern terminus at Route 27, Route 26 continues east on a bridge over a body of water for eight paces before turning north and encountering a trainer. About 15 paces north of the northward turn, Route 26 makes landfall for the first time. At this point, the route turns to the northeast for a short distance, passing through several grassy areas filled with wild Pokémon before encountering another trainer at a three-way intersection. To the west is the southern entrance to a southbound-only express route that occupies the west side of Route 26. To the north are more grass patches and the main path of Route 26 as it continues on.