The Real-World Islands That Feel Like Pokémon Winds and Waves

Real-World Coastal Landscapes That Capture the Same Energy

Here is our list of locations that capture the same windswept, ocean-shaped atmosphere:

The Azores, Portugal

Volcanic craters. Hydrangea-lined roads. Cliffs that drop into deep Atlantic blue.

The Azores feel like the kind of region where you would meet your first water-type companion. The wind is constant but clean, and the landscape shifts from emerald pasture to black lava rock in minutes. Add crater lakes, thermal springs, and coastal viewpoints that seem engineered for dramatic camera pans, and it feels almost suspiciously cinematic.

Travel Vibe: Remote but surprisingly accessible from the U.S. East Coast
Best For: Hikers, whale watchers, and anyone craving big skies

Faroe Islands

If “winds” had a headquarters, it might be here.

Grass-roofed houses cling to hillsides. Waterfalls plunge directly into the ocean. Fog drifts in without warning. Sheep outnumber people. It feels like the kind of place where a legendary creature would absolutely live on a high ridge above the sea.

The scale is dramatic. The mood is elemental. The wind does not ask for permission.

Travel Vibe: Nordic, moody, cinematic


Best For: Photographers and travelers who like their landscapes wild

Okinawa, Japan

If the “waves” portion of Winds and Waves caught your attention, Okinawa delivers that turquoise-lagoon fantasy in real life. Coral reefs glow in clear water. White sand stretches into calm, shallow bays. The air feels softer, warmer, slower.

Okinawa also carries a cultural identity distinct from mainland Japan, which adds to that “new region” sensation travelers love. It feels separate, immersive, and shaped by the sea.

Travel Vibe: Subtropical island escape


Best For: Snorkeling, diving, and slow beach days

Isle of Skye, Scotland

Jagged cliffs, rolling green hills, and sea spray that never seems to settle. The Isle of Skye feels like a place where wind shapes the terrain and weather becomes part of the atmosphere. Waterfalls spill toward the sea, narrow roads trace dramatic coastal drops, and the scale feels cinematic without trying.

Travel Vibe: Moody, rugged, windswept

Best For: Scenic drives, cliff hikes, and dramatic coastal photography

Lofoten Islands, Norway

Sharp peaks rise directly from Arctic water. Fishing cabins glow red against deep blue fjords. The wind shifts hourly, and so does the light.

If your version of Winds and Waves includes high drama and oversized landscapes, this is your place. In winter, the Northern Lights ripple overhead. In summer, the midnight sun barely sets.

The scale feels epic without trying.

Travel Vibe: Stark, stunning, elemental


Best For: Nature lovers who want something unforgettable

Why Fantasy Islands Feel So Real

Game designers rarely invent entire ecosystems from nothing. They study geography. They exaggerate scale. They amplify color. But the foundation is usually rooted in somewhere tangible.

Wind defines architecture. Waves define economy. Islands define identity.

When fiction leans heavily into coastal elements, it resonates because we have all seen a version of it before — in photographs, in films, in memory, or in person.

That recognition is part of the magic.

If Winds and Waves stirred something wanderlust-adjacent, that reaction is not random. Coastal destinations have a measurable psychological effect. Researchers often refer to the restorative power of “blue spaces,” environments shaped by water and open horizons.

Translation: wind and waves calm people.

You do not need to wait until 2027 to explore a windswept region. You can step into that atmosphere now, whether it is Atlantic cliffs, Arctic fjords, or coral-fringed islands. The setting already exists.

Frequently Asked Questions: The Real-World Islands That Feel Like Pokémon Winds and Waves

What is Pokémon Winds and Waves?

Pokémon Winds and Waves is the officially announced Generation 10 mainline Pokémon release, revealed during the franchise’s 30th anniversary Pokémon Presents. It launches in 2027 for Nintendo Switch 2.

Where is the new region set?

The region features windswept islands, vast oceans, and ecosystems shaped by natural forces.

Are these destinations related to the game?

No. These real-world locations simply evoke similar island and coastal aesthetics.

Which destination is easiest from the U.S.?

The Azores and Cornwall are particularly accessible from East Coast hubs.

Which feels the most dramatic?

The Faroe Islands and Lofoten Islands offer the strongest elemental, wind-driven landscapes.

Which is warmest?

Okinawa provides tropical waters and beach weather.