The Bell Tower (Japanese: スズのとうBell Tower), known as the Tin Tower in Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal and Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, is a location of Johto positioned in the northeast of Ecruteak City. Ho-Oh formerly perched at the top of this ten-story tower, but flew away after the other tower in the west of Ecruteak City burned down mysteriously. The Bell Tower is an icon of Ecruteak City and a place of high sanctity among people in Johto, with only select people being qualified to enter it.
In Generation II, the tower is known as the Tin Tower, and only the Rainbow Wing is required to reach the top. In Pokémon Crystal, the Clear Bell summons Suicune to the ground floor of the tower; however, Ho-Oh does not appear until all three of the Legendary beasts have been captured and the Elite Four has been defeated.
Seven hundred years before the events of the games, two nine-tier towers were built opposite each other in Ecruteak City. The towers were built to foster friendship and hope between Pokémon and people. The view from atop the towers was said to be magnificent.
The eastern tower was said to awaken Pokémon, while the western tower was where Pokémon were said to rest, similar to Hoenn's Cave of Origin and Mt. Pyre, respectively. Ho-Oh roosted at the top of the Bell Tower to the east.
However, about 150 years before the games' events, a lightning bolt struck the western tower. It was engulfed in flames that raged for three days. A sudden downpour finally put out the blaze, but it had already burned to the ground. Three nameless Pokémon perished in the fire, but Ho-Oh descended from the sky and resurrected them. The Pokémon are said to embody three powers: the lightning that struck the tower, the fire that burned it, and the rain that extinguished the fire. When the Pokémon appeared, they struck terror in those who saw their rise. The three Pokémon, knowing their own power, fled, running like the wind off into the grassland.
Bellchime Trail is a short path in Ecruteak City that joins the Barrier Station gate and the Bell Tower. It does not exist in Generation II as a separate location, instead being considered part of Ecruteak City's main area.
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.
Generation IV
Battling Ho-Oh on top of the Bell Tower in HeartGold
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.
The tower appeared in For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll, where it was referred to as the Tin Tower by the dub, like in the English Generation II games. The importance of bells is made clear as the tower holds four bells on each floor, which will only ring if Ho-Oh or Suicune is coming. In addition, the bells on the top floor are made of crystal and will only ring for Ho-Oh's appearance.
Neither of the towers have any relation to Lugia in this continuity. This tower was also built after the other tower had already burned. It is said that Ho-Oh would occasionally appear at the old tower as a sign of peace to a chosen few who were Morty's ancestors. However, several greedy people tried to take its power, burning down the original in the ensuing battle and forcing Ho-Oh to flee the tower. The people of Ecruteak City decided to make another tower in hope of Ho-Oh returning, though it never did.
The Bell Tower first appeared briefly in The Adventure. It was shown in the background as Red and his Pikachu visited Ecruteak City.
The tower next appeared in The Reawakening, where it also appeared in the background of Ecruteak City, but was shown in a little more detail.
In the manga
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
Tin Tower first appears in Ampharos Amore. Having been caught up in an earthquake that struck Ecruteak City, Jasmine manages to climb to the top of the tower for her Ampharos, Amphy, to send out a distress signal, but passes out when rubble falls on her. Gold and Silver both see Amphy's light, but Silver reaches Jasmine first. The tower begins to collapse, and Amphy is able to carry Jasmine out before the collapse traps both Gold and Silver in. The two end up working together to find a way out, and are then surrounded by Team Rocket Grunts. After fending off the grunts and battling Gold himself, Silver tells Gold the reason behind the earthquake: that it would damage Tin Tower and catch the attention of Ho-Oh, which his enemy is after.
Fearing the wrath of Ho-Oh, Ecruteak's Gym Leader, Morty, ordered the reconstruction of Tin Tower before any other buildings in the city. Tin Tower featured subsequently when Crystal climbed up the tower to face Suicune, and Ho-Oh itself returned to the area above the tower where the Masked Man awaited.
It is actually possible to use Dig to escape from the Bell Tower, except from the roof, and return to the entrance; this is because, as can be seen from the in-battle background used in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the Bell Tower is classified as a cave area, rather than a building, likely to allow wildPokémon to be found. This also applies to Sprout Tower and Burned Tower.
Due to this, unlike in other buildings, Burmy will take on its Sandy Cloak rather than its Trash Cloak if it battles here.
If the summit is counted as a floor, the Bell Tower in Generation IV is tied with the Silph Co. in having the most traversable floors in any building in the Pokémon world.
Origin
A Buddhist temple in the real world city of Kyoto is known as Ginkaku-ji. Unlike its counterpart, Kinkaku-ji, which is covered in gold leaf, this temple is not covered in silver leaf, though this was originally intended. A statue of avian likeness rest atop each of the two real world towers.
Name origin
The Japanese name of the tower, スズのとう Suzu no Tō, could be translated either to Tin Tower (as in Generation II), or Bell Tower (as in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver). This is because the kana for suzu refers to both 錫 tin, a metal that has a bright, silvery sheen, but is far less valuable than actual silver, and 鈴 bell. Suzu are a type of bell used in Shinto rituals, which both the Clear Bell and Tidal Bell are based on.
