Access to:
North: Route 36
East: Route 32
Accessible from the area: Union Cave (B1F)

Utility:
Surf is required to access the second and third puzzles, as well as Psychic Nathan and the grass patch. Wild Pokémon can also be encountered here with Surf.
Surf and Strength are required to access the fourth puzzle from Union Cave.
In Crystal, Flash is required to access the hidden room of the second puzzle.

Places of interest:
Unown Mode: A researcher outside the Ruins will give the player the Unown Mode upgrade for their Pokédex if they speak to him after catching three or more Unown letters.

There are four tile puzzles. Solving each puzzle unlocks specific Unown letters inside the Ruins of Alph. In Crystal, each puzzle also has a hidden room containing items.
Puzzle 1 (Kabuto): Accessible from the cave near the Route 36 gate. Solving the puzzle unlocks Unown letters A through K. In Crystal, the hidden room is accessible by using an Escape Rope in front of the far wall.
Puzzle 2 (Aerodactyl): Accessible from the southern cave. Accessing this cave requires Surf. Solving the puzzle unlocks Unown letters S through W. In Crystal, the hidden room is accessible by using Flash in front of the far wall.
Puzzle 3 (Ho-Oh): Accessible via Union Cave B1F. Accessing the Union Cave exit that leads here requires Surf. Solving the puzzle unlocks Unown letters X through Z. In Crystal, the hidden room is accessible if Ho-Oh is the first Pokémon in the player's party.
Puzzle 4 (Omanyte): Accessible via Union Cave B1F. Accessing the Union Cave exit that leads here requires Surf and Strength. Solving the puzzle unlocks Unown letters L through R. In Crystal, the hidden room is accessible if the player has a Water Stone in their inventory.

Access to:
North: Route 36
East: Route 32
Accessible from the area: Union Cave (B1F)
Accessible by entering the Research Center with a special Arceus: Sinjoh Ruins

Utility:
Surf is required to access the second and third puzzles, as well as Psychic Nathan, a Nugget, a Big Mushroom, and the grass patch. Wild Pokémon can also be encountered here with Surf.
Surf and Strength are required to access the fourth puzzle from Union Cave.
Flash is required to access the hidden room of the second puzzle.
Rock Smash is required to access a Rare Candy. Wild Pokémon and random items can also be found here with Rock Smash.
Surf of Rock Smash is required to access a Hyper Potion.

There are four tile puzzles. Solving each puzzle unlocks specific Unown letters inside the Ruins of Alph. Each puzzle also has a hidden room containing items.
Puzzle 1 (Kabuto): Accessible from the cave near the Route 36 gate. Solving the puzzle unlocks Unown letters A through J. The hidden room is accessible by using an Escape Rope in front of the far wall.
Puzzle 2 (Aerodactyl): Accessible from the southern cave. Accessing this cave requires Surf. Solving the puzzle unlocks Unown letters R through V. The hidden room is accessible by using Flash in front of the far wall.
Puzzle 3 (Ho-Oh): Accessible via Union Cave B1F. Accessing the Union Cave exit that leads here requires Surf. Solving the puzzle unlocks Unown letters W through Z. The hidden room is accessible if Ho-Oh is in the player's party.
Puzzle 4 (Omanyte): Accessible via Union Cave B1F. Accessing the Union Cave exit that leads here requires Surf and Strength. Solving the puzzle unlocks Unown letters K through Q. The hidden room is accessible by using a Water Stone while facing the far wall.
Unown ? and ! will be unlocked after the other 26 Unown are captured, all four tile puzzles are completed, and all four secret rooms are unlocked.