Have you seen Makoto SHINKAI’s “Your Name.”? This animated movie was produced with images of various places in Japan. So on this page, I will introduce the places that appeared in this Movie. In these places, you can enjoy both the most urban spots in Japan and the most beautiful traditional spots that the director has chosen. In this sense, I think it is very interesting to travel the places that appear in “Your Name.” If you visit these places, you may enter the world of “Your Name.”!
Table of Contents
You can visit places where Taki and Mitsuha live!
Books linked to the popular Japanese animated movie `Your Name`on display in a bookstore, Japan
Animated movie “Your Name. (Kimi no na wa. in Japanese)” was released in 2016. It is a love story of a boy Taki living in Tokyo and a girl Mitsuha living in Hida in the mountains.
“Your name.” is an animation, but it is based on many actual places. It is no exaggeration to say that this movie was finished in a beautiful image because the model places were great. These places are not publicly announced. However, many fans of this film find out and share information.
Perhaps, you may not have seen this movie yet. So I refrain from explaining the story in detail. I will introduce you focusing on photos here. I am glad if you know that this movie is made using such beautiful places as models.
In “Your Name.”, The sightseeing spots in Tokyo are beautifully portrayed. Please refer to the following article about them.
1. Shinjuku, Tokyo
Shinjuku is the biggest downtown area in Tokyo. In this movie, various scenery of Shinjuku appeared.
>> For details of Shinjuku please see this article
The traffic junction which is behind the Shinjuku police
Intersection at Shinjuku. A famous spot where is used in “Your Name”, Tokyo, Japan = shutterstock
The above picture is the scenery of Shinjuku that appear when main theme song “zen zen zense” by RADWIMPS is played at the beginning of “Your Name.” This picture was taken, not CG, of course.
This intersection is a very stylish place with traffic lights on big circles. In the background, you can see the high-rise building street of Western Shinjuku. It is relatively nearer from Shinjuku station and Tokyo Metropolitan Government building, so why not try visiting here. Especially at night, you can take beautiful pictures.
Access
6-5-3, Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
About 10 minutes on foot from Shinjuku Station West Exit
Shinjuku Station South Exit
Cityscape around railway Shinjuku Station with NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building, Shinjuku is one of Tokyo’s business districts. There are many skyscrapers, such as Hotels, office buildings = shutterstock
Shinjuku Station is the world’s largest station where more than 3.5 million people use on a day. This station appeared as a symbol of the big city that Mitsuha admires. In the movie, various places of Shinjuku station are appearing, but in particular, the scenery of the south exit of Shinjuku Station is beautifully portrayed as seen in the picture above.
The area around Shinjuku Station South Exit is the most recently developed district. So it is very clean and stylish. The skyscraper found in the photo above is the building of NTT docomo. This building appear many times in “Your Name.” There are Takashimaya Department Store and Tokyu Hands in the big building on the left side of the photo. There is a hotel in the building on the right. This area is very open so you can stroll comfortably like Taki and Mitsuha. Illumination is also wonderful in winter.
Access
>>Please check the Shinjuku information on Trip Advisor!
2. Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo
Cafe La Boheme
In “Your Name.”, Taki goes to high school and works as a waiter at a fashionable restaurant in Shinjuku Gyoen from the evening. The model of this restaurant is “Cafe La Bohéme Shinjuku-Gyoen“. If you go to Cafe La Bohéme, you can enjoy delicious cuisine in the restaurant introduced by “Your Name.”
Shinjuku Gyoen is a place name. It is about a 20-minute walk from Shinjuku Station. It takes about 5 minutes from Shinjuku Station by using Marunouchi Subway Line.
This area has “Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden” which is a wonderful park representing Tokyo. This park is very popular among tourists coming to Japan. After having a meal in the restaurant, please take a stroll through this park.
Access
1F, 2F, Cosmo Shinjuku-Gyoen Bldg., 1-1-7, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
5 minutes walk from the Shinjuku Gyoen station (Marunouchi line)
3. Roppongi, Tokyo
Roppongi is known as the most state-of-the-art stylish town in Tokyo. In Roppongi, there are famous high-rise building streets called Roppongi Hills. In “Your Name.”, Not only Shinjuku but also Roppongi has appeared, making it clear that Taki is an urban boys.
>> For Roppongi, please see this article
THE NATIONAL ART CENTER, TOKYO
Interior of the modern design of National Art Museum in Minato District, Roppongi, Tokyo. The restaurant in the middle appeared in the animated film “Your Name” = shutterstock
THE NATIONAL ART CENTER, TOKYO is a new huge museum in Roppongi. It is covered with beautiful rippled glass like the picture above. In the middle there is a stylish cafe called “Salon Do Te Rondo”.
This cafe is operated by a famous French restaurant chain called “Hiramatsu”. In “Your Name.”, Taki used this cafe when dating a longing woman, Okudera Senpai (Senior Okudera). Of course you can use this for date too!
About this museum, I introduced in the above-mentioned article about Tokyo. If you do not mind, please refer to this article as well.
Access
7-22-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Connected to Nogizaka Station (No.6 Exit, to Aoyama Cemetery) of Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line
4 minutes walk from Roppongi Station (No.7 Exit) of Tokyo Subway Oedo Line
5 minutes walk from Roppongi Station (4a Exit) of Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line
>>Please check the NATIONAL ART CENTER, TOKYO information on Trip Advisor!
4. Shinanomachi, Tokyo
The pedestrian bridge in front of the JR Shinanomachi station
The pedestrian bridge in front of the JR Shinanomachi station is where Taki used smartphones, Tokyo, Japan = shutterstock
NTT docomo skyscraper seen from Shinanomachi, Tokyo, Japan = AdobeStock
Shinanomachi is a quiet town located 5 minutes from Shinjuku station by using the JR Sobu line (yellow train). In “Your Name.”, A pedestrian bridge in front of Shinanomachi station appears many times.
Taki tries to call Mitsuha on this pedestrian bridge. Mitsuha also tried to call him here when she came to Tokyo to look for Taki. When Taki dated Okudera Senpai, he parted with her at this pedestrian bridge.
Because Shinanomachi is a calm town, it is perfect for those scenes.
The view of the skyscrapers of NTT docomo from this town also appeared in this movie. If you explore this area, you will feel the atmosphere of “Your name is.”
Access
34 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Meiji Jingu Gaien Garden
Colorful Yellow Ginko Leaves Branch Tree In Meiji Jingu Gaien Tokyo = shutterstock
Meiji-Jingu-Gaien is one of the most famous places for its beautiful autumn leaves = shutterstock
On the south side of Shinanomachi Station, the Meiji Jingu Gaien Garden is spreading. In “Your Name.”, this area became a model of Taki ‘s school road.
The intersection in front of Meiji Jingu Gaien appears in the scene where Taki is leaving school with his friends.
The high school model Taki attends was a high school near here. However, the actual high school building was modeled based on Motomachi high school in Hiroshima City.
The Shinanomachi area is quiet and beautiful to the utmost, so please do add it to your itinerary when you come to Tokyo by all means.
Access
1-1 Kasumigaokamachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo
5. Hida, Gifu Prefecture
While Taki lives in the city center of Tokyo, Mitsuha lives in the mountain village Itomori. Itomori’s model was settlements of Hida District located in central Honshu of Japan.
The model of the shrine that Mitsuha’s family keeps protecting is in Takayama in Hida district. On the other hand, Taki looks for Itomori and visits Hida Furukawa in the north of Takayama.
Both areas are beautiful countryside representative of Japan. Many Japanese are convinced that this area was chosen as a beautiful Japanese countryside. Furthermore, from Takayama you can also go to Shirakawago, which was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can add these tourist attractions to your itinerary.
Takayama
Hie Shrine. a famous historic site in Takayama, Gifu, Japan = shutterstock
Mitsuha was born in a house keeping the historic shrine of Itomori. The model of the shrine was Hida-sannogu hie shrine in Takayama city. If you stand in front of the red torii of this shrine, you will have the feeling that Mitsuha is nearby.
However, Hida-sannogu hie shrine is a big shrine representing Hida region. The shrine that Mitsuha’s house protects is a little smaller. So, the shrine appearing in the movie can be said to have been modified slightly while modeling Hida-sannogu hie shrine. Perhaps, the image of the shrine of Hida Furukawa to be described later may have been added.
Takayama is a beautiful town where traditional cityscapes are preserved. Every year on April 14th and 15th, the splendid festival of Hida-sannogu hie shrine is held and it is crowded with many tourists. There is also a wonderful hot spring area called “Oku Hida Onsengo” nearby.
>> Please see this article for details of Oku Hida Onsengo
Access (Hida-sannogu hie shrine)
156 Shiroyama, Takayama, Gifu Prefecture
25 minutes on foot from JR Takayama station
Hida Furukawa
This station is a inspiration of your name animation = shutterstock
The taxi stand at Hida Furukawa station is where Taki talked with a taxi driver, Hida Furukawa, Japan
In “Your Name.”, Taki go searching for Mitsuha from Tokyo to Hida Furukawa. Would you like to go out on a journey to find Mitsuha like Taki?
In order to go from Tokyo to Hida Furukawa station, you go to the Nagoya by Shinkansen first, as Taki does in the movie. Please get on JR express from Nagoya. When the express train arrives at Hida Furukawa station, the scenery is the same as that of a movie. There is a mascot character of this town that appeared in the movie in this station. A taxi rank in front of the station also appeared in the movie.
Access (Hida Furukawa Station)
8 Kanamoricho, Furukawacho, Hida City, Gifu Prefecture
Besides this station, the following places are said to have appeared in this movie.
Hida City Library
This is the library that Taki visited. It is a 5-minute walk from Hida Furukawa station to this library. In this library there are corners where the messages of those who visited the movies are put up.
Access
2-22, Honmachi, Furukawa cho, Hida city, Gifu prefecture
5 minutes walk from the Hida Furukawa station
Ajidokoro Furukawa
It is a restaurant that appears in the movie. Would you like to eat Gohei-Mochi (grilled rice cake seasoned with miso) just like that movie?
Access
11-3, Ichinomachi, Furukawa cho, Hida city, Gifu prefecture
8 minutes walk from the Hida Furukawa station
Keta Wakamiya Shrine
Keta Wakamiya Shrine is said to be one of the shrines that became a model of the shrine that Mitsuha’s family keeps protecting.
This shrine is on a hill overlooking the cityscape of Hida Furukawa. In the movie, there was a scene where Taki talks with locals in front of the stone steps of this shrine.
Access
1297, Kamikita, Furukawacho, Hida city, Gifu prefectu
13 minutes walk from the Hida Furukawa station
Approach to Keta Wakamiya Shrine. a famous historic site in Hida, Gifu, Japan = shutterstock
>>Please check the Keta Wakamiya Shrine information on Trip Advisor!
>>Please check the Hida City (Gifu Prefecture) information on Trip Advisor!
6. Suwa Lake, Nagano Prefecture
Itomori where Mitsuha lives has a mysterious lake. It is said that the model of this lake is Lake Suwa in Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture.
Lake Suwa is a lake in the Suwa Basin, about 16 kilometers around. If you go from Tokyo, it is about 2 hours from the Shinjuku station to the Kami-Suwa station or Okaya station by JR Chuo Main Line express train. When you arrive at Kami-Suwa station, please look at this lake from the hill.
There are two hills I recommend.
Takabotchi Highlands
Takabotchi Highlands Night view Suwa Lake = shutterstock
The place I would like to recommend most is Takabotchi Highlands..
Takabotchi Highlands is a gentle plateau (Kogen in Japanese) with an altitude of 1,665 m, and you can enjoy the stunning views of Lake Suwa, like the photo above. The mountain that you can see far in the photo above is Mt. Fuji. In the night you can see lots of stars.
However, it takes a while to go to Takabotchi Highlands. It takes about 60 minutes by car or taxi from Okaya station to Takabotchi Highlands. There are extensive parking lots and toilets in the plateau, but there is nothing else.
Access
Kataoka, Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture
60 minutes by car or taxi from Okaya station
>>Please check the Takabotchi Highlands information on Trip Advisor!
Tateishi Park
Suwa Lake is a quiet and beautiful lake, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
You can take pictures like this!
Another recommendation point is Tateishi Park which is comparatively close from Kamisuwa station. If you have physical strength, it is about 30 minutes on foot from Kamisuwa station.
Lake Suwa seen from this park is really wonderful. It is beautiful even in the daytime, but in the evening, the world like the one drawn in “Your Name.” spreads. In the night the starry sky is amazing.
Access
10399, Kamisuwa, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture
15 minutes by taxi from Kamisuwa Station
>>Please check the Tateishi Park information on Trip Advisor!
Director Shinkai Makoto is from Nagano Prefecture. Because there are many lakes in Nagano prefecture, it seems there was a beautiful lake in his original landscape. It is said that he first imaged the lake Aoki. Lake Aoki is a quiet and mysterious lake like the picture below. Lake Aoki is about 1 hour from JR Nagano station by express bus.
Aoki Lake in Nagano Prefecture, which is said to be one of the models of lakes appearing in “Your Name.” = shutterstock
>>Please check the Aoki Lake information on Trip Advisor!
>> Please see this article for details of Nagano Prefecture.
7. Yotsuya, Tokyo
Finally, I will introduce you to the vicinity of Yotsuya in Tokyo. Yotsuya Station is 5 minutes away from Shinjuku Station by JR Chuo Line’s express train. In “Your Name.”, Taki will meet with Okudera Senpai at this station. And 10 minutes on foot from Yotsuya station, there are special places for people who love “Your Name.”!
Yotsuya Station
JR Yotsuya station is the place Taki used to meet for dating. Tokyo Japan
The bridge on the northern side of Yotsuya Station is a meeting place for Taki to date for his longing woman, Okudera Senpai.
The area around Yotsuya station is a fashionable area. There is no big shopping street, so it is quiet and calm. In the vicinity of the station there is Sophia University, a private university representing Japan. This university is known for its many fashionable and intelligent female students. Such university students walk a lot around Yotsuya station.
Sophia University is an international university with many foreign students from abroad. People in general can enter the campus, so please try visiting Japanese universities.
Access
1 Chome Yotsuya, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Suga Jinja Shrine
Suga Jinja Shrine in Yotsuya, Tokyo, Japan
The most recommended place in Tokyo is Suga Shrine located 10 minutes on foot from JR Yotsuya Station.
At the end of this movie, Taki and Mitsuha meet again at the stairs of Suga shrine. Why do not you go to this shrine and get in the most wonderful scene of “Your Name.”
If you submit a picture to the Instagram, your post will surely be talked about among your friend!
Suga Shrine Where Kimi No Na Wa (Your Names Anime Movie) Takes Places, Japanese Red Torii, Tokyo, Japan = shutterstock
The lovely characters and hope words that be drawn on the wish wooden plate, hanging in the Suga Shrine = shutterstock
Access
5 Sugachō, Shinjuku, Tōkyō
10 minutes on foot from Yotsuya station
Thank you for reading to the end.
If you are interested, please also read the following article on Japanese pop culture etc.
Now, let’s plan to make your vacation in Japan the best experience ever!
