Your Name Pilgrimage Tokyo: Every Real-Life Location (With Walking Route)

Last updated: March 2026.

In 2016, Makoto Shinkai’s “Your Name” (Kimi no Na wa / 君の名は。) became the highest-grossing anime film of its time and introduced millions of international viewers to the concept of anime pilgrimage. Nearly a decade later, the stairs at Suga Shrine in Shinjuku’s Yotsuya neighborhood still draw fans from around the world — smartphones held up to match the exact angle of the film’s final, devastating scene.

But the film’s real-life locations extend far beyond that one famous staircase. Shinkai and his team reproduced every Tokyo location with obsessive accuracy — the handrails, the surrounding buildings, the precise angle of afternoon light. Visiting these locations in sequence creates a walking route that takes you through parts of Tokyo that most tourists never see, and that hits differently once you’ve watched the film.

This is seichi junrei (聖地巡礼) — “holy land pilgrimage.” The practice of visiting real places that inspired anime scenes. And “Your Name” remains one of the most rewarding anime to do it with.

Table of Contents

• Location 1: Suga Shrine Stairs (The Famous Scene)
• Location 2: Shinjuku South Exit & Overpass
• Location 3: Shinanomachi Station Area
• Location 4: National Art Center, Tokyo
• Location 5: Yotsuya Station & Surrounding Streets
• Suggested Walking Route (Half-Day)
• Beyond Tokyo: Hida/Takayama (The “Itomori” Region)
• Photography & Etiquette Tips

Location 1: Suga Shrine Stairs — The Final Scene

This is the pilgrimage’s centerpiece. The staircase where Taki and Mitsuha finally meet again in the film’s climactic final scene. Shinkai’s team captured the location with near-photographic precision: the red handrails, the surrounding residential buildings, the way light falls across the steps in the late afternoon.

Standing at the top of these stairs and looking down is one of those moments where the boundary between fiction and reality blurs. You’ve seen this exact view dozens of times in screenshots and fan photos — but the physical experience of being there, feeling the air and hearing the neighborhood sounds that the film couldn’t capture, adds a dimension that no screen can replicate.

Best time for photos: Late afternoon (3:00–5:00 PM) on a clear day. The golden hour light matches the film’s color palette almost exactly. For photos without other visitors in the frame, weekday mornings before 10:00 AM are quietest.

Photo angles: The most recognizable angle is from the top of the stairs looking down and slightly to the right. The view from the bottom looking up also works well and shows the shrine gate at the top.

While you’re there: Visit the shrine itself. It’s small and peaceful — a pocket of old Tokyo surrounded by residential streets. The wooden ema (prayer plaques) hung at the shrine include messages and illustrations from fans around the world, written in dozens of languages. It’s unexpectedly moving.

Location 2: Shinjuku Station South Exit & Pedestrian Overpass

Multiple scenes in the film are set around Shinjuku Station’s southern exit area. The pedestrian overpass connecting the station to surrounding buildings appears in several key moments, and the surrounding buildings — including the NTT DOCOMO Yoyogi Building (the tall clock-tower-like structure) — are visible in the film’s backgrounds.

Location 3: Shinanomachi Station Area

The area around Shinanomachi Station on the JR Sobu Line appears in several scenes. The pedestrian bridge crossing over the train tracks and the view of the station platform are both reproduced in the film. This is one of the quieter locations — you may have the spot entirely to yourself, especially on weekdays.

Location 4: National Art Center, Tokyo (Roppongi)

The distinctive undulating glass facade of the National Art Center appears in the film as a background element. The building itself — designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa — is architecturally stunning regardless of its anime connection. The interior cafe (on an elevated cone-shaped platform) offers one of the best views in Roppongi.

Location 5: Yotsuya Station & Surrounding Streets

Yotsuya Station appears directly in several scenes, and the residential streets between the station and Suga Shrine serve as backgrounds throughout the film. These quiet, hilly streets with their mix of old and new architecture give you a sense of the “everyday Tokyo” that Shinkai captures so well — the version of the city that exists between the famous landmarks.

Suggested Walking Route: Half-Day “Your Name” Pilgrimage

You can visit all the main Tokyo locations in a single half-day walk. Here’s the most efficient route:

Total time: 2.5–3 hours at a relaxed pace, not including the optional Roppongi detour. Add 1-1.5 hours for the National Art Center if you include it.

Cost: Effectively free — just train fare between stations (¥150-200 per ride, or covered by any day pass). The shrine, stairs, and all outdoor locations are free to visit.

Beyond Tokyo: Hida & Takayama (The “Itomori” Region)

The fictional town of Itomori in the film is based on the Hida region of Gifu Prefecture, particularly the town of Hida (飛騨市). The Hida Furukawa train station, the local library, and the surrounding mountain scenery all appeared in the film. The area has embraced its anime heritage, with Your Name-themed signage, maps, and even themed goods at local shops.

It’s a full day trip from Tokyo: approximately 4 hours by Shinkansen (Tokyo → Nagoya) + JR Takayama Main Line (Nagoya → Hida-Furukawa). A Japan Rail Pass covers the entire journey. If you’re already planning to visit Takayama or Shirakawa-go (both popular day trips from Tokyo), Hida-Furukawa is a short detour.

Photography & Pilgrimage Etiquette

Save scene screenshots on your phone. Before your trip, save screenshots of the anime scenes you want to match on location. Several fan-maintained websites and X/Twitter accounts catalog exact camera positions for Your Name locations — search “君の名は 聖地巡礼” for detailed comparison photos and GPS coordinates.

Match the time of day. Shinkai is renowned for his depiction of light. The Suga Shrine stairs look completely different at noon versus golden hour — and the film uses late afternoon light. Visit between 3:00–5:00 PM on a clear day for the closest match to the film’s palette.

Save comparison screenshots. Before your trip, save screenshots of the anime scenes on your phone. On-site, hold up the screenshot next to the real view for comparison photos — side-by-side posts (anime vs. reality) consistently perform well on social media.

Respect the neighborhood. This is critical. The Suga Shrine area is a residential neighborhood where people live their daily lives. Keep noise to a minimum, don’t block sidewalks for extended photo sessions, don’t climb walls or fences for angles, and don’t enter private property. The residents have been remarkably patient with the years of fan visitors — return that patience with courtesy.

Want more anime pilgrimage ideas? Read our guide to 10 anime pilgrimage spots in Tokyo. For other pop culture activities, check our Akihabara guide and anime collab cafe guide.

More Anime Pilgrimages

• 10 Anime Pilgrimage Spots in Tokyo — includes Shibuya, Asakusa, Odaiba and more
• Akihabara Complete Guide — the Steins;Gate pilgrimage district

Related Guides

• Weathering With You Locations Tokyo — Every Real Spot from Tenki no Ko
• Demon Slayer Pilgrimage Tokyo — Every Real Location from Kimetsu no Yaiba
• One Piece Kumamoto Statue Tour — All 10 Straw Hat Statues

Japan Pop Now is a Tokyo-based English-language media covering Japanese pop culture for international visitors.

More Pilgrimage Guides

Written by Takapon

Born and raised in Kyoto, currently in Tokyo. Former management consultant turned anime culture writer. Has visited countless collaboration cafes and pilgrimage spots across Japan. Also sharing tips on Instagram @pop_now_jp.

Follow @pop_now_jp on Instagram