6 Real-Life Locations That Inspired “Your Name”
Anime Pilgrimages, or “seichi junrei” in Japanese, are a fun and unique way to travel around Japan. These pilgrims follow the route of characters and allow travelers to see some of the locations from their favorite show or movie in real life.
A Traveler’s Guide to “Your Name” Landmarks
One of the best animated movies for an anime pilgrimage is the movie “Your Name”(君の名は or “Kimi no Na wa” in Japanese). This movie is not only famous as the third highest-grossing Japanese film of all time, outpacing even Hayao Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away,” but is also well known for its beautiful and faithful depiction of both the Japanese countryside and Tokyo cityscape.
Stunning Sites from “Your Name” You Can Visit
— The National Art Center – Tokyo
The 2016 animated film was written and directed by Makoto Shinkai and produced by CoMix Wave Films. The movie follows Mitsuha Miyamizu, a young girl bored of her life in the countryside, who starts waking up in the body of Taki Tachibana—a boy living the exciting city-life she could only dream about. Elsewhere, Taki deals with the opposite problem as he suddenly finds himself living in the countryside in the body of a teenage girl. The pair begin to search for one another and thus begin a series of adventures and misadventures trying to solve the mystery of this strange phenomenon.
Which “Your Name” Sites Are Worth Visiting?
While Mitsuha’s countryside town of Itomori is fictional, many of the locations in this beautiful film are based on real life locations throughout Japan and have become popular destinations with fans of the movie. For those looking to complete a “Your Name pilgrimage tour” of your own, we’ve compiled a list of 6 interesting and accessible locations across Japan.
Salon de the ROND, The National Art Center – Tokyo
The backdrop for Taki and Okudera-senpai’s date is the restaurant in The National Art Center located in Tokyo known as “Salon de the Rond.”
The National Art Center does not have any permanent collections, but instead, aims to provide the public with “a place where they can experience many different forms of artistic expression.” This apparently extends to the architecture of the building itself as the museum offers stunning views from both inside and outside.
The cafe is located on the second floor of the art center and sits atop a large inverted cone from which it takes its name. The menu features an assortment of sandwiches and cakes, as well as tea, coffee, and wines. The cafe is open daily from 11:00-18:00 (last order is at 17:30), and is closed on Tuesdays and any days the Art Center is closed.
Hie Shrine – Gifu
The shrine run by Mitsuha’s family is inspired by the real life Hie Shrine in Takayama, Gifu.
This shinto shrine dedicated to the god of the mountain is also the location where Mitsuha and her little sister performed a traditional religious dance in the movie.
The shrine is about a 25 minute walk from Takayama station and is open daily from 8:30–16:30.
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour from Nagoya: Hida Takayama and World Heritage Site Shirakawa-go | |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 8:30-18:00 |
| Meeting Place | JR Nagoya Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥24,900 |
| Child Rate | ¥12,900 |
Nagoya Station – Aichi
As Taki decides to travel to Itomori in search of Mitsuha, he travels through Nagoya Station. For anime pilgrims looking to complete the same route as Taki, you can see the same platform and ride the same train as depicted in the movie.
Though a train station, admittedly, does not sound like the most exciting destination to place on an itinerary, we think Nagoya Station might make an exception. At an astonishing 446,000 square meters and 53 floors Nagoya Station holds the record as the world’s largest and tallest train station. The three tower complexes offer a range of facilities including offices, shops, restaurants, and hotels—making the station worth enjoying in its own right.
Taki is also seen eating a local Nagoyan specialty, Miso Katsu (pork cutlet with miso sauce). This breaded pork loin—which is deep-fried and soaked in a delectable red soybean miso sauce—is included in our 1-Day Food Tour of Nagoya.
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour: Eat Like a Local in Nagoya | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 8:00-16:30 |
| Meeting Place | JR Nagoya Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
Lake Suwa – Nagano
While Mitsuha’s countryside town of Itomori is fictitious—understandable given its grim demise—the town was styled after the very real town of Suwa in Nagano Prefecture. The town surrounds a picturesque lake of which the best views can be seen from Tateishi Park.
We think a trip to Suwa is best paired with a trip to another picturesque location, the stunning alpine valley of Kamikochi.
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour from Nagano and Matsumoto: Kamikochi & Matsumoto Castle | |
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| Period | April to November |
| Time | 08:15 – 18:30 |
| Meeting Place | Nagano Station Matsumoto Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥23,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,900 |
Hida City Library – Gifu
The city of Hida in Gifu Prefecture has fully leaned into its role as the inspiration behind many of the scenes in the film. The town has many signs indicating where scenes were located.
One such location is the Hida City Library. This is where Taki finds the black book listing Itomori victims’ names. The library staff are accommodating to anime pilgrims and have even created an exchange corner with posters and images from the film—as well as places for fans to write messages. However, visitors should keep in mind that this is a public library which local residents use to study, so it is best to be as quiet and respectful as possible when visiting this location.
The library is open from 9:00–20:00 from Tuesdays–Saturdays and from 9:00–17:00 on Sundays (closed Mondays and the last Friday of every month).
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour from Takayama: Delve into Hida-Furukawa’s Cultural Treasures | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:30 – 15:30 |
| Meeting Place | Takayama Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
Suga Shrine Stairs – Tokyo
Perhaps the most iconic of all are the stairs seen in the film’s hopeful final scenes.
The stairs are located next to Suga Shrine in a quiet neighborhood of Tokyo. The stairs and shrine are somewhat ordinary in appearance, but offer visitors a quiet respite from the bustling city and a glimpse into the everyday life of residents.
The shrine is open from 6:30–17:00 daily—with charms being sold from 10:00–16:45.
1 Day Tour
| Walking Tour in Yanaka, Nezu and Sendagi : Experience Tea Ceremony and ’Yanesen’ Old Tokyo | |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 10.30 – 17:10 |
| Meeting Place | Outside Nippori Station WEST exit |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
From the bustling streets of Tokyo to the serene countryside, these 6 real-world destinations that served as the visual canvas for the acclaimed anime movie “Your Name” are excellent destinations in their own right, but also can be combined into a multi-day tour leading from Tokyo, through Nagoya, and into the Japanese countryside. If a multi-day tour interests you, please reach out to us and we would be happy to create a custom tour.
Wondering How to Travel to “Your Name” Locations for Yourself?
For those interested in traveling to any of the locations listed on this page, we can arrange both private tours with an English-speaking guide or a private charter to these locations. With door-to-door service, we can pick you up from where you are and take you to where you want to go anywhere in Central Japan and the neighboring regions.
Our drivers and vehicles are fully certified, allowing us to transport you to and from your preferred destinations in combination with any activity that suits your schedule. All vehicles are well-maintained and in good condition, allowing you to relax and enjoy your ride to wherever you are going.
For more information, please click HERE to check availability and pricing for your trip. We’d love to be part of your adventure in Central Japan and help you discover even more!
