"Your Name." Sacred Site Pilgrimage part1 | Tokyo: Shinjuku Chapter
The movie "Your Name," directed by Makoto Shinkai, is his breakthrough work, released in 2016. It excels in character design, animation style, and plot pacing. In 2016, a comet streaked across the night sky, leaving behind an obsession with "searching." In the blink of an eye, the ten-year promise is approaching (2026). As director Makoto Shinkai's "old haunt," Shinjuku is not only where Taki lives but also the core of the entire film's visual aesthetics—giant advertising screens, a complex railway network, and that perpetually bustling pedestrian bridge.
If Itomori is a dream, then Shinjuku is the reality of wistful loss upon waking. Today, let's start from Shinjuku Station and follow Taki's footsteps to find the red thread named "Musubi."
| 顺序 | 地点 | 最近站 | 机位建议 | 时间戳 | 导航 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JR Shinjuku Station South Exit | JR Shinjuku Station | After exiting the station, turn right. Filming location is near the pedestrian bridge; during peak hours, be careful not to block the way. | 20:40 | 打开 |
| 2 | Seibu Shinjuku Station (Seibu Shinjuku Sta. PePe Front Square) | Seibu Shinjuku Station | The camera position is below the shopping mall; the original, higher camera position might be upstairs (permission required). | 32:02 | 打开 |
| 3 | Shinjuku Police Station (Metropolitan Police Department Shinjuku Police Station) | Filming location is at the traffic light roundabout next to the intersection; remember to obey traffic rules. | 30:00 | 打开 | |
| 4 | Otsuka Shokai (next to the 'Weathering With You' filming location mentioned in the article) | A convenient stop along the way; look for the corresponding street view angle nearby as described in the article. | 打开 | ||
| 5 | Underpass (viewpoint on the left-hand side) | Look back from the passage exit to capture the open feeling of 'looking up at the sky'; do not block passage. | 1:28:18 | 打开 | |
| 6 | Alley on the right-hand side ('Weathering With You' chase scene) | Turn around and shoot after entering the alley; try not to photograph passersby's faces. | 打开 | ||
| 7 | Pedestrian Bridge (the bridge where they brushed past each other) | From the pedestrian bridge, you can include distant buildings; when it's crowded, stand aside and take quick shots. | 1:37:06 | 打开 | |
| 8 | Shinjuku Gyoen (Shinjuku Gate) | Shinjuku-gyoenmae / Shinjuku-sanchōme | Enter the park and follow the designated route; pay attention to park rules (some areas may restrict tripods). | 打开 | |
| 9 | Best photo spot for Yoyogi Building | Shoot from an open area in the park, placing the building at the top of the frame. | 打开 | ||
| 10 | Sendagaya Station (千駄ケ谷駅) | JR Sendagaya Station | The station building has undergone significant renovation; finding the silhouette and street direction is more crucial. | 1:39:32 | 打开 |
| 11 | Shinano-machi Station (信濃町駅) | JR Shinano-machi Station | The pedestrian bridge is right outside the exit; shoot from the side, a telephoto lens will better match the anime's perspective. | 41:32 / 1:13:55 | 打开 |
| 12 | Yotsuya Station (Akasaka Exit area) | JR Yotsuya Station | Compare the exit location with the camera's standing position; be careful not to block commuter traffic. | 39:00 | 打开 |
| 13 | Asahi Bridge (朝日橋) | Photograph the tram entering the tunnel from the bridge; do not cross the guardrail. | 1:15:55 | 打开 | |
| 14 | Look back from the middle of the road (External link drop point for Teppozaka section) | It is not recommended to stand in the middle of the road; try to find alternative angles from pedestrian areas to ensure safety. | 38:00 | 打开 | |
| 15 | Suga-cho (Near the red mailbox) | It is recommended to use a medium telephoto lens with background; avoid photographing house numbers/license plates and other private information. | 1:39:50 | 打开 | |
| 16 | Yotsuya Elementary School on Tofukuin-zaka (Traffic sign) | Around the school, please avoid making noise or gathering; do not obstruct passage. | 打开 | ||
| 17 | Tofukuin-zaka marker post (Near the top of the slope) | Looking down from the top of the slope is closer to the anime's depth; be aware of passing vehicles. | 打开 | ||
| 18 | Suga Shrine (Stairs where the male and female protagonists recognize each other) | Frame the shot as described in the article; note that it's a residential area, complete the shooting quietly and quickly. | 1:39:00 | 打开 |
Route Overview (Route Overview)
This itinerary is ahigh-intensity walking route, comfortable shoes are recommended. The route logic is divided into three stages:
Shinjuku Central Area: The shock of the first body swap (South Exit, Kabukicho, Nishi-Shinjuku)
Taki's Commute Route: Daily life on the Chuo-Sobu Line (Sendagaya, Shinanomachi)
The Final Run: The Road to Reunion from Yotsuya to Suga Shrine
1. The Awakening's Starting Point: JR Shinjuku Station South Exit
Location:JR Shinjuku Station South Exit Overpass
Movie time:20:40
Exit the South Exit and look to your right; that's the pedestrian bridge spanning Koshu Kaido."Tokyo--!!"When Mitsuha first entered Taki's body and stood at this spot, looking down at the endless stream of cars and the huge crowd, the shock of a country girl entering a big city for the first time was overwhelming. Standing here, you can almost hear that cute exclamation in your ears.
2. Melody of Zenzenzense: Yunika Vision
Location:In front of Seibu Shinjuku Station / Shinjuku Dai-Guard East
Movie Timestamp:32:02 / 1:28:18
Navigate to <Seibu Shinjuku Station>, and look up to see the iconic triple-screen shopping mall (Yunika Vision).
32 minutes and 02 secondsThe stirring music of 'Zenzenzense' plays, and the camera swiftly sweeps past here.
1:28:18That night, the Tiamat Comet coldly swept past above this screen, while news of the comet's approach was playing on the screen.
📸 Photo Tip:The best eye-level camera position from the original work is on the building opposite (Lab), but requires permission. Ordinary tourists standing atPePe Front Plazashooting from below, can still feel that immense sense of pressure.
3. A Near Miss: Shinjuku Grand Overpass
Location:Shinjuku Police Station / In front of Sompo Japan Building
Movie Timestamp:1:37:06
Walk towards West Shinjuku and cross that famous<Shinjuku Police Station> roundabout traffic light (30-minute 'Zenzenzense' shot), continue straight and you will see this huge overpass.
This is the most poignant scene at the end of the movie. On a snowy night, adult Taki and Mitsuha passed each other on a pedestrian bridge. Both stopped, but neither looked back. Standing on the bridge, looking through the steel structure at the distantYoyogi Tower (NTT Docomo Tower), that tall tower, Makoto Shinkai's favorite, witnessed countless missed moments.
On the way to <Shinjuku Police Station> you can find the filming location of "Weathering With You", right next to <Otsuka Shokai>.
Go throughthe underpass, on the left side, you can see the scene from the movie at 1 hour, 28 minutes, and 18 seconds, where Comet Tiamat streaks across overhead.
Head intothe alley on the rightand then look back, that's where Hodaka and Hina passed through when they were being chased in "Weathering With You".
Return to the main road, continue straight ahead, and you will see aPedestrian Overpass. This is the pedestrian overpass where Taki and Mitsuha passed each other at 1 hour, 37 minutes, and 06 seconds into the movie.
From the pedestrian overpass, you can see the Yoyogi Building in the distance, which has appeared repeatedly in Makoto Shinkai's films.
Continue walking towards<Shinjuku Police Station>intersection, where a huge circular traffic light structure is erected next to it. It appeared at 30 minutes into the movie《Zenzenzense》in the scene.
4. The Garden of Words Easter Egg: Shinjuku Gyoen
Location: Enter via Shinjuku Gate
Take the Marunouchi Line to Shinjuku-sanchome, and enter <Shinjuku Gyoen> . This is not only the setting for 'The Garden of Words' but also the best spot to photograph the Yoyogi Building. Makoto Shinkai's universe converges here.
TIPS: Overseas students holding student IDs such as the Chinese mainland Gaokao admission ticket can also enjoy student discounts when purchasing tickets here!
This is the spot for shootingthe best spot for the Yoyogi Building
5. Evolving Station: Sendagaya Station (Sendagaya)
Location: JR Sendagaya Station
Movie Timestamp: 1:39:32
Passing through Gyoen, you arrive at <Sendagaya Station> . Although the station was renovated for the Olympics, this was still Taki's daily route to school. At the end of the film, adult Taki gets off here, searching for that familiar figure on the Chuo-Sobu Line platform.
Tap your Suica card to enter and board, then go to Platform 2 and wait for theChuo-Sobu Line Local train, bound forOchanomizu, Akihabara, Chiba. This line was also Taki's daily route to school.
6. Unreachable Call: Shinanomachi Station Overpass
Location: Directly accessible from JR Shinanomachi Station exit
Movie Timestamp: 41:32 / 1:13:55
As soon as you exit Shinanomachi Station, you can see the blue overpass.
41:32: Taki calls Mitsuha here, but it shows 'out of service area'.
1:13:55: Mitsuha, gathering her courage, came to Tokyo and also stood here to call Taki.
Standing on the overpass, the background isGaien-higashi-dori's tree-lined avenue and the distant Yoyogi Building. Watching the passersby, you will deeply feel the loneliness of 'being in a city of millions, yet unable to reach only you'.
At 41:32 in the movie, Taki calls Mitsuha on the overpass. At 1:13:55, Mitsuha calls Taki on the overpass.
At the station exit, there is also a scene from the movie at 1:39:40, where Mitsuha passes by here while searching for Taki at the end of the film.
Gaien Higashi-dori, seen from the pedestrian bridge at 41:20 in the movie.
The Yoyogi Building at 41:25 is also depicted from this location.
The station exit is on Gaien Higashi-dori, shot towards the pedestrian bridge, which is the pedestrian bridge where Taki and Okudera-senpai had their date in the movie.
Walk over 700 meters south to Meiji Jingu Gaien, atAnime 31:27briefly appears in Zenzenzense
7. The Final Sprint: Yotsuya and Slopes
Route:Yotsuya Station → Suga Shrine (approx. 2km walk)
Next is a long trek; we need to recreate Taki's final running route to find Mitsuha.
Yotsuya Station Akasaka Exit: The meeting place for Taki and Okudera-senpai's date (39:00).
Shinjuku-dori Railway Bridge: The moment adult Taki looks out the window as the Marunouchi Line train briefly emerges from underground (1:39:49).
After getting off at Yotsuya Station, exit from Akasaka Exit., this isthe movie at 39 minutes, the place where Taki and Okudera-senpai met every day. It also appeared in the 'Zen Zen Zense' segment.
Arriving at the bridge over the railway on Shinjuku-dori, here atthe movie at 1 hour 39 minutes 49 secondsbriefly seen
The train seen in the shot is the Marunouchi Line subway, which briefly emerges above ground at Yotsuya Station.
The next part of the journey is a long walking route, where we will see many scenes from the movie, covering a total of two kilometers.
OnAsahi Bridgeyou can seethe movie at 1 hour 15 minutes 55 seconds, the scene of Mitsuha's Chuo Line train entering the tunnel.
Continue walking forward from Asahi Bridge and take photos of the fence. This is where the 'Zen Zen Zense' animation segment takes place, and also where Taki passed by on his way to his date with Okudera-senpai.
Turn right at the next intersection to enter Teppozaka.
Keep walking forward, stand atthe middle of the road and look back, this isthe 38-minute mark of the moviewhere Taki ran out of his house to find Okudera-senpai.
Go toSuga Shrine, check in atthe 1 hour 39 minutes 50 seconds mark of the moviepostbox
From the postbox, head north along Monto-ji-zaka slope, and at the Shinjuku-dori intersection, shoot backwards with a telephoto lens. This isthe 1 hour 39 minutes 42 seconds mark of the moviewhere Taki ran, searching for Mitsuha's traces. You can also see the red postbox from earlier here.
Pass Shinjuku-dori, and go toYotsuya Elementary School on Tofukuin-zaka slope, here are traffic signs identical to those in the film
Standing atthe top of Tofukuin-zaka slope, which is the scene where the taxi passes in the movie
Continue walking forward, you can see1 hour 39 minutesthe scene of Mitsuha searching for Taki
On the blue vending machine next to it, there is also a slogan in four languages (Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean) welcoming global tourists of 'Your Name.'
Cross the intersection and go straight ahead, and you'll reach today's main highlight,Suga Shrine's entrance
On the stairs is the main building of Suga Shrine. This place has become a tourist attraction because of the movie, and it seems that Susanoo is enshrined here.
Conclusion
The pilgrimage of the Shinjuku chapter is a confirmation of 'memory.' From bustling to tranquil, from the missed overpass to the reunited stairs. If you complete the entire journey, you will find that it's not just about checking off locations, but about reliving the movie in the real world.
Next Episode Preview:But that's not all. There's still another half to Taki and Okudera-senpai's date itinerary—The Minato Ward ArcWe'll head to the art museum in Roppongi to complete that imperfect date.
See you next time! (o^^o)