Your Name Pilgrimage Tokyo: Every Location + Walking Route

Last updated: May 2026. Quiet Tokyo neighborhood stairs, residential areas like Yotsuya hide famous anime locations 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

Photo: Hisagi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Suga Shrine stairs in Yotsuya, the literal Your Name ending-scene location. Tokyo residential stairway, the kind of everyday scenery that Makoto Shinkai captures in his films

Suga Shrine (Suga-jinja), Yotsuya, the torii gate at the top of the stairs where Taki and Mitsuha finally meet in Your Name's final scene. Photo: Monado / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5. 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: red handrails, surrounding residential buildings, the way light falls across the steps in the late afternoon. A traditional shrine gate in Tokyo, quiet sanctuaries tucked away between modern buildings 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.

Location 2: Shinjuku Station South Exit & Pedestrian Overpass

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

Location 3: Shinanomachi Station Area

Shinanomachi Station on the JR Sobu Line appears in several scenes. Crossing the pedestrian bridge above the train tracks reproduces the platform view from the film. Quieter than the other stops, you may have it entirely to yourself, especially on weekdays.

Location 4: National Art Center, Tokyo (Roppongi)

Undulating glass facade of the National Art Center appears in the film as a background element. Designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa, the building itself is architecturally stunning regardless of its anime connection. Inside, an elevated cone-shaped platform houses a cafe with one of the best views in Roppongi.

National Art Center, Tokyo, the Roppongi glass facade referenced in the film's backgrounds. Photo: Kakidai / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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:

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

Itomori, the film’s fictional town, is based on the Hida region of Gifu Prefecture — particularly the town of Hida (飛騨市). Hida Furukawa train station, the local library, and the surrounding mountain scenery all appeared in the film. Local shops have embraced the anime heritage with Your Name-themed signage, maps, and themed goods. 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. 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. Residential streets surrounding Suga Shrine are 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. 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

Your Name Walking Tour with a Guide

A local guide takes you to every filming location from Your Name, explains the scene references, and helps you recreate the iconic photos. Coverage spans Suga Shrine, Shinjuku, and Yotsuya in about 2.5 hours. Find Your Name Tours on GetYourGuide

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• Japan IC Card & Transit Guide: Navigate between pilgrimage spots easily
• Anime Collab Cafe Calendar. Check for Your Name or Shinkai collabs during your visit Japan Pop Now is a Tokyo-based English-language media covering Japanese pop culture for international visitors.

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• Jujutsu Kaisen Shibuya Pilgrimage Guide
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• Kyoto Anime Guide 2026 Planning a trip to Tokyo? Check our complete guide to anime collaboration cafes currently open →

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Your Name Tokyo walking route take?

4–5 hours for the 5 main spots plus a shrine visit. Start at Yotsuya 13:00, finish at Roppongi around 18:00 with time for late-afternoon light at Suga Shrine.

Are the Suga Shrine stairs free to visit?

Yes, the stairs are a public residential road open 24 hours. Shrine grounds themselves open 9:00–17:00 and collect optional 500-yen goshuin (shrine seal) fees.

Do I need to visit Hida/Takayama to complete the Your Name pilgrimage?

Not on a Tokyo-only trip. Hida Furukawa is a 4-hour Shinkansen plus train ride away and makes more sense as a separate 1-night side trip.