Must-Visit Landmarks Used in the Anime Movie “Your Name”
Must-Visit Landmarks Used in the Anime Movie “Your Name” (Hida・Itomori Edition)
The Japanese animated feature Your Name is a major box office hit not only in Japan, but also across Asia. Screened worldwide, it has also gained attention due to the beauty of the scenery that have been modeled after actual famous Japanese landmarks. There has been a boom of "seichi junrei," a practice where fans make a pilgrimage across Japan in order to look at the actual scenery of the places that the animated film was modeled after! Here are some actual landmarks in Hida that were used as a model for Itomori, where one the main characters of Your Name, Mitsuha, lived.
Itomori is Mostly Based on Hida, Gifu Itomori where Mitsuha lives, is a small town surrounded by beautiful nature and located far away from the urban area. Although there is no actual town in Japan called Itomori, Hida was used as a model for its base image. Here are a few "seichi junrei" spots that are centered around Hida. Incidentally, it is said that the atmosphere of Itomori is based on the film director's own hometown, Koumimachi, in Nagano.
Hida Furukawa Station (Kosenkyo･Ekimae) Hida Furukawa Station is where the other main character, Taki, who lives in Tokyo, got off at this station past Nagoya on his journey to find Itomori. There is a scene in the film where a train pulls in, passing through the overpass in the far back of the station. The other scene outside the station where Taki asks the taxi driver for information on Itomori is really impressive, because it looks exactly the same as the actual location. Recently, there has been a massive influx of tourists to this location due to the popularity of Your Name.
Hida Furukawa Station (Kosenkyo･Ekimae)
Map Hida City Library This is the library where Taki conducts research on Itomori. The seat that Taki used also actually exists. You can also film and take photos within the library if you get permission beforehand. It might also be fun and interesting to sit in the seat and pretend that you are Taki himself! However, do remember that this place is a library, so keep quiet when you are visiting!
Hida City Library
Aji Dokoro Furukawa (Gohei Mochi) In the time that Taki searches for Itomori, he and his friends take a break and have some gohei mochi (oval-shaped rice cakes that are seared on a long, flat stick, then smeared with sweet miso sauce and grilled) in a store modeled after "Aji Dokoro Furukawa." On the 2nd floor, dishes that make use of Hida specialty products are served, and there is a gift shop on the 1st floor that sells a wide variety of merchandise. Do give gohei mochi a try!
※Picture shown is for the purpose of illustration of gohei mochi only
Aji Dokoro Furukawa (Gohei Mochi)
Miyagawa Ochiai Bus Stop Miyagawa Ochiai Bus Stop is a 5-minute walk from Tsunogawa Station, which is 13 minutes by train from Hida Furukawa Station. In the film, the main character is seen waiting at this bus stop. ※Please note that this bus stop is no longer in use.
Miyagawa Ochiai Bus Stop
Hida Furukawa Sakura Bussankan This Bussankan is located in Furukawa, and is an approximately 8 minutes' walk from Hida Furukawa Station. As this souvenir hall, you can purchase Hida craft products, confections, processed specialty products, and pretty much anything else that appeared in "Your Name". On-site, there is a Hida Furukawa gallery to explore, heishi (Japanese sake vessel with a long and thin-shaped body, and a small bottleneck) to buy, and you can even try your hand out at making kumihimo (braided cords)! You should definitely pay a visit to this place if you are planning to spend a few days in Hida Furukawa.
※Pictures shown are for the purpose of illustration only.
Ccassan/Wikimedia Commons
Hida Furukawa Sakura Bussankan
Map Official Homepage (Japanese only) The Seichi For Mitsuha's Home, Miyamizu Shrine A convincing theory is that Miyamizu Shrine, where Mitsuha and her sister not only call home, but also work as miko (shrine maidens), is not modeled after one, but two shrines, Keta Wakamiya Shrine and Hida Sannogu Hie Shrine. Both shrines have a nice atmosphere that reminds you of the various scenes in Your Name.
Keta Wakamiya Shrine (Hida Furukawa-shi) A shrine located in Hida. It is said that this shrine was constructed during the Heian period (794 - 1185). Keta Wakamiya Shrine is famous for being home to the Furukawa Festival, one of Japan's three great naked festivals.
Keta Wakamiya Shrine (Hida Furukawa-shi)
Map Gifu Jinja Cho Official Homepage (Japanese only) Hida Sannogu Hie Shrine (Hida Takayama) This shrine, which was built in the year 1141, is located in Takayama. The Takayama Festival, which is cited as one of the three most beautiful festivals of Japan, is held here.
Hida Sannogu Hie Shrine (Hida Takayama)
Map Gifu Jinja Cho Official Homepage (Japanese only) Is Lake Itomori Based on Lake Suwa? Lake Matsubara? Or Lake Otsuki? In the movie, a meteor falls right where Itomori is, later forming Itomori Lake. Have you tried going on a hunt for the lake that Itomori Lake is based on? There is a convincing theory that Lake Itomori is based on Lake Suwa in Nagano, but it seems that the film director had in mind the Lakes Matsubara and Otsuki, located in Koumi, Nagano. Whichever lake it was based on, they all qualify in terms of atmosphere!
Lake Suwa Lake Suwa spans across Okaya, Suwa, and Shimosuwa in Nagano. There are various famous places in the vicinity of this popular tourist destination.
Lake Suwa
Map Suwa City Tourist Association Official Homepage Lake Matsubara Lake Matsubara is located in Minamisaku. "Lake Matsubara" is used as an umbrella term for the 3 lakes, Lake Inako, Lake Cho, and Lake Otsuki. Also used to singly refer to Lake Inako.
Qurren/Wikimedia Commons
Lake Matsubara
Map Lake Otsuki Lake Otsuki is located to the southwest of Lake Matsubara.
Qurren/Wikimedia Commons
Did some of these places seem really familiar to you? Please refer to this article as you make your own "seichi junrei" pilgrimage!
*Please note that the information in this article is from the time of writing or publication and may differ from the latest information.
