A Pilgrimage Through The Locations Of Makoto Shinkai's 'Your Name'

Makoto Shinkai's mega hit anime movie, Your Name, has been a fan favourite and a darling of critics ever since it was released in 2016. With Shinkai's signature flare for realistic animation, Your Name, or Kimi No Na Wa as it is called in its native Japanese, has breathtaking visuals and a flawless storyline. A lot of pilgrimages are taken by fans each year to visit the famously highlighted spots in the movie. Take a trail through the places depicted in some of the most iconic scenes from the movie.

National Arts Centre, Tokyo

This is one of the places where Taki and his senior Okudera-Senpai go out for a date. While it is not replicated exactly in the movie, the primary architectural features of the buildings are the same, like the wooden walls and glass maps.

Timing Open all days except on Tuesdays.

Yotsuya Station, Tokyo

The iconic staircase is where Taki hides behind to see Okudera-Senpai. Multiple spots of the station itself have been shown in the movie throughout, and it involves most of the scenes from Taki's date. Since the station is a really busy one, make sure you chalk out the spots you want to visit beforehand so minimal time is wasted. 

Timing Open all days.

Suga Shrine Steps, Tokyo

Now time for the most iconic place of all&ndashthe steps of the Suga Shrine where Taki and Mitsuha finally find out each other's name. Many of the film's lovers are often spotted taking pictures of the stairs and the streets beyond instead of the actual shrine. The promotional pictures and the film's iconic climax were from this spot.

Timing&nbspThere is no timing. It is an ordinary street with steps, and if you haven't seen the film, you might very easily miss it. 

Cafe La Boheme 

This is the famous restaurant where Taki and Okudera-senpai work and where Mitsuha establishes a close friendship with Okudera-senpai. It is a semi-formal restaurant near Shinjuku Gyoen. One very fascinating detail about the restaurant shown in the film is its name and the easter egg that the masterful Makoto Shinkai had left for his viewers. The cafe shown in the movie is named Il Giardino Delle Parole, which when translated from Italian means "The Garden of Words". For the uninitiated, The Garden of Words is another of Shinkai's brilliant movies, which is based in the Shinjuku Gyoen area. 

Timing Open all days of the week from 1130 am to 1130 pm.

Aogashima Island, Tokyo

Even though Mitsuha's hometown of Itomori is fictional, its geography has been inspired by a very real-life place. Located at south of Hachijojima, Aogashima is a volcanic island that is the inspiration for the town.

Timing&nbspThe island is open all the time, although getting access could be tricky.

Hida-Sannogu Hie Shrine, Gifu

The Miyamizu shrine is the Hida-Sannogu Hie Shrine of Gifu. Mitsuha's family is in charge of this temple and performs regular rituals and traditional Japanese dances. Mitsuha and her sister Yotsuha perform their dance in this shrine and make kuchikamizake&ndasha traditional rice wine offered to the gods.

Timing There is no fixed time, and the outer area can be visited at any time.