Anime in Gifu

A former iron railway bridge over the Ibi River, now a pedestrian walkway and a Nationally Important Cultural Property. It is the setting for the opening scene: Shōya, standing on the railing, stares into the void until a bursting firework brings him back. (Coordinate approximate, by the bridge's address.)

Midori-bashi, over the Suimon canal in Four Seasons Plaza (Shiki no Hiroba), is the single most important place in the work: here Shōya, Shōko and their friends gather, and Shōko feeds bread to the canal's large koi. The same park holds the waterfall tunnel where Shōko feeds pigeons. It appears on manga covers. (Coordinate approximate, by address.)

The park beside Ōgaki Castle appears several times: it is where Shōya looks after his niece Maria and later comes to the aid of Yuzuru, Shōko's little sister. The coming-of-age ceremony scene is also set here. A serene park at the foot of the restored castle.

Ōgaki's main station, the city's transport hub, is seen several times in the film, notably when the group meets up to go looking for Sahara, Shōko's old friend. The covered shopping arcade leading from the station also appears repeatedly.

The covered shopping arcade in central Ōgaki is where Shōko appears wearing a ponytail. The roofed arcade, typical of mid-sized Japanese cities, is reproduced with its shopfronts and lanterns. (Coordinate approximate, by address.)

The hospital where Shōya is admitted after falling from a balcony while saving Shōko at the film's climax. One of the film's most tense moments. (Coordinate approximate, by address.)

Shōya, Shōko and Yuzuru take a day trip to Yōrō Park, south of Ōgaki. The outing unfolds at the 'Site of Reversible Destiny' (Yōrō Tenmei Hantenchi), an art-park of tilted, disorienting landscapes, beside the famous Yōrō Falls. (Coordinate of the art park; the falls are about a kilometre away.)

Gifu Station, in the prefectural capital, appears in the film as a transit point from Ōgaki. Its plaza with the golden statue of Oda Nobunaga is a recognizable backdrop of the area.

The station where Taki and his friends arrive by train searching for Mitsuha. The entrance, the platform, the pedestrian bridge, and the taxi stand are beautifully recreated. The city provides a free pilgrimage map at the tourist desk inside the station, where you can find a cutout of the mascot Hidakuro (the Hida ox) that appears in the film.

The library where Taki, Okudera, and Tsukasa research the "Itomori Disaster" and discover Mitsuha's fate. Recreated with outstanding fidelity. Photography requires asking for permission at the reception desk — the staff are very welcoming to anime fans.

The primary model for the Miyamizu Shrine where Mitsuha's family serves as shrine maidens. Surrounded by a forest of ancient cedar trees that evokes the film's mystical atmosphere. Located 15 minutes walk from Hida-Furukawa Station.

Seto River Canal & White-Walled Storehouses — Furukawa

Ochiai Bus Stop — The Waiting Scene

Hida Folk Village — Traditional Hamlet Atmosphere

The public high school Yonezawa attended is the model for Kamiyama High and its Classics Club. The entrance slope with its little river bridge appears as-is in the opening. A working school: view from outside.

The Western-style municipal library is the model for the library where the club researches the 'Hyouka' anthology case. Its reading room is precisely reproduced, and it keeps a corner devoted to the series.

The wooden-beamed coffee house where Oreki and Chitanda talk in episode 19. Fans ask for the same window table and Chitanda's cinnamon cocoa. (Approximate coordinate by address.)

The Miyagawa bridge with its tengu statues, a recurring crossing on the club's walks, links downtown with the wooden Sanmachi streets that set the scene for the whole series. (Approximate coordinate.)

Where the manga begins: Takezo (Musashi) survives the decisive battle of 1600 that ended the Sengoku period and ushered in the Tokugawa era. The battlefield museum features maps and original relics.