Anime in Kanagawa

The most iconic scene of the manga and anime: Hanamichi waiting for the Enoden train with the Sagami Sea in the background. Appears in the opening of every episode. Photography restrictions in place since 2023 — visiting at sunrise is recommended.

The Enoden station platform with direct ocean views. Appears in the opening and in daily scenes. One of the 100 representative stations of Japan.

Exterior model of the rival school, Ryonan High School. The entrance ramp appears in the scene where Akagi says "We still have plenty of chances". Entry is not allowed — exterior only.

The scene from the cover of the new edition of the manga Vol. 2: Rukawa pedaling along the sea wall.

Final scene of the manga epilogue: Sakuragi reads Haruko's letter while looking at Enoshima Island with Rukawa. Best photo angle: with Enoshima in the background on the right.

Model of the gym where Shohoku vs. Ryonan is played. The lobby has original sketches signed by Takehiko Inoue. Regular home court for the Yokohama B-Corsairs.

Model of the gym for Shohoku vs. Hainan (manga reference, not anime). Highly recognizable modern steel architecture. Closed on the 3rd Monday of each month.

Cited in various fan forums as a possible exterior model for Shoyo High School. No official confirmation from the author. Visit with caution.

Mentioned in secondary sources as a beach scene in the manga. No direct confirmation from Inoue. Recognizable coastal area of the era.

Lake Ashi, located in the volcanic caldera of Hakone, is one of the most recurring settings in the series. Key battles take place here, most notably the epic confrontation against the fifth Angel, Ramiel. The mountainous landscapes surrounding the lake are reproduced with extreme visual fidelity.

Mount Futago (consisting of Upper and Lower Futago peaks) is the strategic military site chosen in Episode 6 for "Operation Yashima". EVA-01 is positioned on this mountain to execute the historic sniper shot using the positron rifle powered by Japan's entire electrical grid.

The spectacular active volcanic valley of Owakudani, famous for its sulfur vents. In Episode 4, after running away from NERV, Shinji wanders aimlessly through Hakone's trails and sits in this desolate, steaming landscape, reflecting his deep existential crisis.

The Sengokuhara district houses NERV's subterranean Geofront in the anime. The former Sengokuhara Municipal Junior High School served as the architectural model for Tokyo-3 Municipal Junior High School No. 2, attended by Shinji, Rei, Asuka, Toji, and Kensuke.

This Shinto shrine at the foot of Mount Kintoki is surrounded by dense forests. The wooded area inspired the campsite where military geek Kensuke Aida sets up his tent and where Shinji temporarily takes refuge during his runaway escape in Episode 4.

The primary railway gateway to Hakone. In Episode 4, Shinji goes to this station resolved to leave Hakone and NERV by train. However, after standing thoughtfully on the platform for hours as trains pass, he ultimately decides to stay, forming one of the show's most famous scenes.

Located on the shores of Lake Ashi, it is the terminus of the Hakone Ropeway. In the Rebuild of Evangelion movies, this station is depicted with high technological realism as "Togendai Central Station", acting as a transit node for NERV.

The scenic Ashinoko Skyline mountain road runs along Hakone's western ridge. The shots where Shinji walks along the mountain trail, contemplating the sunset over Lake Ashi and meeting Kensuke taking pictures, were directly inspired by these viewpoints.

The beach where Sakuta and Mai walk and talk again and again, with Enoshima and Mt. Fuji beyond — the series' emotional landscape. The leads' school is set on this shore. (Approximate coordinate: beachfront.)

The famous seaside Enoden crossing (the same as Slam Dunk's) appears in the opening and key scenes: here Sakuta shouts his declaration to Mai in the final episode.

The sacred island in Sagami Bay, with its shrine and lighthouse, is a recurring stage: dates, festivals and the Shōko arc. Its views close several episodes.

The causeway linking the shore with Enoshima, crossed by the characters at decisive moments; the sunset over the bridge is one of the images of the 'Dreaming Girl' film.

The rail hub of Sakuta's daily life: Enoden transfers, platform waits and the urban area where he lives with his sister Kaede. The bunny-girl library encounter is set in this area.

The series shifts the action from classic Tokyo to the industrial and urban environment of Kawasaki. The surroundings of the main station, with its pedestrian overpasses and shopping malls, represent the ecosystem where students, street rappers, and gang members interact, serving as a backdrop to showcase society's decay and panic.

The large athletics stadium located in Kawasaki. Track and field is a central visual and narrative theme in the series, symbolizing human effort, competition, and the desire to push past physical limits. Stadiums like this served as the reference for the intense races where Miki Kuroda obsessively competes against the unbeatable Miki Makimura.

The massive belt of coastal factories and refineries in Kawasaki. Its towering steel structures, fire-spewing chimneys, and glowing night lights provide the perfect bleak, hellish, and apocalyptic backdrop for the series, reflecting the world's descent into chaos and the brutal nocturnal demon battles.

The wide, grassy banks of the Tama River, which separates Tokyo from Kawasaki. It is the regular hangout spot for the group of street rappers (Kukun, Wamu, Gabi, Hie). Under the large bridges, they express their frustrations, fears, and observations about modern society through powerful freestyle rap battles, acting as a modern Greek chorus for the tragedy.

The industrial canals and fishing boat docks in Kawasaki, near the "Tsurikou" area. These run-down coastal zones are used in the anime to give texture to the peripheral neighborhoods where marginalized characters live and where darkness hides in plain sight.

The clifftop park on the Yamate bluff, overlooking the port and bay, distils Umi's hilltop landscape: since 2011 it flies a mast with the film's 'U W' signal flags.

Yokohama's classic seaside promenade, with the liner Hikawa Maru moored alongside, evokes the 1963 port Umi and Shun cycle through: tugboats, cranes and the film's sea air.

The shopping street at the foot of the bluff, where Umi does the boarding house's daily shopping, keeps the elegant port-town air the film recreates. (Approximate coordinate: street axis.)

A beautiful waterfront park in the port city of Yokohama offering spectacular views of the bay. It is the setting where Keitaro and Naru stroll during their early outings together and where they take their first iconic "Print Club" (purikura) sticker photo, a keepsake that becomes a key item throughout the series.

The beautiful tourist island connected to the Shonan coast by a bridge. In the series, it serves as the direct visual model for "Hinoshima," the coastal island where the girls and Keitaro embark on their hilarious summer training camp and enjoy the fireworks festival.

The small tourist island of Enoshima (Kanagawa), linked to the coast by a bridge, is the destination of the band's beach getaway. Its sea views contrast with the urban alleys of Shimokitazawa.

Yokohama Bay Area — L's Alternate Headquarters

A large and vibrant hot spring theme park in Hakone that challenges traditional rules with its playful, aromatic baths of red wine, espresso coffee, and green tea. In the series, this jovial and playful atmosphere directly inspires Lucius to revolutionize Roman public baths, creating recreational sections where commoners and patricians enjoy novel fragrances and colors together.