The scene which Aiko (Rina Koike) and Atsushi (Keisuke Minami) have a conversation in the movie "Happy Landing" (2015) was shot at Shinagawa Kumin Park. The park is full of nature with colorful flowers, trees and water. There are recreational facilities such as a day camp area and a fishing pond, and the park is one of the biggest public park in Tokyo. There is Shinagawa Aquarium within the park and it is a perfect place to relax on the weekends.

In episode 3 of the drama series “Fight! Bookstore Girl” (2015), Nobumitsu Obata (Shunsuke Daito) declares his love for Aki Kitamura (Mayu Watanabe) at Pietro Corte Oizumi-gakuen in Nerima Ward. The restaurant’s specialty, a handmade dressing whose original taste has been preserved ever since Pietro Corte was established in 1980, is served with salads and a variety of rich pasta dishes. Many actors and actresses often come to the restaurant as Toei Studios Tokyo is located close by. Make sure to check out the impressive collection of autographs the restaurant displays!

The place where the scenes that Youichi Haruno (Hiroshi Tamaki) gives an old lady a piggyback ride in the drama "Disappointing Husband " (2015) were shot is Ooizumi-gakuen station of the Seibu Ikebukuro line.

Tokyo Polytechnic University Suginami Animation Museum is the first facility in Japan that presents animation in a systematic manner so that visitors can learn about, experience, and understand Japanese animation. In addition to offering interactive workshops and exhibitions about post-recording and animation production processes, the museum has special exhibitions that present information about the latest animations. Everyone is sure to find a host of opportunities to enjoy the various aspects of Japanese animation. The museum features a library replete with books related to animation and video interviews with creators as well as a theater that shows animation works. Suginami Animation Museum is the perfect place to learn more about animation while having fun.

The gate where Sakurako Jinno (Nanako Matsushima) and Osuke Nakahara (Shinichi Tsutsumi) had climbed over together during their stroll is located in this “Sanshi no Mori Park” in Suginami-ku in the episode 2 of the drama "Yamato Nadeshiko - Perfect Woman" (2000). The park previously was a site to Sericultural Experiment Station, and the bricked main gate is the reminiscent of those days.

Momoi Harappa Park in Suginami Ward is featured in the movie “Last Night Rewind” (2017). In the part that takes place in the future, the scene in which Masaki (Hiroyuki Hirayama) and Sora (Santa Takahashi) play soccer and the scene in which Masaki is sitting on a bench were filmed at this park. This used to be the location of the factory that designed and manufactured engines for the first Japanese-made aircraft as well as for the Zero fighter planes. As its name suggests (‘harappa’ means ‘field’), the park is a vast field where many locals come to relax.

Ten-chan (Tori Matsuzaka) belongs to a theatrical company Gekidan Mebachi Musume in the movie "Piece of Cake" (2015). His movie event takes place at "Asagaya/ Loft A" in Suginami. It is a live house and a bar, reflecting the Japanese rock subculture. A variety of shows take place here from music events, talk lives, movie screenings to drama performances so it is a must to check the schedule beforehand.

The steps which Akira (Yuya Yagira) and the siblings come and go and play together in the moive "Nobody Knows" (2004) is located in Kamitakada, Nakano. You will also find Nishiochiai Park where the kids play when you go down the steps and cross the river. The neighbourhood has changed since the time movie was shot, after undergoing redevelopments but the stone steps still remian as they used to.

The live music club Shimokitazawa Garage in Setagaya Ward is featured in the movie “Pumpkin and Mayonnaise” (2017). In the original manga by Kiriko Nananan, the live music club was called ‘Shimokitazawa.’ ‘The artwork of Kiriko Nananan depicts the finest of urban details which form the backdrop for the characters. The signboards and address plates are drawn with a subtle touch that exudes the endearing features of local neighborhood life. The style of the original work was of crucial importance in guiding me as I was making the movie. However, the area around Shimo-kitazawa Station has greatly changed since the ’90s, when the manga was first published.
The scene in which the protagonist, Tsuchida (Asami Usuda), stumbles upon her former boyfriend, Hagio (Joe Odagiri), is a clear reproduction of the South Exit Gate at Shimo-kitazawa Station in the original work. However, the station has since then been completely renovated and doesn’t look anything like its former self. I therefore decided to have Hagio run into Tsuchida at the live music club she works at, and filmed this scene at the live music club Shimokitazawa Garage (which Asami Usuda actually introduced me to!). Shimokitazawa Garage is on the first basement floor of a building that has office space and a waiting room on the second floor. As I was looking for locations for the movie, I became ecstatic when I saw the building’s rooftop. That was a nice additional feature for the movie. I also felt that the club’s furniture and empty bottles were just so perfectly lying around that nothing needed to be changed. The rooftop, whose access is restricted to the employees, was the perfect spot for Tsuchida and Hagio to quietly slip away for a short while.
The employees began taking measurements even before I mentioned that I’d like to shoot scenes there. It was just clear to me at first sight that this was the ideal place. Unfortunately, it was raining on the day the rooftop scene was supposed to be filmed, so I had to give up on my plan. However, I felt the rooftop of the building truly represented the mood of the town in the original manga.’
{Masanori Tominaga, director of “Pumpkin and Mayonnaise”}

In the movie “The Ringside Story” (2017), the training scene with Hideo (Eita), the protagonist, was filmed at Komazawa Olympic Park in Setagaya Ward. ‘I came up with the idea of a tribute to the training montage in the movie “Rocky.” John G. Avildsen, the director of “Rocky,” passed away on June 16 as we were getting ready to shoot. I thought that there was no choice but to recreate the training sequence that takes place between Rocky’s small apartment and the Museum of Art in Philadelphia. There would be no other chance like this. I could realize such a ridiculous dream because of Komazawa Olympic Park, which features a flight of stairs right at the end of the tree-lined path the protagonist dashes through as he trains. The surroundings of the park also match the settings of the town Hideo is likely to live in. The training sequence starts from his apartment in Nakano, passes through a shopping street in Nakano Minamidai, includes some training at a gym in Shin-Okubo, and finishes at Komazawa Olympic Park. I was looking for a park that is commonly used by the residents as a place to exercise, so I was really glad we were allowed to film scenes there. As we were shooting, several other young people were also running up and down the stairs. It was impressive to see them working hard, step by step, toward their dreams. Rocky’s theme song was echoing in my head while I was filming the scene. This running course definitely offered the ideal backdrop for Hideo as he was trying hard to become the best of bests. I hope the young people who watch the movie will one day follow this example. This is also one of the rewards of being a film director.’
{Masaharu Take, director of “The Ringside Story”}

The exterior of the Matsumoto Memorial Music Guest House in Setagaya Ward is featured in the drama series “Princess Jellyfish” (2018) as the mansion of the Koibuchi family where Kuranosuke Koibuchi (Koji Seto) and Shu Koibuchi (Asuka Kudo) live. Matsumoto Memorial Music Guest House was originally built as the residence of Nozomu and Chiyo Matsumoto. Nozomu Matsumoto was the founder of Pioneer, the audio equipment maker, as well as the Foundation for the Advancement of Music Appreciation. It has been opened to the general public since 2001 as a memorial hall mainly dedicated to music education. Mini concerts and lectures are also sometimes held.

Roka Koshun-en Gardens in Setagaya Ward served as one of the locations in the long-running historical drama series “Yae's Sakura” (2013). Following episode 46 in which novelist Roka Tokutomi (Taiga) was featured, The Roka Koshun-en Gardens was introduced as part of ‘“Yae's Sakura” Kiko,’ a program that airs after each episode and which presents facts and places in connection with the drama series. Literary master Roka Tokutomi was active starting in the Meiji era until the Taisho era. The park features an old house and garden where Roka spent the latter part of his life in quiet retirement dividing his time between work and intellectual pursuits. Visitors will be able to imagine Roka’s bucolic lifestyle during his late years. Other points of interest include a moso bamboo grove as well as a small forest of mixed trees, which includes sawtooth and konara oak trees, planted by Roka himself. In another corner of the gardens is a flower hill where a variety of flowers bloom according to the change of seasons. The nature and vestiges of Roka’s beloved Musashino can be enjoyed to this day.

In the last episode of the drama series “Perfect Son” (2012), Umi Suzuki (Kyoka Suzuki) and Minoru Kurahashi (Ikki Sawamura) hold their wedding ceremony at Fujimigaoka Church in Setagaya Ward. The year 1935 saw the foundation of the Protestant Church. In 2003, Fujimigaoka Church was designated as a national Tangible Cultural Property. The origin of the name Fujimi, as per the meaning of the Japanese characters, comes from the fact that it was possible to gaze at Mount Fuji from this place when the church was founded. Everyone is welcome to attend the religious service held every Sunday. If you happen to visit on a Sunday, don’t hesitate to join the service!

MAKER'S SHIRT KAMAKURA jiyugaoka mast
in Setagaya Ward is featured in the movie “TO EACH HIS OWN” (2017). Yamamoto (Sota Fukushi) and Takashi Aoyama (Asuka Kudo) are seen shopping at the store in one of the important scenes of the first half of the movie. KAMAKURA Shirts is a brand that was started in 1991 with the idea to bring authentic Western-style clothing to Japan in order to make Japanese more fashionable. The shirts are slowly and carefully sewn by skilled craftsmen. Just like the two protagonists who went shopping to the store for a change of mood, come to Maker’s Shirt KAMAKURA for a new shirt or tie that will change your mood at work and create a special memory based on the movie. The store carries garments for both men and women.

In the movie “Love Strikes!” (2011), Yukiyo Fujimoto (Mirai Moriyama) and Miyuki Matsuo (Masami Nagasawa) arrange to meet. They meet for the first time at Village Vanguard Shimokitazawa in Setagaya Ward. The store, which is crammed with irresistible items such as manga, books, accessories, and much more, is a paradise for the subculture aficionado. Simply browsing around is sure to be entertaining. Gyoza no Ohsho in the subculture town of Shimokitazawa is known as the filming location of the scene in which Miyuki says she’s taking herself off. Enjoy a casual walk or meal in this town and let yourself be overwhelmed with the butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling of first encounters just as depicted in Love Strikes!