Best Real-Life Places to Visit in Weathering with You
On the 19th of July 2019, an expected Anime movie was released in Japan: Weathering with You (Tenki no Ko/天気の子) directed by Makoto Shinkai who is also famous for the international hit Your Name in 2016. The romantic fantasy Anime movie Weathering with You including various essences from climate issues to romance has dominated the other movies’s box offices since the beginning. Weathering with You has been also scheduled to enter for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards.
For big fans of Weathering with You or Makoto Shinkai, I’d like to introduce the best symbolic locations in Tokyo in Weathering with You. The new Anime film is inspired by lots of real-life locations in Tokyo which you can see in the official trailer. Here is detailed information about the filming locations including famous buildings to hidden streets with maps and access guides. Many of the spots in Weathering with You are located in popular tourist towns in Tokyo such as Shinjuku, Shibuya, Roppongi, and Ikebukuro. You can travel to all of the best locations within a day with this Weathering with You Locations Guide. Other things to do and places to visit near the filming locations are also introduced below.
I have already watched Weathering with You at the theater several times but will avoid talking about the heart of the story since I don’t want to be a spoiler.
▽This is the official trailer of Weathering with You subtitled in English▽
*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.
-Latest News-
Weathering with You Exhibition Opens
The latest information about Weathering with You has been just delivered. The official Weathering with You Exhibition will be held at Matsuya Ginza Department Store from 25th September to 7th October 2019. There are drawings, storyboards, and other exclusive items on display at the exhibition.
Location: Matsuya Ginza 8th floor
Date: 25th September to 7th October, 2019
Business hours: 10:00–20:00 (until 20:30 from 28th to 30th of September/until 17:00 on 7th of October)
Admission: 1,200 yen (Adult)/900 yen (High school students)/700 yen (Junior high school students)/500 yen (Elementary school students)
Map: http://bit.ly/2MH9jFN
Weathering with You Cafe is Opening in Tokyo and Osaka
Tokyo
Location: OMOTESANDO BOX CAFE&SPACE B1F
Date: 8th October to 17th November, 2019
Business hours: 10:00–21:00
Map: http://bit.ly/2ouBc9o
Osaka
Location: Shinsaibashi Contact
Date: 10th October to 17th November, 2019
Business hours: 11:00–21:20
Map: http://bit.ly/2owSpiB
Official Website: https://tenkinoko-cafe.jp/
1. Yoyogi Kaikan Building (代々木会館)
Yoyogi Kaikan Building, located Yoyogi (near Shinjuku), is one of the most important symbols in Weathering with You. It was founded in 1969 including restaurants, bookstores, and other shops. This spot is THE PLACE to visit for fans of Makoto Shinkai since NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building, which has become famous since Your Name’s release, stands beyond Yoyogi Kaikan Building.
NOTE: Demolition work of the building started in the early August of the year, and will be completed in January 2020. You can see the building so far (I visited it in late August 2019), but it is highly recommended to visit as soon as possible.
Access: 2 mins walk from Yoyogi Station (代々木駅)
2. Asahiinari Shrine (朝日稲荷神社)
Asahiinari Shrine, located in Ginza, is what you should visit to see another symbol of Weathering with You: a red torii gate on top of the Yoyogi building. The shrine gate is not located on top of the building in the real world, actually. It is estimated that Asahiinari Shrine is the one in Weathering with You among fans. On the other hand, there are some shrines gated on top of buildings in Tokyo except Asahiinari Shrine. Take the elevator to the 8th floor and go upstairs to the roof.
NOTE: Asahiinari Shrine is unavailable on Sundays and National Holidays
Access: 3 mins walk from Ginza Station (銀座駅)
Shinjuku
The busiest town Shinjuku has the most filming locations in Tokyo inspiring Weathering with You. Almost all of them are located near Shinjuku Station. It is preferable not to refer to the details about the locations’ stories but these places below are related to the main characters Hodaka and Hina and other characters.
3. Shinjuku O-Guard (新宿大ガート)
This is located near the underpass in the north of Shinjuku Station. More exactly, it is in front of the family restaurant Jonathan’s.
Access: 4 mins walk from Shinjuku Station East Exit (新宿駅東口)
4. McDonald’s Seibu Shinjuku Ekimae (マクドナルド 西武新宿駅前店)
This is the place where someone meets someone for the first time.
Access: 5 mins walk from Shinjuku Station East Exit (新宿駅東口)
5. Manboo Shinjuku Yasukuni-dori (マンボー新宿靖国通り店)
Manboo is one of the largest chains of internet cafes in Japan where you can enjoy reading Manga, using the Internet, and other entertainment. The branch in Shinjuku appears in Weathering with You.
Access: 4 mins walk from Shinjuku Station East Exit (新宿駅東口)
6. Tenka Ippin Kabukicho (天下一品 歌舞伎町店)
Tenka Ippin is a popular Ramen chain and the branch of Kabukicho, Shinjuku is related to Hodaka in Weathering with You. The large signboard is easy to notice.
Access: 5 mins walk from Shinjuku Station East Exit (新宿駅東口)
7. Atami Building (アタミビル)
This building in Kabukicho is related to the main characters and some important scenes are described around Atami Building. You can easily find the colorful signboards above the entrance.
Access: 8 mins walk from Shinjuku Station East Exit (新宿駅東口)
8. Vending Machines
This spot seems very ordinary but will please you after you watch Weathering with You, were some vending machines and coin lockers are set.
Access: 9 mins walk from Shinjuku Station East Exit (新宿駅東口)
9. Hotel Serio
Don’t forget to walk to Hotel Serio after visiting to the Anime spots in the Kabukicho area. The signboard of the hotel looks familiar to you after watching Weathering with You.
Access: 11 mins walk from Shinjuku Station East Exit
10. Cocoon Tower and high-rise buildings in Shinjuku
Many Anime spots in Weathering with You are situated in the east of Shinjuku Station. On the other hand, the view of skyscrapers you see in the anime movie including Cocoon Tower are located in the west of Shinjuku Station. You can take a photo of the same scene as Weathering with You in front of Hyatt Regency Tokyo (near Shinjuku Central Park).
Access: 10 mins walk from Shinjuku Station West Exit (新宿駅西口)
11. Tokyo City View Observation Deck (Roppongi Hills)
Roppongi is also a must-visit town in Tokyo for the Anime Pilgrimage of Weathering with You. The panoramic scenery of the Tokyo’s town from Tokyo City View Observation Deck at Roppongi Hills are described in the Anime movie. It is one of the best observatories in Tokyo, and you can book the ticket at the best price in this link below. With this VIP ticket, you can also skip the line for the roof top.
<<Book Online: Tokyo City View (Indoor Observation Deck) Admission Ticket>>
Access: 8 mins walk from Roppongi Station (六本木駅)
12. Shiba Park (芝公園) and Tokyo Tower (東京タワー)
Shiba Park is another Weathering with You location that you should visit in Roppongi. There are the bench which the characters sit and the nice spot for viewing Tokyo Tower in the park.
Access: 2 mins walk from Shibakoen Station (芝公園駅)/12 mins walk from Hamamatsucho Station (浜松町駅)
13. Tabata Station South Exit (田端駅 南口)
Tabata is a less known area for foreign tourists but the slope near Tabata Station South Exit plays an important role in Weathering with You. You can see some outstanding advertising boards which are the same as the ones in the Anime.
Access: In front of Tabata Station South Exit (田端駅南口)
14. Koenji Hikawa Shrine (高円寺 氷川神社)
Koenji Hikawa Shrine is known as the shrine of weather, located in Koenji near Shinjuku. There are numerous Geta(Japanese traditional sandal)-shaped Ema (wooden boards) hung on. Japanese people have used Geta sandals to predict the weather of the next day traditionally. Visitors buy the Ema and write their wishes about weather (like “I hope the weather will be good on our wedding day”).
Access: 2 mins walk from Koenji Station (高円寺駅)
15. Shibuya Crossing (渋谷交差点)
You can see one of the most famous tourist sites in Tokyo in Weathering with You: Shibuya Crossing. It has inspired many anime and movies internationally. For the same scene in Weathering with You, an observation deck on the building named MAGNET by Shibuya is recommended.
NOTE: The business hours of the observatory is 11:00-23:00 but irregularly closed. For more info about Shibuya Crossing viewing spots, check this article below.
▶6 Best Shibuya Crossing Photo Spots
Access: 1 min walk from Shibuya Station (渋谷駅)
16. Nozoki-zaka Slope (のぞき坂)
Nozoki-zaka Slope is well-known to Anime fans since this slope is used in some popular Anime like Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend. You can get there from Zoshigaya Station or Mejiro Station.
Access: 4 mins walk from Zoshigaya Station (雑司が谷駅)/12 mins walk from Mejiro Station (目白駅)
17. The line of the railway at Mejiro Station
You will get excited to see the location beside the line of the railway of Mejiro Station. Something happens in Weathering with you.
Access: 7 mins walk from Mejiro Station (目白駅)
18. Ikebukuro Police Station (池袋警察署)
Ikebukuro Police Station is one of the spots you shouldn’t miss in Tokyo. The building of the police station and the crossing in front of it are worth visiting and seeing.
Access: 4 mins walk from Ikebukuro Station (池袋駅)
Weathering with You Cafe
A pop-up cafe with the theme of Weathering with You was open at Hotel Koe Tokyo in Shibuya for a limited time only during 8th to 27th August, 2019. Unfortunately, now the themed cafe is close but I went there for lunch on the final day. It offers the fried rice lunch plate Hina cooked in the movie and the chicken lunch plate someone ate in the beginning of the story. There are a variety of items related to Weathering with You including Hina’s clothes and water bottles.
▽This is how to cook the fried rice in the Anime!▽
Japanese Food in Weathering with You
In addition to the real-world locations, the characters ate some real-life snacks which are sold at convenience stores and other shops all around Japan. This is the introduction to some of the food.
Nissin Cup Noodle (Instant Noodle)
Nissin Donbe Kitsune Udon (Instant Noodle)
Nissin Chicken Ramen (Instant Noodle)
Koikeya Potato Chips Salt & Seaweed
<<Useful Map for Weathering with You Pilgrimage>>
This article will be updated with additional locations and the latest information. Some spots are more recommended to visit in the evening for almost the same scenery, but it may not be very safe at drinking areas like Kabukicho after dark. Please also note that many of those places are not touristy, so don’t be so noisy and stop littering there.
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I'm writing by my motto: helping travelers spend their limited time experiencing something priceless in Japan. My articles won't let you down! Living in Tokyo and traveling many popular and hidden sites all over Japan, I deliver well-selected and latest tourist information to you from the perspective of “100% Japanese local”. My specific interests are island hopping, eating countless bowls of ramen, watching anime and reading manga. Enjoy Japan Web Magazine for recommended food spots, hidden gems Japanese Otaku (geek) culture, and everything about Japan :)