Japan has long been a place that captivated some of the most creative minds in the world, and the writers and directors over at Hollywood are no exception. Over the years, these people have attempted to capture the essence of the country in the few hours the silver screen has granted them, with various degrees of success. Some have amounted to nothing more than a caricature, but others, the ones we remembered fondly, made an effort to show Japan as beautifully as their minds knew it was: a colorful, entertaining and culturally rich place worth visiting.
To achieve this, filmmakers shot in Japanese places that allowed their imagination to run wild, creating scenes that are as thrilling as they are memorable. These scenarios were fictional, but the places are real, and in the following tour guide, we’ll show you how to best traverse the beautiful country of Japan without missing any of these sites and the iconic scenes that were filmed there.
Arriving in Japan
After you arrive at either Haneda or Narita International Airport, pick up your luggage and pass through security, the adventure will officially begin as you set foot on Japanese soil. Faced with the immensity of the Tokyo metropolis, it’s common that the first question to pop into your mind is: What now? As any good cinephile would know, it’s not about the destination but the journey, and it just so happens that some of the first sites can actually be found on the road itself.
Such is the case of Yasukuni Avenue, which is featured in the opening scene of Sofia Coppola’s masterpiece of a film, Lost in Translation. Here, Bob Harris (played by Bill Murray) is shown from the backseat of a taxi as he sees the neon lights on the buildings, introducing him (and, by extension, us) to Japan. At first, his attitude towards the country is one of skepticism, which is why his face looks tired upon seeing the lights, but eventually he comes to see them as warm and comforting. For us spectators, these lights serve as a promise of things to come: the exciting world of Japan awaits us.
Another iconic site that can be experienced by car, though it’s equally exciting to go on foot, is the Akasaka District, located in the greater Minato Area, featured in Andrei Tarkovsky’s Solaris. In the now iconic highway scene, we see Anri Berton (played by Vladislav Dvorzhetskiy) returning home with his son after meeting the protagonist of the film.
As he drives through Akasaka, the color pallet of the movie ever so subtly shifts, telling us about the conflicting feelings he is experiencing. If Copolla wanted us to show a little of Japan outwards, Tarkovsky aims for the inwards, as a ride on such a massive and activity-filled city is bound to awaken something in us.
So, for now, it’s best to take things calmly, leave your things at the place you’re staying and make sure to enjoy the ride, aware that the trip has already started.
Where to stay?
As the silver screen slowly becomes reality and you realize that you’re in Tokyo, you think of the place you’ll be staying. Many hotels featured in films are luxurious, but you’re also aware that filmmakers have shown there is much beauty in both the inside and the outside of the city, so a warm welcome anywhere is guaranteed. That being said, the hotels featured in movies are not only worth paying for, but also visiting, as they are architecturally beautiful and boast some of the best services for any type of customer.
A hotel always worth mentioning when discussing film is the world-famous Park Hyatt Hotel located in Shinjuku, which gained notoriety as the setting of Lost in Translation, but has also been utilized in some episodes of Tokyo Vice. The hotel’s various guest activities and superb interior design has allowed it to fill a role for filmmakers, as its rooms can be both the scene of a calm meeting between unrequited lovers and an intense confrontation with a yakuza member. It is, in short, a place that will capture the imagination of anyone with a story to tell.
For those whose preferences steer towards a more classic style, the Hotel New Otani Tokyo The Main located in Chiyoda is guaranteed to catch your attention, considering it was in the classic James Bond movie You Only Live Twice. In the film, it was used as the Osato Chemicals and Engineering offices, home of Mr.Osato, the villain of the story. In one of its most thrilling scenes, James Bond infiltrates the building, fights some bad guys, opens a safe and gets a drink before leaving, with that last part being specially easy to recreate as a guest. A simple look at the building will conjure images of spy life and martinis, and the service at your disposal will only make it a more vivid reality.
The Streets of Tokyo
Once you leave your luggage safe at the place you’re staying and have some time to rest after a long flight, it’s time to traverse the streets of Tokyo. The previously mentioned districts of Shinjuku, Chiyoda and Minato would be eager for you to take a proper look, as all of them are areas filled with activities and history. A notable standout is the Azabu-Juban district, located in the greater Minato Area, where many scenes of Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Babel were filmed. Exploring the zone, you’ll encounter a vibrant and youthful world such as that of Chieko in the movie, letting you see where much of the inspiration came from.
One particular street that should be on anyone’s radar, regardless of whether they’re going on a tour such as this one, is the world-famous Shibuya Crossing. Often considered the Japan equivalent to New York’s Time Square, Shibuya Crossing has been the host to many films, including The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, the Netflix hit show Alice in Wonderland and even Jackass: The Movie. As a busy place filled with people, Shibuya Crossing lends itself for scenes focused around friendship, solitude, reflection, awe and even the shenanigans of the Jackass crew dressed as skating pandas. In any case, it’s something to behold.
One last place worth mentioning in this section (we will have a special segment dedicated to places whose best qualities shine at night) is Takeshita Street, which was used as the backbone for teen culture in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. Located in the area of Harajuku, the depiction of the movie is fairly accurate, since the street is well known for its street art and fashion, extravagant stores and youthful ambience.
Tokyo Landmarks
After a fascinating walk along the streets of Tokyo, the time has come to enter somewhere and see if the insides of the city are as movie-like as the outsides. Fortunately, they are.
For our first suggestion, though this depends on the hour you personally find appropriate, we recommend the Gonpachi Nishi-Azabu Restaurant, which directly inspired Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill: Volume 1. Located in the district Roppongi, the restaurant resembles the scenario of one of the best scenes in the movie, as The Bride fights off the Crazy 88 in her quest for vengeance. Thanks to the restaurant’s unique layout, it’s easy to understand why Tarantino found Gonpachi Nishi-Azabu so captivating. With its sliding doors and open space, it’s a place filled with potential from a filmmaker’s perspective, not to mention the fantastic food.
Also located in Roppongi, the Tokyo National Art Center was host to another of the most memorable action scenes in recent memory, that of John Wick: Chapter 4. Presented as the Osaka branch of the Continental hotel chain, the Tokyo National Art Center sees our titular hero fighting off a group of assassins that are coming for his head.
The place was designed by architect Kishō Kurokawa, whose work doesn’t go unnoticed in the movie, as every element of the building is creatively mixed into the action, from its rooftop to its garden. In addition to this, the place is home to some of the most interesting art pieces in all of Japan, 18 of which have been designated as Important Cultural Properties to the country. It’s definitely a place with movie magic, alongside artistic magic that is worth experiencing.
Appropriately concluding this section with another action movie, we recommend visiting the Zojoji Temple and the Tokyo Tower alongside it, which were utilized while filming The Wolverine. The scene in particular sees Hugh Jackman as his iconic character attending a funeral at the Zojoji Temple, only for the atmosphere to shift once the yakuza attack. This temple in particular is the head of the Jodo sect of Japanese Buddhism in the Kanto Region, which is why its grounds include the delightful Shiba Park, impressive structures and mausoleum of the Tokugawa family (of the Tokugawa shogunate), with a corresponding museum. With its cultural importance and overall beautiful scenery, the Zojoji Temple is an essential stop when visiting Japan, something the director of the movie no doubt wanted to emphasize.
Tokyo Nightlife
As the sun sets in the Land of the Rising Sun, a completely new set of activities opens at your disposal. Tokyo’s nightlife has gained notoriety for its unique aesthetic, with neon lights that shine brighter than one’s own imagination, filmmakers felt compelled to capture that world as best as they could. And you, knowing this, dive into the lights with grand expectations that are bound to be satisfied.
A district famous for its nightlife entertainment, especially that aimed towards adults, is Kabukichō, located in the area of Shinjuku. Like other famous sites present in this guide, Kabukichō has been featured in a lot of western movies, but one we found particularly compelling is Gaspar Noé’s Enter the void. The movie doesn’t shy away from showing the dangers of the lifestyle present in Kabukichō, but it’s also able to recognize the beauty within it. For anyone with a mature mind and openness to new experiences, Kabukichō is definitely a place worth your time.
Regarding people who prefer to party and dance while the night is still young, the Womb Nightclub located at Shibuya, featured in Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Babel, is the place to visit. In a bittersweet scene, we see one of the main characters, the deaf and non-verbal Chieko Wataya (played by renowned Japanese actress Rinko Kikuchi), going to the club with some friends. Before drama ensues between the friend group, Iñárritu is keen in showing the fascinating atmosphere of the Womb, as Chieko wanders in awe with its lights and dancing people, eventually joining in the fun despite the fact she can’t even hear the music. In other words, it is a place that will capture anyone’s attention.
Historical Kyoto
Knowing in advance that the wonders of cinematic Japan don’t stop at Tokyo, you planned for three trips to other parts of the country, the first of which is Kyoto, the spiritually and historically rich. The once capital of Japan is famous for its Buddhist and Shinto temples, its imperial palaces and its traditional houses, something that hasn’t gone unnoticed in the silver screen. Now, after a short one-hour flight, you’re ready to experience it by yourself.
For our first recommendation, we suggest visiting the Nijō Castle, which directly inspired one of the most critically acclaimed films of the last decade, Christopher Nolan’s Inception. Built during the Tokugawa shogunate in the Edo period, the castle’s original purpose was to host the shogun’s family while staying in Kyoto. In a similar manner, the castle interior design was the direct inspiration for the Japanese castle in the movie, home to the rich Saito (played by Ken Watanabe). This just comes to show Nolan’s appreciation for the place, as he found its connections to the shogunate a fitting metaphors for Saito power and wealth in his movie. In reality, the castle is even more impressive.
Another fascinating place to visit in Kyoto is the Chion-in Temple, utilized for the shooting of the film The Last Samurai. Presented in the movies as the Imperial Palace of the emperor Meiji, the Chion-In Temple is shown multiple times in the movie, with a notable standout being while the emperor ponders his role in the upcoming conflict. Considered one of Japan’s National Treasures, the temple once hosted the teachings of buddhist leader Hōnen, and would also be the place of his death. Just like the emperor in the film, the Chion-In Temple is ideal for seeking wisdom and finding answers that once seemed out of reach.
Finally, as this place is too iconic to leave out, we suggest you visit the Nanzen-ji Temple, featured in the Kyoto scene of Lost in Translation. In the film, Charlotte (played by Scarlett Johansson) takes a spiritual trip to the temple as she tries to process her mixed romantic feelings towards Bob. The Nanzen-ji Temple is the main hub of one of the most important zen buddhist schools in the country, which is why it’s surrounded by numerous structures, sub-temples and the impressive First Rank Sanmon Gate. With this in mind, it’s easy to see why Coppola chose it as a place to look for guidance, since it has offered it from its inception.
Neo Noir Osaka
Whether you take a bullet train from Kyoto, or decide to fly directly from Tokyo, the second place scheduled for this trip is the fascinating Osaka. The city is world renowned for many reasons, including its food, nightlife and history, but in this tour guide in particular, we wanted to highlight its role in the Action/Noir film Black Rain. Directed by Ridley Scott, Black Rain shows Osaka in an intriguing way that hasn’t been done since, and it’s one we consider necessary for any cinema goer to experience.
The film takes place primarily in the district of Namba, which is located in the center of Osaka itself. The district is considered the main entertainment zone in Osaka and, as a place filled with life, a simple walk around its streets will quickly transport you to the Neo Noir aesthetic of the movie. Black Rain, for tone reasons, mostly shows the street of Namba at night, with various shots highlighting its street layouts, food markets and stores, so we recommend exploring it after the sun sets.
That being said, the place is also fascinating by daylight, as the Dotonbori-gawa River is equally beautiful when illuminated by the neon lights or the sun, and the Ebisubashi Bridge is always a charming site to behold.
Unfortunately, since it has been more than thirty years since the movie’s release, some of the buildings shown have sadly been demolished. The biggest lost is probably the Hankyu Umeda Shopping mall, which was used in the iconic scene where a biker steals our protagonist’s coat. Nonetheless, the city is still host to some extravagant and gigantic malls, this without mentioning the Hankyu Umeda Department Store, which replaced its predecessor as the place to visit for a shopping trip to Osaka.
Medieval Himeji
The last place in our cinematic trip through Japan is the city of Himeji, which will serve as a fitting and calm conclusion after the exhilarating trip you just embarked on.
The notable standout in Himeji, and the reason it is among the favorite places to go when visiting the country, is the world-famous Himeji Castle, also known as the White Heron Castle. A quick glance at this beautiful structure is enough to understand why filmmakers would felt attracted to it, as it has been the setting for multiple amazing films, such as Akira Kurosawa’s Kagemusha and Ran, The Last Samurai, the James Bond movie You Only Live Twice, and the two Shogun miniseries (from 1980 and 2024 respectively). It’s one of the best conserved and most stunning buildings remaining of the medieval era of Japan, and has had a long enough history to be the setting of period pieces that are hundreds of years apart, as well as contemporary films that want to show its immense beauty.
The other place in Himeji, and the last one of our cinema inspired trip, is the Shoshazan Engyō-ji Temple, sometimes simply referred to as the Engyoji Temple. Located in Mount Shosha, the temple is easily accessible from Himeji city center with a 30 minutes long bus and a quick hike. As a temple located on the top of a mountain, the surrounding nature grants Engyō-ji Temple a unique atmosphere that allows for meditative scenes, such as the ones featured in The Last Samurai. Our personal favorite scene is when the protagonist meets his soon-to-be mentor Katsumoto in the temple, a character cinephiles would recognize as the real last samurai.
Exploring the grounds of the temple and admiring the view provided by Mount Shosha, you’ll have plenty of time to think about the trip you just embarked on with a calm mind. And, once you look back upon it, you’ll turn it into a memory worth holding for years to come.
Final Words
The jump from the silver screen to reality is just one ticket away, and it’s one you will definitely be happy to take. To ensure you won’t miss out on any of the places mentioned on this tour guide, we recommend staying connected with good internet access, something that can be done reliably with the help of an Japan eSIM, and Jetpac’s allows you to do just that.
Whether it is during the daytime or nighttime, inside or outside, in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka or Himeji, Jetpac eSIM lets you easily explore the sites that captivated writers and directors from across the world. It’s a great choice to explore the wonders Japan has to offer, helping you keep track of the sites, and make the most out of your cinematic trip.
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