Sword Art Online commonly abbreviated SAO, is a popular isekai anime based on online video games. It follows Kirito, a particularly skilled swordsman and his allies going on a mission to release all the minds imprisoned in Aincrad once it is revealed that the only way to exit the game is by beating it. Much of the anime is set in Tokyo meaning there are lots of real-life locations of Sword art online featuring in the town. Here are some of the main locations we’ve figured out and a brief guide on them:
- Yuki’s house
- The Catholic Hodogaya Church
- Akihabara Bridge
- Dicey Cafe
- Meiji-Jingu
- The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
- Parlour Shiseido
- Anniversaire Cafe
- Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu
- Shinjuku East Exit
- National Defense Medical College
- Yebisu Garden Place
Yuki’s house
In Episode 24 of the show, Asuna goes to Yuki’s house. The model used for Yuki’s house exists as one of the real-life locations of Sword art online and you can visit it in Kanagawa.
Address: 1-chōme-18-8 Hoshikawa, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 240-0006, Japan
The Catholic Hodogaya Church
Unfortunately, Yuki died during the show and the funeral took place at the Catholic Hodogaya Church in Yokohama. If you are a Catholic and you wish to visit the place, the mass is held there at 10 am every Sunday.
Akihabara Bridge
Also called the Akiba Bridge, it is a pedestrian bridge located on the west side square of Akihabara station. The bridge was a battle location in the first season of the show.
Access
Take the Chuo-Sobu Line to Akihabara Station
Dicey Cafe
The «Dicey Cafe» is a cafe and bar owned and run by Andrew Gilbert Mills in the anime. As his parents took a liking to Japan, Andrew decided to open this cafe in Okachimachi, at the age of twenty-five. At some point, among his customers, Andrew found a beautiful and virtuous wife.
While Andrew was trapped in Aincrad during the Sword Art Online (SAO) Incident, his wife sustained the cafe until he returned to the real world two years after the start of the incident. After most of the players returned, the Dicey Cafe became the meeting place of many events, as well as FullDives, the act of linking to a virtual reality
Although the cafe looks deserted during the day, Andrew claims that the cafe becomes busy during the night. The entrance of the Cafe is one of the real-life locations of Sword art online but unfortunately, it is only the entrance, not the whole cafe.
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Meiji-Jingu
Meiji Shrine is a shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. The shrine was completed and dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken in 1920, eight years after the passing of the emperor and six years after the passing of the empress. The shrine was destroyed during the Second World War but was rebuilt shortly thereafter.
This place is featured during Kirito’s visit to Asuna’s house. He stopped in front of the temple gate with his bike. The spot looks identical to what is in the anime.
Address: 1-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-8557, Japan
How to get there
Meiji-Jingu is located next to Harajuku Station and Meiji-jingumae Station. For JR, take the Yamanote Line to Harajuku Station. On the Metro, catch the Chiyoda or Fukutoshin lines to Meiji-jingumae. The shrine is a 10-minute walk from either location.
The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
In the first two episodes of Sword Art Online II – Gun Gale Online, Kirito and Asuna had a date which took place at the Imperial Garden, which is one of the real-life locations of Sword Art Online. This garden is a popular attraction in Tokyo, so even people who are not anime or manga fans will enjoy visiting it.
The Imperial Palace East Gardens are a part of the inner palace area and are open to the public. They are the former site of Edo Castle’s innermost circles of defence, the honmaru (“main circle”) and ninomaru (“secondary circle”). None of the main buildings remains today, but the moats, walls, entrance gates and several guardhouses still exist.
Location: 1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-8111, Japan
How to get there
- To Ote-mon Gate
From the subway Each Line Otemachi Station (Exit C13a): a 5-minute walk
Subway Chiyoda Line Nijubashi-mae Station (Exit 6): 10-minute walk from:
JR Line Tokyo Station (Marunouchi North Exit): 15-minute walk
- To Hirakawa-mon Gate
Subway Tozai Line Takebashi Station (Exit 1a): 5-minute walk
- To Kita-hanebashi-mon Gate
- Subway Tozai Line Takebashi Station (Exit 1a): 5-minute walk
Parlour Shiseido
This is the restaurant where Kirito and Seijirou Kikuoka are in season two. Interesting fact, It’s a four-minute train ride away from the Imperial Palace Gardens. So you can easily visit the two real-life locations of sword art online on the same day.
Address: Japan, 〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 8 Chome−8−3 4 5F
Anniversaire Cafe
Anniversaire cafe has become quite a landmark in Omotesando since it opened in 1998. Sit at the open front windows, watch people strolling along and try a house-made pastry with the café’s special espresso. For a light snack, salads and sandwiches are available, and at breakfast, lunch and dinner, there are always specials on the menu.
Opening hours
Mon-Fri 11 am-11 pm; Sat, Sun & hols 9 am-11 pm
Address: 3 Chome-5-30 Kitaaoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0061, Japan
How to get there
Anniversaire Cafe is a one-minute walk from the A2 exit of Omotesando Station, one station from Shibuya Station on the Hanzomon Line.
The Anniversaire Cafe in Minato Mirai can also be accessed through a 12-minute walk from Minato Mirai Station on the Minatomirai Line, or around 15 minutes on foot from JR Sakuragicho Station served by the Negishi Line.
Shibuya Town inspired other famous anime as part of their real-life locations. Some of them include Weathering With You, Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei, Death Note, GTO, Love Live!, or Tokyo Revengers where we can observe the Shibuya Crossing.
Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu
Surely one of the best real-life locations of Sword art online you will have to visit. It is a shopping mall built upon shipbuilding docks that is a symbol of the Tokyo Bay area. There are entertainment facilities which you can enjoy such as KidZania Tokyo and a 12-screen cinema complex!
LaLaport TOYOSU contains around 180 shops including casual clothes shops like “UNIQLO”, 100 yen shop “The DAISO” and more. On fair weather days, visitors can enjoy a relaxing meal while taking in the ocean view.
Address: 2 Chome-4-9 Toyosu, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0061, Japan
How to get there
A 10-minute train ride from Tokyo Station to Toyosu Station, and another 8-minute walk from there
- Located on Tokyo Bay, the mall can also be accessed from Asakusa and Odaiba by water bus.
Shinjuku East Exit
In the Ordinal Scale movie, one of Yuna’s concerts was held in Shinjuku.
Address: Shinjuku JR Station east exit.
While in Shinjuku you could equally check out some real-life locations of Code Geass, Mob Psycho, Kimi no an wa, or Jujutsu Kaisen
National Defense Medical College
In episode 5 of season 3, Asuna and Suguha went there to try and see Kirito. The National Defense Medical College is a university-level military academy aiming to train future military officers, who are also medical doctors and current military doctors. Its students are typically selected from recent graduates of Japanese civilian senior high schools who have completed twelve years of formal schooling.
Address: 〒359-8513 Saitama, Tokorozawa, Namiki, 3 Chome−２
Yebisu Garden Place
Yebisu Garden Place stands on the former grounds of the Yebisu Beer Brewery, which in 1890 created one of Japan’s top-selling beers. It’s now a multipurpose complex, home to the Museum of Yebisu Beer, which communicates the history and appeal of that classic beer. There’s also a hotel, a cinema, and an art gallery, as well as a range of restaurants for both casual and fine dining.
In the movie “Ordinal Scale”, one of the fights takes place in Yebisu Garden Place. If you have to choose one of all the real-life locations of sword art online we’ve mentioned, it should be this one. The place is so beautiful. As you can see, it looks almost identical to the anime.
Address: 4 Chome-20 Ebisu, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-6018, Japan
Access:
Yebisu Garden Place is a 4-5 minute walk from the east exit of Ebisu Station, one station from Shibuya Station on the JR Yamanote Line. You can use the JR pass to go to this place.
Article image credit: mipon.org
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