Whisper of the Heart Real-life Locations in Japan
Whisper of the Heart is an anime film released in 1995. It was directed by Yoshifumi Kondo and written by Hayao Miyazaki, who also wrote Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke among others. The film follows Shizuku Tsukishima, a 14-year-old girl who loves reading books and writing stories.
She meets Seiji Amasawa, an aspiring violin maker who has just moved into her neighbourhood with his mother and younger sister. The two begin to fall in love with each other as they work on their respective projects: Shizuku’s novel and Seiji’s violin.
Whisper of the Heart is one of those films that you’ll love as you will witness the story in real life! But if you’re looking for something lighthearted and sweet (and maybe even inspiring), then this could be just what you need! Now you need to spot some of its real-life locations right away ๐
Whisper of the Heart Locations
- Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Station
- Tama Library
- Konpiragu Shrine
- The Antic Shop
- Sakuragaoka Roundabout(Mount Tama Roundabout)
- Irohazaka Sakura Park(The stairs)
Whisper of the Heart is a Studio Ghibli movie that tells the story of a young girl named Shizuku who finds her passion for writing and literature. The film is set in Tokyo, and many of the locations featured in it were inspired by real-life places found throughout the city.
Among the well-known locations are the Tama New Town, Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Station, and the Hikawa Shrine. However, there are lesser-known places that also served as an inspiration for some of the movie’s scenes.
Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Station
This is where everything started. This is a passenger railway station located in Tama City, Tokyo, Japan and it is operated by Keio Corporation, a private operator. There is a free official Cat-Chase Walking Map at the Keio Shopping Mall near the station’s west gate. You can pick this map if you don’t want to miss any real-life locations of Whisper of the Heart.
Here Shizuku catches the Keio train and exits the station
Next is the stop where Shizuku get off the see her father at the library and it’s where she sees that famous cat who accompanies her to a shop at the top of the hill.
Tama Library
Tama Library – This public library played a significant role in the movie. It was where Shizuku discovered the Baron’s storybook and met its owner, Nishi. The real-life Tama Library is located in Higashiyamato City, Tokyo, and is widely considered to be one of the best public libraries in Japan.
However, this location does not exist in real life. It’s just a large empty plot of land. The curved red roads, trees, and hills present are the only similar aspects.
Konpiragu Shrine
Next in the Whisper of the Heart locations, you will find this Konpiragu Shrine at the hilltop. In the movie, you can spot two high school students at the entrance. This is where Sugimura confesses his feelings for Shizuku.
Location: 1-54-4, Sakuragaoka, Tama-shi, Tokyo
The Antic Shop
In real life, there is a house that serves as the inspiration for the antic shop in the anime. The house does not have anything in common though. The two buildings are shown in the images below.
Note that a postbox was built by local people of the area and fans of the movie to encourage teenagers to follow their dreams by writing their dreams on a postcard and posting them. To ensure that the dreams were carried out, people were assigned to follow up. These surely make a great community.
Sakuragaoka Roundabout(Mount Tama Roundabout)
At the top of Mount Tama, there is another Whisper of the Heart location, a roundabout. In the anime, there is one tree in the centre while in real life, there are many trees
Irohazaka Sakura Park(The stairs)
If you have a good memory you may remember that Shizuku usually runs downstairs on the hill. From these stairs, you have a great view of Tama city
The movie also shows Shizuku and Seiji watching the sunrise on a cliff. However, you can’t get a clear view as there is a fence all around that cliff.
Below you can see an overview of Tama City
Location: In front of 2-2-6, Sakuragaoka, Tama-shi, Tokyo
Other Whisper of the Heart locations
These are some other Whisper of the Heart locations observed in the movie. Most of the scenes look similar both in the anime and real life. Just take a brief look at them below.
Exploring Other Anime Locations in Tokyo
If you’re a fan of Studio Ghibli, then there’s no better place than their museum in Tokyo. Located in Mitaka City, it features exhibitions on animation techniques and a replica of the studio’s office building. The museum also hosts special events like concerts and screenings so be sure to check their website for more information!
The Pokemon Center is another must-visit location if you’re an avid player of this popular game series. There are several locations throughout Japan but the one in Tokyo has an impressive selection of merchandise including plushies, apparel items like shirts and hats (some even designed by famous artists), keychains/bags etcetera! If nothing else – it will make any Pokemon fan feel like they’ve stepped into their own world for a few hours at least!
Akihabara is another popular destination for anime lovers since there are plenty of shops selling everything from figurines to DVDs/CDs etcetera (and even some restaurants).
Nakano Broadway has over 200 stores selling various goods related specifically towards Japanese culture including clothing brands such as Uniqlo which sells casual wear such as T-shirts featuring popular manga characters printed on them
In conclusion, Whisper of the Heart is a heartwarming movie that showcases the beauty and charm of Tokyo. The film’s settings offer a window into the city’s culture, history, and everyday life. Exploring the real-life locations associated with the movie can provide fans with a deeper appreciation and understanding of the movie, Tokyo and its people.
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Image credit: @chris than, Little patchwork country
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