6 Amazing Real-life Locations of 5 Centimeters Per Second
Makoto Shinkai is someone who needs no introduction. His multiple works speak for him and give him the honour he deserves. Among his masterpieces, we can mention Your Name, a top-rated anime show; The Garden of Words, and Weathering with You, one of the best romantic anime that exists.
He also released his seventh movie recently, in October 2022 named Suzume. But the one that catches our attention in this article is the famous film 5 Centimeters per second. Released in 2007, it is a romantic drama animated film which had a huge success.
We’re not interested in the movie itself as we will focus instead on the real-life locations of 5 Centimeters per second. We will visit some iconic scenes in real life that appear in the anime movie.
These real-life places include:
- The roadside close to Sangūbashi station
- Train Crossing
- NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building
- Iwafune Station
- Mt. Iwafune
- Kagoshima Prefectural Tanegashima Center High School
1. The roadside close to Sangūbashi station
In their childhood, Takaki Tōno and Akari Shinohara usually passed by this site, which was still a small grove, on their way from school.
Sangūbashi Park in real life
Sangūbashi Park in Five centimeters per second
In real life, there is there’s a small park behind the fences here
This hill leads down towards Sangūbashi Station on the left
It is the perfect match of the real-life spot
Train crossing
The hill leading towards Sangūbashi Station
Address: 4-chōme-6 Yoyogi, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0053, Japan
2. Train Crossing
A bit further from Sangūbashi Station there’s a train crossing which is one of the real-life locations of 5 Centimeters per second.
The light signal present at the train crossing in the anime
The light signal in real life
Takaki walked towards the train crossing
The exact spot in real life
Odakyu Line train passing in 5cm per second
Odakyu Line train passing
3. NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building
The NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building is a skyscraper located in the Sendagaya district of Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. At 240 meters (790 ft) tall, it is the fourth tallest building in Tokyo. The building houses some offices but mainly houses technical equipment for the company’s cellular telephone service. An iconic building like this tower should not be missed on your list of real-life locations of 5 Centimeters per second to visit.
The NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building begins to appear in the third part of the movie, as it is set in 2008, years after the skyscraper finished its construction.
The NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building
Address: 5 Chome-24-10 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
4. Old Tanegashima Airport
Tanegashima Airport was a small airport in Tanegashima, Kagoshima. It appears in the anime but was closed on March 16, 2006, because it was not suitable to handle jet aircraft although its runway was extended from 1,000 m to 1,500 m in 1973. It was replaced by the bigger New Tanegashima Airport located 8 kilometres away from the original airport.
In 5 Centimeters per second, Takaki Tōno departed from this airport to Tokyo. Before his departure, Sumida confessed her feelings to him at this place.
Takaki outside the airport’s terminal building
The terminal building of the old Tanegashima airport
Sumida at the fence waiting for Takaki
Address: Iwafune, Tochigi, 329-4307, Japan
5. Mt. Iwafune (Iwafuneyama)
Mt. Iwafune is a mountain in Tochigi, Japan, with a height of 172.2m. The mountain appears as one of the real-life locations of 5 Centimeters per second in the show. On March 4, 1995, Takaki’s train was stopped by a snowstorm near this mountain. He passes by it the next morning on his returning train.
At the end of 2007, when Akari takes a train from Iwafune to Tokyo, she quietly looks at the scenery outside and is reminded of her feelings for Takaki in the past.
Mount Iwafune in real life
Mt. Iwafune in the anime
Mt. Iwafune during the snowstorm (anime)
Address: Iwafune, Tochigi, 329-4307, Japan
6. Kagoshima Prefectural Tanegashima Center High School
The last of the real-life locations on the list is the Kagoshima Prefectural Nakatane High School which was opened on March 1, 1948. It operated until 2008 and then became Kagoshima Prefectural Tanegashima Center High School. It is attended by Takaki and Kanae Sumida in the show.
The school from the entrance in real life, makotoshinkai.fandom.com
Kagoshima Prefectural Tanegashima Center High School in the anime, makotoshinkai.fandom.com
After visiting these real-life locations of 5 Centimeters per second, you may be interested in the ones of Your Name, another of Makoto Shinkai’s works.
Where is the real-life location of 5 Centimeters Per Second?
Shinjuku is home to real-life locations of 5 Centimeters Per Second. both the female and male protagonist lives there. While in Shinjuku you could visit other anime real-life locations like GTO, Code Geass, Psycho pass or Death note
5 Centimeters Per Second Plot
5 centimeters per second released on 3 March 2007, is a Japanese animated romantic drama film produced, written and directed by Makoto Shinkai. The story is set in Japan and is centred on the life of two characters; Takaki Tōno and Akari Shinohara.
The two classmates became friends but later said their relationship was tested when Akari moved to another town. As the distance between them grows and time goes on, they still struggle to nourish their friendship.
They stay in contact via texts and letters but a time comes when their relationship fades out. Takaki remembers the times they have shared and wonders if he could once again meet his close friend again.
5 Centimeters Per Second Main Characters
- Takaki Tōno (遠野 貴樹, Tōno Takaki) Voiced by: Kenji Mizuhashi (Japanese)
- Akari Shinohara (篠原 明里, Shinohara Akari) Voiced by: Yoshimi Kondō (Act 1) and Ayaka Onouei (Act 3) (Japanese);
- Kanae Sumida (澄田 花苗, Sumida Kanae) Voiced by: Satomi Hanamura (Japanese)
5 Centimeters Per Second Casting
- Director, Writer and Original Creator: Makoto Shinkai
- Character Design and Chief Animation Director: Takayo Nishimura
- Background Art: Takumi Tanji, Ryoko Majima
- Music: Tenmon
- Production and Distribution: CoMix Wave, Inc.
Official Trailer of 5 Centimeters Per Second
Other Real-life Locations of 5 Centimeters Per Second You Could visit
A convenience store
Kanae’s House
Downtown Nakatane
Image source from Makoto Shinkai Fandom, Mikehattsu Blogspot and Imgur.
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