Where it is
The steps run beside Suga Shrine in Sugacho, Shinjuku-ku — about seven minutes on foot from Yotsuya-sanchome station on the Marunouchi line, or a longer walk from Yotsuya station.
They are public steps. There is no entrance, no ticket, no opening time, and no sign telling you that this is the place.
What you are looking at
The staircase is the location of the final scene of Your Name and appears in the film's key visual. The framing everyone wants is from the bottom of the steps looking up, with the handrail dividing the frame.
The shrine at the top is a genuine local shrine that has stood here for centuries and has no connection to the film. It is worth a look on its own terms.
When to go
Early morning is best, for two reasons:
- Visitors arrive steadily through the day, many from overseas, and by afternoon there is usually a queue of people photographing.
- The light comes from behind and above the steps in the morning, which is closer to the film.
Late evening also works and is quiet, though the steps are dimly lit.
The part most guides skip
This is a residential street.
People live along these steps. They use them to get to the station, with shopping, with children, in the rain. The volume of visitors has become a genuine issue for the neighbourhood, and it is the reason the tone of this section is what it is.
Concretely:
- Do not block the steps. Take your photograph and move to the side.
- Do not photograph residents or their doorways.
- Keep your voice down, especially early and late.
- Do not sit on the steps for extended periods or use tripods that occupy the width.
- Take your rubbish with you. There are no bins.
None of this is difficult. It just requires remembering that the location is somebody's route home.
Combining it
Yotsuya is central, so this fits into almost any Tokyo day:
- Shinjuku is two stops away, and several other locations from the film are in that area.
- Akihabara is about 15 minutes by Marunouchi line and JR.
- The shrine visit itself takes 20–30 minutes including the walk.
The other half of the film
Half of Your Name is set in the mountains of Gifu, and Hida-Furukawa — the station, the town library and the local shrine — provided the models. It is on the JR Takayama line from Nagoya or Toyama, and it is a genuinely lovely town with white-walled storehouses and a canal full of carp.
Doing only the Tokyo steps is doing half of it. If you have the time, Hida pairs with Takayama as an overnight from Nagoya.
What there is not
There is no shop, no exhibit, no stamp, and nothing officially marking the spot. Some people find that disappointing. Most find it is the point.
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