Tokyo on Film

With its combination of futuristic cityscape and ancient Meiji architecture, Tokyo has backdropped many a famous film. Recreate scenes from the silver screen in these real-life shoot locations.

Feudal-castle themed restaurant Gonpachi has long been famed for its Edo-style tiled canopies, rustic atmosphere, and yes, that scene in Quentin Tarantino’s two-part epic Kill Bill (2002). Make like Uma and karate-kick your way to a table in this perma-packed dining hall for decent foreigner-friendly fare like Caesar salad, tempura Camembert, Kobe beef, and chicken yakitori. Aim for a balcony pew for the best view.

Step out onto Shibuya Crossing, one of the busiest intersections in the world, and witness the people part like the sea before Moses, or... Scarlett Johansson in Lost in Translation (2003). It’s estimated that during peak hours up to 1,000 Tokyoites cross this street at a time, all the while avoiding any collisions, which in itself is quite a sight to behold.

Lucky for you, that puffed-up lizard’s petulant swipe at Tokyo Tower was unsuccessful. The backdrop to many a Godzilla film, Tokyo's iconic answer to La Tour Eiffel is a fun climb for sparkly cityscapes and Shiba Park vistas. Better still, avoid the lines by visiting after sunset: Tokyo dazzles in the dark.

Just a scaly skip from the above-mentioned tower, Zojoji Temple was the setting for Mr Yashida’s funeral in The Wolverine (2013), but perhaps more importantly, this Jodo temple is one of Japan’s most famous, originally built in 1393 in Kaizuka, before it was moved beam by beam to Tokyo in 1598 by order of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was later enshrined there with his family.

Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Babel (2006) sees an accident connect four groups of people across three different continents: the Japanese leg follows rebellious deaf teenager Chieko, with one particularly heartbreaking scene taking place in Shibuya nightclub Womb. Here’s hoping you’ll have a better time, but that shouldn’t be too hard at this thumping, happening four-floor 1,000-capacity drum n’ bass boombox.

Gonpachi / 1-13-11 Nishi-Azabu / Minato-ku / +81 3 5771 0170 / lunch & dinner daily / gonpachi.jp

Shibuya Crossing / Shibuya-ku

Tokyo Tower / 4-2-8 Shibakoen / Minato-ku / +81 3 3433 5111 / 9am-11pm daily / tokyotower.co.jp

Zojoji Temple / 4-7-35 Shibakoen / Minato-ku / 9am-5pm daily / zojoji.or.jp

Womb / 2-1-6 Maruyamacho / Shibuya-ku / +81 3 5459 0039 / 10pm-4.30am Mon-Sat / womb.co.jp