Maps of Movies

Spirited Away (2001)

Where Spirited Away says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

The bathhouse of the spirits is not on any map, but some of its parts are: a hot spring in Matsuyama, a Tokyo hotel, a museum drawer.

Scenes and places

The tunnel and the grassy field

Chihiro's family takes an unexpected road and stops at a tunnel and a strange gate. Her mother wants to turn back, but her father presses on. They cross an overgrown field toward an empty town.

Set in The tunnel and the field beyond — The gate between the human world and the spirit world.

The tunnel has no known real model. For the field, the art director studied the area around Shiotsu Station in Yamanashi.

Filmed at Around Shiotsu Station, Uenohara, Yamanashi — Not a filming site (the film is animated). Art director Kazuo Oga reportedly scouted this area as the model for the opening and closing scenery. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: JR Chuo Line to Shiotsu Station.

The empty street of food stalls

Chihiro's parents find an empty food stall and start eating food meant for spirits. Chihiro says no one is around and wanders off.

Set in The deserted food street — A street of food stalls in the spirit town, with no one in sight.

The restaurant district around the bathhouse was drawn from the feel of the Karasumori-guchi area in Shimbashi and the Yurakucho underpass bars.

Filmed at Kagiya, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, Tokyo — Not a filming site (animated). A rumor says this relocated 1856 tavern from Shitaya, Taito, was the model for the first restaurant. Rumor only: no official confirmation was found. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: Museum in Koganei Park, Tokyo; the pin marks the park, not the building.

The bridge to the bathhouse

Chihiro meets Haku, who hides her from the spirits crossing the bridge to the bathhouse and warns her to leave before sunset. The river rises and the spirit town wakes up.

Set in The bridge and the front of the bathhouse — The bathhouse of the spirits, reached across a bridge as the town wakes at dusk.

Dogo Onsen Honkan in Matsuyama (built 1894) is said to have partly inspired the bathhouse design. The ja Wikipedia article on the film says no single hot-spring inn was the model.

Filmed at Dogo Onsen Honkan, Matsuyama — Not a filming site (animated). Partly inspired the design of the bathhouse. Art director Takeshige Yoji reportedly visited on a staff trip and used it as a reference for the bathhouse exterior (per a news article). Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: Dogo Onsen tram stop in Matsuyama, Ehime; the bathhouse is a working public bath.

Filmed at Kajika Bridge, Ikaho Onsen, Gunma — Not a filming site (animated). Said to look just like the red bridge where No-Face stands. Rumor only; the pin marks the center of Ikaho Onsen, not the bridge. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: Ikaho Onsen town, Gunma.

Kamaji's boiler room

Haku sends Chihiro down to the boiler room to ask for work. Kamaji, the many-armed boiler man, is gruff, and soot sprites carry coal for him.

Set in The boiler room — The basement of the bathhouse, where a many-armed old man runs the boiler.

Kamaji's herb drawers are said to be modeled on drawers inside the Takei Sanshodo stationery shop, now in the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum.

Filmed at Takei Sanshodo, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, Tokyo — Not a filming site (animated). The museum's Takei Sanshodo shop drawers are said to have modeled Kamaji's herb drawers (the drawers only, not the boiler room). Two web pages call the building a model place (one says Ghibli-approved). The building is listed on Japanese Wikipedia. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: Museum in Koganei Park, Tokyo; the pin marks the park, not the shop.

Yubaba's office and the new name

Chihiro goes up to Yubaba's office and asks for work. Yubaba takes most of her name and renames her Sen.

Set in Yubaba's penthouse — The witch's grand office at the top of the bathhouse.

Yubaba's room is said to be modeled on the Rokumeikan and Meguro Gajoen, with ceiling paintings and carvings from Nijo Castle and Nikko Toshogu as references.

Filmed at Meguro Gajoen (Hotel Gajoen Tokyo), Meguro — Not a filming site (animated). Said to be a model for Yubaba's room. Wikidata lists two points about 90 m apart. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: Near JR Meguro Station, Tokyo. The photo shows the present hotel exterior, not the old wooden wing.

The workers' quarters

Chihiro starts work under Lin, cleaning and learning the bathhouse routine among the other workers.

Set in The workers' room and bath workshop — Crowded quarters and workspaces behind the bathhouse.

The staff room is said to be modeled on the dormitory of female workers at an Omi spinning mill and a reconstructed shared room at the National Hansen's Disease Museum.

The Stink Spirit's bath

Guests arrive and the bathhouse fills up. A huge filthy spirit comes in, and the staff and Chihiro scrub it clean in the big bath.

Set in The great bath — The big bath hall where a huge filthy guest is washed.

The bathhouse interior is said to be based on Meguro Gajoen.

Filmed at Meguro Gajoen (Hotel Gajoen Tokyo), Meguro — Not a filming site (animated). Prototype of the bathhouse interior. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: Near JR Meguro Station, Tokyo.

The train across the water

Chihiro rides a quiet train across the water with passengers who are shadows.

Set in The train on the sea — A railway running over water, with stops in the middle of nowhere.

No real model is confirmed.

Filmed at Shimonada Station, Ehime — Not a filming site (animated). A station by the sea said to look very much like the sea-train scenery. This is an impression; the film's makers have not said so. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: Shimonada Station, Ehime.

Swamp Bottom station

Chihiro gets off at the quiet station by the water, guided by the tickets she was given.

Set in Swamp Bottom station — A small, quiet station by the water.

No real model is known.

Zeniba's house in the marsh

Chihiro arrives at the small house in the marsh to return a stolen seal and apologize. Zeniba welcomes her warmly.

Set in Zeniba's house — A small house in a marsh.

No real model is known.

Filmed at Kodakara-yu, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, Tokyo — Around the bathhouse and the shopping street Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• Chihiro — A ten-year-old girl whose family stumbles into the spirit world.
• Haku — A boy who helps Chihiro on her first night.
• Yubaba — The witch who runs the bathhouse.
• Kamaji — The many-armed boiler man.

Questions answered on the map

• Which real places inspired the bathhouse in Spirited Away?