Maps of Movies

Throne of Blood (1957)

Where Throne of Blood says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

Kurosawa built Spider's Web Castle on a volcanic-ash slope of Mount Fuji, but the rooms inside were a studio in Tokyo.

Scenes and places

The spirit in the Spider's Web Forest

Washizu and Miki, called to the castle after a victorious battle, lose their way in a forest and meet an evil spirit who foretells their futures. The spirit says Washizu will become lord of the castle and Miki's son will rule after him.

Set in Spider's Web Forest — A forest road on the way to the castle, where two commanders meet an evil spirit.

A dense mountain forest in Nara, treated as a protected primeval forest.

Filmed at Kasuga-okuyama, Kasugayama Primeval Forest, Nara (Kasugayama Primeval Forest, Nara, Japan) — The winding mountain-road scenes were shot in the Kasuga-okuyama forest, Nara. The point is the centre of the whole forest, not the exact shooting spot. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Arriving at Spider's Web Castle

At the castle, Tsuzuki gives the two men exactly the posts the spirit named. Washizu is shaken to find the prophecy coming true on the same day.

Set in Spider's Web Castle — The lord's castle, where the two commanders are rewarded with exactly what the spirit predicted.

A fictional castle built as a set. The film names no real castle.

Asaji urges her husband

Washizu tells his wife Asaji what happened. She turns his hesitation into a plan against the lord who has just rewarded him.

Set in Inside the castle — Washizu's rooms, where his wife Asaji works on his ambition.

Interior castle sets, shot indoors in Tokyo.

The banquet

Washizu, drinking heavily, waits with the guests for Miki and his son. His nerves give way in front of everyone and Asaji ends the evening.

Set in Banquet hall — The great hall where the guests wait for Miki and his son.

An interior set for a ceremonial feast.

Back to the forest

Washizu, facing a gathering enemy, returns to the forest to ask the spirit how the battle will go. It tells him he cannot be beaten until the forest itself rises against his castle.

Set in Spider's Web Forest (second visit) — The forest again, where Washizu seeks the spirit to learn the outcome of the coming battle.

A forest scene assembled from location and studio footage.

Asaji washes her hands

The next morning Washizu finds Asaji in a daze, rubbing her hands over and over to clean a stain and a smell that are not there.

Set in Asaji's room — A room in the castle, the next morning.

An interior set shot after dark though the scene is set in the morning.

The forest rises

Soldiers rush in panic with word that the trees of the forest have risen against the castle. Washizu tries to rally his troops, who ignore his orders.

Set in Castle gate and walls — Outside the castle, where panicked soldiers say the forest is moving.

The same Fuji slope set as the arrival.

Filmed at Izu Peninsula (Washizu's mansion) (Izu Peninsula, Japan) — Washizu's mansion Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• Washizu — A samurai commander who learns from a forest spirit that he will be lord of the castle.
• Asaji — Washizu's wife, who pushes him toward the lord's murder.
• Miki — Washizu's childhood friend and fellow commander, whose son the spirit says will rule.