anime

Sailor Moon

The shrine, the shopping street and the park are all real, and all in Azabu-Juban.

Naoko Takeuchi lived in **Azabu-Juban** while drawing Sailor Moon, and it shows: the shopping street, the park and the shrine in the series are the real ones, drawn from a few minutes' walk of each other. Azabu Hikawa Shrine is the model for Hikawa Shrine where Rei lives, and it is often called the site that started anime pilgrimage in Japan at all. Nothing is themed or marked — this is an affluent, quiet residential district with embassies on it, and the appeal is that the places simply exist as drawn.

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Common questions

Where is the shrine from Sailor Moon?

Azabu Hikawa Shrine in Moto-Azabu, Minato ward, ten minutes on foot from Azabu-Juban station. It is the model for Hikawa Shrine where Rei lives.

Is there anything to buy there?

No. The shrine has no signage, merchandise or acknowledgement of the series at all. It is simply the shrine, unchanged.

What else is in Azabu-Juban?

The shopping street and Arisugawa Park, both of which appear in the series, are within about ten minutes of the shrine. The author lived in this neighbourhood while drawing it.