Sword Art Online — real-life locations

Anime Pilgrimage — ソードアート・オンライン「京都駅」 EP24

Kyoto Station

Kyoto

Kyoto's gateway, known for the vast station building completed in 1997. Appears in episode 24.

Getting there

Kyoto Stn · At the station

Before you go

Never step onto the tracks
Very crowded — expect queues
Do not block the path or road

Sources

Anime Pilgrimage — ソードアート・オンライン「清水寺」 EP24

Kiyomizu-dera

Kyoto

Kyoto's landmark temple, known for the wooden stage of its main hall. Appears in episode 24.

Getting there

Kiyomizu-gojo Stn · 24 min walk

Before you go

Worshippers come first
Keep your voice down

Sources

National Defense Medical College Hospital

Saitama

Named as the model for the hospital Kirito and Asuna lie in.

Getting there

Koku-koen Stn · 9 min walk

Before you go

Keep your voice down
Residential area — people live here

Sources

Hatsukari Junior High School (exterior only)

Saitama

A working school in Kawagoe — look from the road.

Getting there

Hon-Kawagoe Stn · 24 min walk

Before you go

Working school — the grounds are off limits
Do not enter private property
Residential area — people live here

Sources

Tokorozawa Station West Exit

Saitama

Where the two Seibu lines cross, the gate onto the older side of town.

Getting there

Tokorozawa Stn · 1 min walk

Before you go

Never step onto the tracks
Very crowded — expect queues
Do not block the path or road

Sources

Shinjuku Station South Exit

Tokyo

The south gate of Shinjuku Station, opening onto the Koshu Kaido overpass.

Getting there

Shinjuku Stn · 2 min walk

Before you go

Never step onto the tracks
Very crowded — expect queues
Do not block the path or road

Sources

Kawagoe Station West Exit

Saitama

The west side of Kawagoe Station, where the buses leave from.

Getting there

Kawagoe Stn · 3 min walk

Before you go

Never step onto the tracks
Very crowded — expect queues
Do not block the path or road

Sources

Yurakucho Marion

Tokyo

The 1984 building on the Ginza edge of Yurakucho, with cinemas above and a clock that plays on the hour.

Getting there

Ginza Stn · 5 min walk

Before you go

Keep your voice down
Residential area — people live here

Sources

Tanashi Technical High School (exterior only)

Tokyo

A metropolitan technical high school in Nishi-Tokyo. A working school — look from the road.

Getting there

Seibu-Yagisawa Stn · 17 min walk

Before you go

Working school — the grounds are off limits
Do not enter private property
Residential area — people live here

Sources

Hoshikawa Station

Kanagawa

A Sotetsu line station in Hodogaya, raised onto a viaduct in 2018.

Getting there

Hoshikawa Stn · At the station

Before you go

Never step onto the tracks
Very crowded — expect queues
Do not block the path or road

Sources

Tsukimidai Park

Kanagawa

A small hilltop park in the Hodogaya housing streets.

Getting there

Hodogaya Stn · 6 min walk

Before you go

Keep your voice down
Residential area — people live here
Do not photograph residents or students

Sources

Sumida Park

Tokyo

The riverside park at Asakusa, with the tower across the water.

Getting there

Asakusa Stn · 1 min walk

Before you go

Keep your voice down
Residential area — people live here
Do not photograph residents or students

Sources

Hodogaya Catholic Church

Kanagawa

A church on the hill above Hodogaya station.

Getting there

Hodogaya Stn · 11 min walk

Before you go

Keep your voice down
Residential area — people live here

Sources

Bunkyo Civic Center

Tokyo

The ward office tower at Korakuen; the 25th-floor observation lounge is free and looks west to Fuji.

Getting there

Hongo-sanchome Stn · 11 min walk

Before you go

Keep your voice down
A real trail — wear shoes you can climb in

Sources

Ueno High School (exterior only)

Tokyo

A metropolitan high school on the north side of Ueno Park. A working school — look from the road.

Getting there

Todaimae Stn · 17 min walk

Before you go

Working school — the grounds are off limits
Do not enter private property
Residential area — people live here

Sources

Shinbana Park

Tokyo

A small park in the Yushima streets.

Getting there

Hongo-sanchome Stn · 9 min walk

Before you go

Keep your voice down
Residential area — people live here
Do not photograph residents or students

Sources

Ginza 4-chome Crossing

Tokyo

The crossing at the heart of Ginza, under the Wako clock tower.

Getting there

Ginza Stn · 5 min walk

Before you go

Keep your voice down
Residential area — people live here

Sources

Tokyo Tower

Tokyo

The 333-metre broadcast tower of 1958.

Getting there

Daimon Stn · 17 min walk

Before you go

Admission fee required
Very crowded — expect queues
No tripods or selfie sticks

Sources

Shinjuku Station East Exit

Tokyo

The gate onto Kabukicho and Shinjuku 3-chome.

Getting there

Shinjuku-nishiguchi Stn · 3 min walk

Before you go

Keep your voice down
Residential area — people live here

Sources

Yoyogi Park

Tokyo

The large city park behind Harajuku station.

Getting there

Sangubashi Stn · 13 min walk

Before you go

Keep your voice down
Residential area — people live here
Do not photograph residents or students

Sources

Akihabara

Tokyo

The electronics and hobby quarter around Akihabara Station. Akihabara UDX and the streets around it appear in the fight scenes of the Ordinal Scale film.

Getting there

Akihabara Stn (JR Yamanote Line) · At the station

Before you go

Very crowded — expect queues
Buy something if you photograph a shop
Do not photograph residents or students

Sources

秋葉原

Anime Pilgrimage — ソードアート・オンライン II

Edo Castle Site

Tokyo

A castle site in Tokyo. It appears in episode 1.

Getting there

Takebashi Stn (Tokyo Metro Tozai Line) · 7 min walk

Before you go

Keep your voice down
Do not photograph residents or students

Sources