Can I recreate this Ave Mujica shot directly under the expressway?

You can photograph public streets and sidewalks around the structure, but you cannot enter restricted expressway facilities. Use nearby public roads and keep clear of traffic-heavy spots.

Is Google Street View useful for matching this exact Episode 9 location?

Yes, Street View is very helpful here because the expressway columns, road alignment, and side streets are distinctive. Small signs and lane details may differ from the anime due to updates over time.

What is the best practical station for visiting this spot as a fan?

Kita-Ikebukuro Station is one of the most convenient access points on foot for this area near the Route 5 structure. Ikebukuro Station also works if you want more food and rest options before or after your visit.

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shuto expressway 5 ikebukuro line

BanG Dream! Ave Mujica

Tokyo

Episode

Ep. 9

Time

Google Map

35.7450, 139.7082

Nearest Station: Kita-Ikebukuro Station (Tobu Tojo Line)
Walk: 12 minutes on foot
Best time to visit: Late afternoon to early evening for similar urban lighting and traffic atmosphere
Crowd level: Moderate

A bleak urban view beneath the Shuto Expressway captures the cold, empty atmosphere of Episode 9 in BanG Dream! Ave Mujica.
No clearly visible characters appear in this shot; instead, the urban space beneath the elevated Shuto Expressway carries the emotional weight of the story. By Episode 9 of BanG Dream! Ave Mujica, tensions between the characters and their personal burdens have continued to build, and this cold structure, dim lighting, and empty streetscape express anxiety, distance, and pain that cannot be spoken easily. Transitional shots like this often appear around emotional turning points, giving the characters’ suppressed feelings room to breathe while signaling that the story is moving toward something heavier. In real life, the scene is based on the elevated landscape around the Shuto Expressway Route 5 Ikebukuro Line, and the overall composition is quite faithful, especially in the bridge columns, roadway alignment, and the oppressive feeling of a major urban corridor. The most recognizable feature of the actual area is the long, narrow view created by the continuous expressway structure and the lanes beneath it, and the anime preserves that enclosed metropolitan atmosphere well. However, the series simplifies lane markings, traffic signs, guardrail text, and nearby commercial signage so the frame can focus more strongly on mood. Compared with reality, the anime captures the urban edge of Ikebukuro with high recognizability while still refining the details through art direction rather than copying every sign exactly.

Can I recreate this Ave Mujica shot directly under the expressway?: You can photograph public streets and sidewalks around the structure, but you cannot enter restricted expressway facilities. Use nearby public roads and keep clear of traffic-heavy spots.
Is Google Street View useful for matching this exact Episode 9 location?: Yes, Street View is very helpful here because the expressway columns, road alignment, and side streets are distinctive. Small signs and lane details may differ from the anime due to updates over time.
What is the best practical station for visiting this spot as a fan?: Kita-Ikebukuro Station is one of the most convenient access points on foot for this area near the Route 5 structure. Ikebukuro Station also works if you want more food and rest options before or after your visit.