Can I easily recreate the Episode 2 shot at Hatonomori Hachiman Shrine?

Yes. The torii approach and surrounding street layout remain very recognizable, and the scene is easiest to match from the road outside the shrine entrance.

Is photography allowed around the shrine torii?

Casual photography from public space and the shrine approach is generally fine, but avoid blocking worshippers and follow any posted notices, especially during events.

What is the best station for anime pilgrims visiting this March Comes In Like a Lion spot?

JR Sendagaya Station is the simplest choice and is about a 5-minute walk away. Kokuritsu-Kyogijo Station on the Toei Oedo Line is also nearby if that fits your route better.

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march comes in like a lion hatonomori hachiman shrine torii

March Comes In Like a Lion

Tokyo

Episode

Ep. 2

Time

Google Map

35.6783, 139.7096

march comes in like a lion hatonomori hachiman shrine torii

Nearest Station: Sendagaya Station (JR Chuo-Sobu Line)
Walk: 5 minutes on foot
Best time to visit: Late morning or quiet afternoon on a weekday for easier scene matching
Crowd level: Usually quiet

Rei Kiriyama is shown near the torii of Hatonomori Hachiman Shrine in a calm urban moment filled with quiet introspection.
This moment appears in the early part of the story, when Rei Kiriyama is still trapped in loneliness and emotional isolation, carrying complicated, repressed feelings about his life, shogi, and his distance from other people. As he passes near the torii of Hatonomori Hachiman Shrine, the quiet city scenery reflects his inner state; nothing dramatic happens, yet the scene clearly conveys how detached he feels from the world around him. Coming around the time he is slowly being influenced by the warmth of the Kawamoto family, the location feels like a small fragment of Rei drifting alone through everyday Tokyo, plain but tinged with sadness. In real life, the anime matches the Hatonomori Hachiman Shrine torii very closely, especially the placement of the gate, the direction of the street, and the feeling of a shrine entrance surrounded by homes and urban scenery. Rather than exaggerating the shrine, the series faithfully presents it as a modest neighborhood shrine in central Tokyo, which makes it easy to identify on a pilgrimage visit. The real site mainly features standard shrine naming and guidance signs, just as unobtrusive as in the anime, though notices, traffic signs, power lines, and plants naturally vary over the years. Overall, the composition and atmosphere are strikingly accurate, and comparing the scene with Street View or on-site photos makes the anime’s careful recreation easy to appreciate.

Can I easily recreate the Episode 2 shot at Hatonomori Hachiman Shrine?: Yes. The torii approach and surrounding street layout remain very recognizable, and the scene is easiest to match from the road outside the shrine entrance.
Is photography allowed around the shrine torii?: Casual photography from public space and the shrine approach is generally fine, but avoid blocking worshippers and follow any posted notices, especially during events.
What is the best station for anime pilgrims visiting this March Comes In Like a Lion spot?: JR Sendagaya Station is the simplest choice and is about a 5-minute walk away. Kokuritsu-Kyogijo Station on the Toei Oedo Line is also nearby if that fits your route better.