Can I still access the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation areas when visiting this NieR scene spot?

Yes, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building remains publicly accessible, but observation deck hours and entry procedures can change by season or event. Check the official Tokyo Metropolitan Government observatory page before you go.

Is photography allowed around the building and from the observatories?

Outdoor photography around the plaza and surrounding streets is generally allowed for personal use. Inside the observatories, casual photography is usually fine, but tripods, large equipment, or commercial shooting may be restricted.

What is the best nearby spot to compare the anime angle with real life and Street View?

The broad roads and pedestrian areas around the Tochomae side of the complex give the clearest match to the anime’s urban framing. Use Google Street View around the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building frontage and nearby intersections for the easiest comparison.

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nier automata ver1 1a tokyo metropolitan government building

NieR:Automata Ver1.1a

Tokyo

Episode

Ep. 1

Time

4m 30s

Google Map

35.6894, 139.6917

nier automata ver1 1a tokyo metropolitan government building

Nearest Station: Tochomae Station (Toei Oedo Line)
Walk: 3 minutes on foot
Best time to visit: Early morning or late afternoon on a clear day for cleaner building views and easier photo matching
Crowd level: Moderate

2B and 9S move through the ruined cityscape around the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in a bleak establishing shot from episode 1.
This moment appears shortly after the opening, when 2B and 9S begin their mission in a ruined Tokyo overrun by machine lifeforms, with the area around the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building shown as part of the devastated city. At this point, both characters still maintain a cool professional distance in combat, yet the ruined urban landscape already conveys the emptiness and loneliness left behind after the fall of human civilization. The shot does more than establish the battlefield: it also lays down the cold, sorrowful tone for the relationship that the two gradually build through their mission, only to have fate tear it apart again and again. In real life, the outline of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is easy to recognize, and the twin-tower exterior along with the broad road layout of the Shinjuku subcenter are faithfully reflected in the anime. However, the series transforms the surroundings into a post-apocalyptic wasteland scarred by war and time, with overgrowth and muted colors replacing the clean, bright cityscape seen today. On location, the building’s distinctive high-rise facade and the surrounding office towers make the composition highly recognizable, though the anime simplifies roadside fixtures, traffic signage, and storefront details to avoid excessive realism. For anime pilgrimage fans, this is a classic case of a scene that preserves the real-world silhouette very accurately while heavily reworking the fine details into a ruined futuristic setting, something that becomes especially clear when compared with Google Street View.

Can I still access the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation areas when visiting this NieR scene spot?: Yes, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building remains publicly accessible, but observation deck hours and entry procedures can change by season or event. Check the official Tokyo Metropolitan Government observatory page before you go.
Is photography allowed around the building and from the observatories?: Outdoor photography around the plaza and surrounding streets is generally allowed for personal use. Inside the observatories, casual photography is usually fine, but tripods, large equipment, or commercial shooting may be restricted.
What is the best nearby spot to compare the anime angle with real life and Street View?: The broad roads and pedestrian areas around the Tochomae side of the complex give the clearest match to the anime’s urban framing. Use Google Street View around the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building frontage and nearby intersections for the easiest comparison.