Masterpiece of Japanese animation directed by Hideaki Anno. It depicts the struggle of the NERV organization, using teenagers to pilot giant humanoids called Evangelions (EVAs) against mysterious entities known as Angels. The fortress city of Tokyo-3 is faithfully modeled on the real geography of Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture, while the Rebuild movies expand the settings to the director's childhood hometown in Yamaguchi and rail heritage in Shizuoka.
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Lake Ashi (Ashinoko) — Battleground and Ramiel Fightconfirmed
Lake Ashi, located in the volcanic caldera of Hakone, is one of the most recurring settings in the series. Key battles take place here, most notably the epic confrontation against the fifth Angel, Ramiel. The mountainous landscapes surrounding the lake are reproduced with extreme visual fidelity.
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Mount Futago — Operation Yashima Sniper Pointconfirmed
Mount Futago (consisting of Upper and Lower Futago peaks) is the strategic military site chosen in Episode 6 for "Operation Yashima". EVA-01 is positioned on this mountain to execute the historic sniper shot using the positron rifle powered by Japan's entire electrical grid.
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Owakudani — Shinji's Runaway Escapeconfirmed
The spectacular active volcanic valley of Owakudani, famous for its sulfur vents. In Episode 4, after running away from NERV, Shinji wanders aimlessly through Hakone's trails and sits in this desolate, steaming landscape, reflecting his deep existential crisis.
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Sengokuhara (Junior High School) — School of the Pilotsconfirmed
The Sengokuhara district houses NERV's subterranean Geofront in the anime. The former Sengokuhara Municipal Junior High School served as the architectural model for Tokyo-3 Municipal Junior High School No. 2, attended by Shinji, Rei, Asuka, Toji, and Kensuke.
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Kintoki Shrine — Forests and Kensuke's Campconfirmed
This Shinto shrine at the foot of Mount Kintoki is surrounded by dense forests. The wooded area inspired the campsite where military geek Kensuke Aida sets up his tent and where Shinji temporarily takes refuge during his runaway escape in Episode 4.
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Hakone-Yumoto Station — Starting Point and Farewellconfirmed
The primary railway gateway to Hakone. In Episode 4, Shinji goes to this station resolved to leave Hakone and NERV by train. However, after standing thoughtfully on the platform for hours as trains pass, he ultimately decides to stay, forming one of the show's most famous scenes.
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Togendai Station — Model for Togendai Central Stationconfirmed
Located on the shores of Lake Ashi, it is the terminus of the Hakone Ropeway. In the Rebuild of Evangelion movies, this station is depicted with high technological realism as "Togendai Central Station", acting as a transit node for NERV.
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Ashinoko Skyline Viewpoint — Ridge Contemplationconfirmed
The scenic Ashinoko Skyline mountain road runs along Hakone's western ridge. The shots where Shinji walks along the mountain trail, contemplating the sunset over Lake Ashi and meeting Kensuke taking pictures, were directly inspired by these viewpoints.
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Tenryu-Futamata Station — Roundhouse and Turntable (Village-3)confirmed
Historic station of the Tenryu Hamanako Line in Hamamatsu. Its railway facilities, including an active turntable and a semicircular wooden roundhouse designated as national cultural assets, served as the visual model for "Village-3" in the final movie 3.0+1.0.
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Ube-Shinkawa Station — The Platform and Final Scene Crossingconfirmed
This train station in director Hideaki Anno's hometown is the ultimate setting of the entire saga. In the final scene of Evangelion: 3.0+1.0, an adult Shinji meets Mari on the platform and runs up the stairs out of the station into the real world.
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Tokiwa Park — Spear of Longinus Steel Monumentconfirmed
The main park in Ube City, deeply tied to Anno's childhood memories. In 2023, to celebrate the series, a local foundry manufactured and permanently installed a massive 7-meter steel monument of the Spear of Longinus pierced into the ground.
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Ube Industrial Zone (UBE Factory Complex) — Industrial Inspirationvisual inspiration
The massive industrial steel mills, chimneys, and pipe networks in Ube City. This heavy industrial landscape served as Anno's primary visual inspiration for the technical aesthetic, electrical pylons, and military structures of Tokyo-3 and NERV.
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Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building — NERV Transit Silhouetteconfirmed
The iconic twin towers of the Metropolitan Government in Shinjuku, designed by Kenzo Tange. The building's symmetrical silhouette appears during NERV's deep elevator transit sequences.
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Yebisu Garden Place — Urban Scene in Rebuild 1.0confirmed
The pedestrian plaza and steel arches at the Yebisu Garden Place complex in Shibuya. Faithfully reproduced in the opening urban scenes of Rebuild of Evangelion 1.0 (You Are [Not] Alone) to depict the evacuated, silent city.