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 — Tokyo-3's front linesetting
location
Tokyo-3, the series' fortress city, stands on the north shore of Lake Ashi. The lake is a battleground against the Angels: Ramiel appears over its waters, and in the films it is engulfed in flames by bombardment.
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Futagoyama — the Operation Yashima shotsetting
location
From Shimo-Futagoyama, EVA-01 fires the positron rifle at the Angel Ramiel in Operation Yashima. The mountain can be seen from some spots around Lake Ashi.
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Sengokuhara — Shinji's schoolsetting
location · unconfirmed identification
In the series, Sengokuhara is Tokyo-3's residential area, with Misato's and Rei's homes and the school. The former Sengokuhara municipal junior high is said to be the model for Tokyo-3 Municipal Junior High No. 1, which Shinji and his friends attend.
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Kintoki Shrine — Tōji and Kensuke watch the fightsetting
location
In the series, Tōji and Kensuke slip out of the shelter and climb to this shrine to watch a battle against an Angel. The park next to it has public toilets designed as the "Sengokuhara outpost", and the distant view of Tokyo-3 in episode 2 is taken from Mount Kintoki.
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Hakone-Yumoto Station — "Shin-Hakone-Yumoto"setting
location
The former Hakone-Yumoto Station, called "Shin-Hakone-Yumoto" in the series, is a setting in episodes 4 and 19 of the TV series. Today it is the gateway to Hakone and the starting point for fan routes.
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Tōgendai — "Tōgendai Central Station"model
model / inspiration
In the series, "Tōgendai Central Station" is Tokyo-3's overland gateway and NERV staff entrance. It takes its name from this real station on the shore of Lake Ashi, terminus of the Hakone Ropeway.
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Tenryū-Futamata Station — Village 3model
model / inspiration
The depot of this Tenryū Hamanako Line station, with its turntable and fan-shaped engine shed, is one of the models for Village 3 in "Evangelion: 3.0+1.0" (2021). It can be seen on the line's guided tours, and since 2023 it has displayed a Spear of Longinus.
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Ube-Shinkawa Station — the end of the sagasetting
location
The station in Ube, Hideaki Anno's hometown, is one of the models for the settings of "Evangelion: 3.0+1.0" (2021): the final scene, with an adult Shinji leaving the station with Mari, takes place here.
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Spear of Longinus (Ube) — Japan's largesttribute
tribute
A replica of the Spear of Longinus over 7 metres long — Japan's largest — made in Ube for the 2023 "Machijū Evangelion" event. Since February 2024 it has stood at the foot of Tokiwa Bridge in Tokiwa Park, next to the Coal Museum.
Source & evidence
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