Patrolling in the real Capital: discovering the real-life places featured in Ayakashi RR
So this all started when I found out that Kanda Shrine exists. When I discovered more, I decided to make a post about this. Since the Capital is just another name for early Tokyo, most of the places exist in reality, mainly those in the main patrols. In this post, I’ll go along everything one by one, sorted in order by character. I’ve never been in Tokyo so I’ve got to do everything with the information the internet lends me. Firstly I’ll post the place how it is featured in the game, then how it looks now and, sometimes, how it looked during the time Ayakashi RR takes place.
There’s no place like Asakusa. You gotta love how lively it is here.
The Asakusa district has been an entertainment district for quite long, and yes, also during the time Ayakashi RR takes place. And yes, it is a geisha district, and I highly persume that Kagemaru is working there, if it is not confirmed. Even now there are still 45 geishas active.
…It’s so spacious here. Perfect spot for an afternoon nap.
This lake is actually pretty big like Kuya says, and the part of the lake you are seeing here, is just one pond, the Lotus Pond, as Shinobazu is split up. The lotus leaves you see here, are pretty known for covering the surface until one can’t see the water anymore.
Ginnojo - Twelve Stories Tower
There is no finer view of the Capital than from atop this tower.
Now for this one I had to do some Googling. Apparently its actual Japanese name is Ryounkaku, and it is known as being the first skyscraper in Japan, as far as you can speak of a ‘skyscraper’, of course. However, it was destroyed in the great Kanto earthquake that takes place after the time period of the game. I kind of feel bad for Ginnojo.
Aoi - Tokyo School for the Arts
This is where I study at. If there’s one thing humans are good at, it’s art.
I had to do some digging for this one as well, but there is only one university for the arts in Tokyo and it is this one. It looks quite different now but this is the same building - the bottom image is the entrance to the Department of Arts.
Yura - Kanda Myoujin Shrine
How my heart doth find respite among such hallowed places.
This is the first place from which I knew it was real. But don’t look up the enshrined deity if you have to read Aoi’s route yet. The current shrine is a bit different (the bottom image is somewhat closer as you view it from the torii) but the roof is nearly identical.
Toichirou - Imperial Hotel
I happen to enjoy the tea served at the Imperial Hotel. You humans…such foodies.
This hotel also looks quite different from what it is now, the bottom image shows what it looked like during the time Ayakashi RR takes place, and you can hopefully see some similarities.
Master Toichirou appreciates high-brow entertainment, so I often accompany him to the theater.
The Kabukiza is at the Ginza, another well-known entertainment district (Lupin is at Ginza). The old Kabukiza was destroyed and then rebuilt; the bottom picture shows the Kabukiza as it should have looked during the Ayakashi RR time.
There are tons of people in Hibiya Park! It’s the perfect spot to practice my routine!
Now this park still exists and also has an open-concert venue. And if you look closely, yes, that bird statue is the very same.
This is where the top brass of the military gather. Ooh, look how fancy everyone’s dressed.
For this one I haven’t got something, the closest thing I have is the link, but I haven’t got a photo of the military base as it is now. I don’t know if this is a real location even.
Steam trains are amazingly convenient. I’m surprised humans thought of them.
This station isn’t used anymore although it is more modern looking now. The bottom image is how it should have looked during the Ayakashi RR time.
So, this is where you go to school. And you study EVERY day? Color me impressed!
I couldn’t find the school where Futaba studies, as it isn’t specified and I don’t know if it exists.
Compared to my beauty, the azaleas here look like rotting garbage.
This is the shrine you go to with Kagemaru, and the picture below is actually not the main gate (honden) but the roumon, as it is the actual gate Kagemaru is standing in front of. It is just like Kagemaru not to stand in front of the main gate (honden) but the other one just to confuse me. This is one of the ones that’s been preserved pretty well, and Nezu has an azalea festival, so they are actually there too in the right time of the year.
Akiyasu - Gokokuji Temple
I spend a lot of time here practicing Divine Arts. Stop by if you want to ask me something!
It’s actually spelled Gokoku-ji, I discovered. Although this one is pretty much exactly the same, there are no traces of it being the base of an evil onmyouji…yet.
Tatsuomi - Botanical Gardens
These gardens are part of the Imperial University. Their beauty shines in every season.
Tatsuomi himself says that the gardens are part of the university and he’s right, there are botanical gardens on the campus. Judging by the second pic, they are pretty large too.
Yakumo - Imperial University
This is where I teach. It would be my pleasure to show you around, if you like.
The university is still there, although I don’t know which building is shown in the game. Below is the current main hall. Funfact: Lafcadio Hearn taught English Literature at this school until 1903.
I made a Google Map here with all the locations as they currently are on the map, and one thing immediately struck me. You know how the patrols are parted in eastern (Dawn), southern (Twilight) and northern (Night) districts, right? If you look at the map, you can see that the locations I managed to track down are all placed close to eachother, depending on faction, exactly matching the direction they are given in the game. They could make for a fun visit/tour through Tokyo this way.
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