I Went on a Seichi Junrei for Gekijouban Chainsaw Man Reze Hen [Report]

A Pilgrimage to the World of Chainsaw Man Reze-hen

The theatrical film Chainsaw Man Reze-hen is currently enjoying a successful run, and it’s no surprise that many fans are embarking on a seichi junrei (pilgrimage to real-world anime locations) after watching the movie. This time, the Anime!Anime! editorial department decided to join them and explore these iconic spots firsthand.

Beginning at Ochanomizu Station

Our journey kicked off at Ochanomizu Station. While both subway and JR lines serve the area, the JR station seemed to be the more convenient starting point for reaching our pilgrimage spots. We began our walk, passing by a used book fair hosted by Maruzen, then strolling past various music shops, universities, hospitals, and prep schools for about ten minutes.

The initial urban bustle slowly gave way to quieter, less crowded streets, making us wonder if we were on the right track to finding our seichi. But then, we spotted a gathering of people ahead…

Discovering Onnazaka

And just like that, we discovered Onnazaka! Our seichi junrei was truly underway as we excitedly found this renowned location.

We immediately started snapping photos, trying to match the angles we remembered from the film. It was undeniably the scenery we had seen on screen!

To avoid disturbing other fans, we quickly made our way down the stairs (though in the movie, it was a scene of ascending). We noticed gerbera flowers thoughtfully placed on the landing, a clear sign of fellow fans’ devotion.

There are quite a few steps, so while going down was easy, climbing back up could be a bit challenging. Given it was a hot day, we simply didn’t have the energy to attempt an uphill return.

A Connected Streetscape and the Search for Cafe “Nido”

As we descended the slope, our hearts thrumming with excitement, we continued forward. Before us, we again saw people with cameras! We hastily tried to move out of their shot, heading towards the crowd, and what did we find?

“Ah, this place looks familiar too!”

This was another streetscape where Reze had walked. It was amazing to realize that these locations were actually connected in real life! That thought immediately led us to wonder if Reze’s workplace, the cafe “Nido,” might also be nearby.

Following the lead of the other fans, we eventually found a cafe! Tucked away in an alley and quite a distance from the station, it wasn’t an easy place to find. Yet, despite the obscure location, there was a long line stretching out front, perhaps due to the “cafe time” and certainly amplified by the movie’s influence. While this spot felt positionally like “Nido,” its exterior wasn’t an exact replica, though the overall atmosphere certainly matched.

Due to the extensive queue, we weren’t able to check out the interior and decided to move on. After a short walk, a church appeared, and then we spotted a phone booth! In an age dominated by smartphones, we rarely pay attention to phone booths anymore, so seeing one felt like a nostalgic encounter. In the movie, this was the pivotal meeting place for Denji and Reze, and considering the story’s late 20th-century setting, phone booths would indeed have still been very much in use.

The Emotional Resonance of the Phone Booth

Opening the door and peeking inside, we found more gerbera flowers, just like on the stairs. It was clear that fans had visited this spot as well. Stepping inside, the space felt surprisingly narrow. “They entered here together? With a stranger?” we mused, feeling a flutter of nervousness as we imagined the scene.

Editorial department’s personal item

Reflecting on the Journey to Suidobashi Station

On our way back, we took a different route, heading towards Suidobashi Station. If one preferred an uphill climb at the start, Suidobashi Station might even be a good place to begin the pilgrimage. Our hearts were filled with tender thoughts of Denji and Reze, but the bustling sounds of the station quickly pulled us back to reality.

Please enjoy your seichi junrei while adhering to good manners and respecting local rules.

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