JAPAN – Nakano-shimbashi Station, Yoyogi Gymnasium & Sotobori-dori Avenue in Tokyo // You Only Live Twice (1967)
Tokyo plays a major role in “You Only Live Twice” – so the crew filmed up and down the city. Here is your James Bond location guide.
Why Bond was here
James Bond (Sean Connery) follows the trail of Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Donald Pleasence) to Japan. But he doesn’t come far – soon Japanese Secret Service agent Aki (Akiko Wakabayashi) picky 007 up in her Toyota 2000 GT. Then they drive to a secret subway station. Later on, both hace to get rid off some villains – and make their way along some famous sites in Tokyo.
How you gonna get there
After Bond meets with MI6 contact Henderson and the latter is killed, Bond hunts down the killer in the garden of the famous New Otani Hotel – read all about our visit to the important Tokyo Bond location here. He then exits the garden to the west and enters the killers getaway car at Sotobori-dori Avenue.
Bond is driven to the Osato Chemicals Headquarter aka the New Otani. After leaving the Otani with Aki, both drive to the secluded subway station, home of Tiger Tanakas private metro line. In reality it is Nakano-Shimbashi Station on the Marunouchi Line in the western parts of Tokyo. The scenes plays at the south-west corner entry and at the platform inside – but a lot changed over the years.
Later in the movie, Bond visits the New Otani again. And again he and Aki have to escape. Crooks try to shoot Bond, as he exits the main building, Aki rushes to the rescue with her Toyota. These are the important landmarks:
- Both rush along some streets in Asakasa first, then along the detour sign at the junction in front of Hiroo High School in Shibuya.
- Then Bond and Aki drive by Komazawa Olympic Park in the southwest of Tokyo.
- Within seconds they are eight kilometers up north-east at Yoyogi Gymnasium, built for the Olympic Games of 1964.
- The assassins may chase Bond, but soon are being chased themselves – by a helicopter with a magnetic grab. Then their car is being lifted at the Fuji International Speedway far outside town…
- …and dumped in the harbour of Tokyo back inside town. Tokyo Tower is visible as the helicopter flies by.
Good to know
We drove along most places with our van when entering Tokyo – as the movie locations for the car chase are far away. But you can connect them all with metro lines as well. We highly recommend to check out the area around Yoyogi Gymnasium. It is barely visible in “You Only Live Twice”, but the area breathes a lot of Tokyo, when you come by. Up north are the beautiful Yoyogi Park with the Meiji Shrine and the equally peaceful park at Shinjuku.
Enter the Craziness: The famous Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo
And just a five minute walk south is Shibuya, the heart of Japanese craziness. Think shopping, think Anime extravaganza, think fancy restaurants and speak-easy bars – here, you’ll find it all. And of course, you have to visit Shibuya Crossing and make your way at the chaotic junction several times. During our stay in Tokyo we came to Shibuya several times, in the morning, in the afternoon and at neon-lit hours – the place changes with daytimes, always pushing you into a new atmosphere.
Nerds that we are, we had to check out Mugiwara Store close to the Shibuya crossing, a shop dedicated to the absurdly-loving pirate manga “One Piece”. There also is a fine store for Ghibli enthusiasts, GBL, at Mitayashi Park. And if you fancy good Ramen, head for the underground level at Parco!
© 2026 Huntingbond (1,3,4,5,6), © 1967 Danjaq S.A. (2)