Anime pilgrimage report on Slam Dunk! Visiting five sites including the Railroad Crossing in Kamakura and Shonan, Kanagawa

The Basketball manga Slam Dunk, a masterpiece by Takehiko Inoue, writes about the growth and the challenges of the bad boy Hanamichi Sakuragi.

 

The movie of the title was released in the winter of 2022, and I went to visit Shonan, Kanagawa Prefecture, the location for it!

 

 

 

What kind of place is Shonan?

 

Shonan is not the name of a certain place, but it is the name of the area around the Sagami coast located in the west part of Kanagawa Prefecture.

 

Many people think of the ocean and surfers when they hear the word Shonan. However, that’s not the only thing there.

 

It is also famous for the location of Gugure! Kokkuri-san, Tsuritama and other animes.

 

There are many faces in Shonan. For example, the noisy surfer’s area Enoshima, the traditional area Kamakura, and the relaxing and chilling area Odawara.

 

 

How to get to Shonan

There are several ways to access Shonan from Tokyo Station and the time it takes is different depending on the route.

 

Usually, it takes around an hour to an hour and a half. Beyond the JR line, you will have to take the local lines, whether the Monorail, Odakyu or Enoden.

 

Maine routes

• JR Yokosuka Line “Ofuna” → Shonan Monorail “Shonan Enoshima”
• JR Tokaido Line “Fujisawa” → Odakyu Enoshima Line “Kataseenoshima”
• JR Yokosuka Line “Kamakura” → Enoshimadentetsu “Enoshima”

 

 

Spots of Slam Dunk anime pilgrimage

Most Popular Spot “Kamakura Koukoumae Station”

 

This is the most popular spot in the Slam Dunk locations.

 

This is from the first opening movie of the anime where the Enoden runs. I can’t remember how many times I’ve seen this intro…

 

Just watching this intro makes you excited imagining what will happen next.

 

This scene seems like the students are headed to school, and yes indeed they are. There is a high school 5 min away from here, and the Enoshimadentetsu “Kamakurakoukoumae Station” is 10 sec away on foot from the spot.

 

This is a place where people gather around to take pictures all day, and it is even on the tourist map for foreigners. It is so impressive how Slam Dunk is loved globally.

 

 

The cover art of the new edition vol.2 “Kamakura Kaihin Park Sakanoshita Area”

 

This isn’t an obscure spot but a new place added for pilgrimage.

 

This is the scene where Hanamichi’s rival, Rukawa, is riding a bike on the cover art of its manga’s new edition Vol.2.

 

An interesting fact about this cover art is, the wall Rukawa is riding on a bike is actually pretty high.

 

The height is around the adult’s chest area and you will have to climb up to stand on it.

 

Maybe Rukawa’s a bit off and mischievousness are depicted on this cover art.

 

It is interesting how you can imagine these inside stories by going on an anime pilgrimage.

 

 

The location of Shohoku vs the champ Kainan “Akibadai Cultural Gymnasium”

 

You can’t forget the gymnasium too when talking about Slam Dunk!

 

The structure has a unique shape, but the Akibadai Cultural Gymnasium is still famous for holding big game tournaments.

 

This is the place where Shonan and the champ Kainan had a game. It was an important match that marked the beginning of Hanamichi’s success as a member of the team, and at the same time, the beginning of his great leap forward.

 

The squeaking sound of the basketball shoes might make some people feel nostalgic remembering their school days.

 

If you could, I recommend visiting there during the high school basketball game. You may see the tense atmosphere of the game and the intense offense and defense.

 

 

Fighting for the last seat Shohoku vs Ryonan “Hiratsuka General Gymnasium”

 

It seems like a normal gymnasium, but the number of seats and the height of the ceiling is different from a normal one. I can imagine why it was selected as the location for Interhigh’s final qualifier game.

 

 

 

In the building, there are autographs of Mr. Takehiko Inoue exhibited. Make sure you check them out when you visit the place.

 

 

 

There was also an autograph of Mr. Takeshi Hinata, the author of Ahiru no Sora, exhibited. It is also a basketball manga but the story and the drama written are different from Slam Dunk.

 

 

The ending scene where the protagonists gather “Kugenuma Kaigan”

 

The last scene is from the last few pages of the manga. It shows Hanamichi and Rukawa headed to their new dreams after the Interhigh.

 

After the dramatic game they had, the scene changes to an everyday scene where the protagonist and the rival are looking at Enoshima floating on the ocean.

 

I feel a sense of hope and some sadness in the drawn-out description that seems to be caressed by the sea breeze at any moment.

 

 

Shonan, the place where you can feel the world of Slam Dunk

While visiting the locations in Slam Dunk, it made me remember the excitement and the refreshing feeling when reading Slam Dunk as a teenager.

 

The recommended order when visiting the sites is, Kamakura Kaihin Park Sakanoshita Area → Kamakura Koukoumae → Kugenuma Kaigan (→ Hiratsuka General Gymnasium → Akibadai Cultural Gymnasium).

 

Play the opening song, picture the cool Rukawa in your head, visit the railroad crossing, and get hyped. And the best way to finish the journey is to listen to the sound of the wave and look back at Slam Dunk, isn’t it?

 

It is also a great place for sightseeing, so it will be fun to learn the history of Kamakura and enjoy eating seafoods at Enoshima.

 

For the anime pilgrimage, using the JR Line and the Enoshima Dentetsu is recommended.

 

Enoshima Dentetsu is one of the only 22 lines in Japan that is a trolley, and you could feel the sea breeze and the good old atmosphere of the town.

 

After the anime pilgrimage, you can either head to Enoshima, visit the Enoshima Aquarium, or have a walk around Kugenuma Kaigan and head to the JR station. Either option will be a great way to enjoy the place!

 

After watching the movie was released in December 2022, how about you go remember the feeling as a teenager by rereading the manga and going on an anime pilgrimage?

 

*The pictures posted were all taken before 2020.