Seven Samurai: Kurosawa's Filming Locations

Filming began here on 27 May 1953. Many locations were on or close to Toho Studios sets, and the village centre stood at the edge of a set in Setagaya Ward. In the story, the villagers find Kambei, an aging but experienced rōnin, after he rescues a boy from a thief. The studio is still working, and its main gate now has a Seven Samurai mural.

Location precision: The original open sets are gone; the pin marks the present Toho Studios.

Visitor guidance: The studio is a working site; view the mural at the main gate from outside.

The wide view of the village and the north slope was filmed at Shimotanna in Kannami, Shizuoka. For the samurai's arrival, Kurosawa planned a shot from the mountain top, with the village seen in the valley below. The Tanna basin lies directly above the Tanna Tunnel, which is why the pin sits on the tunnel.

Location precision: The pin marks the Tanna Tunnel; the exact filming spot in Shimotanna is not given.

The east and south sides of the village, including the watermill, were shot at Horikiri in Izu. The mill was first built here and actually burned for the fire scene, but Kurosawa disliked the result and it was rebuilt. In the story the bandits burn the outlying houses, including Gisaku's mill.

Location precision: The set is long gone; the pin marks the Horikiri district of Izu.

Ayutsubo Falls was used as a location for the scene where Toshiro Mifune eats ayu fish. The falls drop about 10 metres and spread about 90 metres wide on the Kise River, on the border of Numazu and Nagaizumi in Shizuoka.

Visitor guidance: The falls are on the Kise River, on the border of Numazu and Nagaizumi.

The mountain behind the village, where Katsushiro meets Shino in a meadow, was filmed at Sengokuhara and Nagao Pass in Hakone. Violets were out of season, so the crew picked wild chrysanthemums in the mountains and planted them to make a flower field.

Location precision: Sengokuhara and Nagao Pass are named, but not the exact spot; the pin marks Nagao Pass.