The World Ends with You: Shibuya

The game is set in a fictional version of the Shibuya shopping district, and its heart is the scramble crossing. After the last challenge of the Game, Neku finds himself back at the crossing, confused but alive. The Final Remix epilogue reopens the story in the same place: Neku and Beat wake at the crossing before a new, harder Game begins. In reality it has been described as the world's busiest pedestrian crossing, with as many as 3,000 people crossing during a single green light.

Visitor guidance: Public crossing outside Shibuya Station's Hachikō exit; cross at any green light.

After week one only Shiki is allowed to return to the living, and she promises to meet Neku at the statue of Hachikō. When the second Game begins, Neku goes to the front of Hachikō again to look for a new partner, but alone he is quickly attacked by Noise. The statue of the faithful Akita is the real meeting spot of Shibuya, and the one the game uses as the story's anchor.

Visitor guidance: The statue stands at the Hachikō exit of Shibuya Station and is a popular meeting spot.

On Dōgenzaka a ramen shop owner runs the shop "Ramen Don" (らあめんどん). On day three of Joshua's week, a new "Dark Ramen" appears on the hill, a headache for the owner who wants to keep his own principles. The designers kept Shibuya's real landmarks but renamed the stores and buildings, so the shop is invented; the real Dōgenzaka slope climbs from Shibuya 109 into the district of the same name.

Location precision: The ramen shop is an in-game invention; the pin marks Dōgenzaka, the street it stands on.

Visitor guidance: Dōgenzaka is an ordinary public street a few minutes from the crossing.

Mr. Hanekoma is the master of the Wild Cat café on Cat Street. He calls himself the Game's watcher, knows the rules and gives Neku advice. In the Final Remix, Neku and Beat reach his café at the end of a distorted Shibuya. Real Cat Street is a back-street in Ura-Harajuku, with the Onden River flowing under it, largely unnoticed.

Location precision: The café is invented; the pin marks Cat Street, the street the game places it on.

Visitor guidance: Cat Street is a public pedestrian-friendly lane between Shibuya and Harajuku.

In the third week, with no missions left, Neku and Beat head for the fabled river Joshua had been looking for during week two. At the river they find Megumi Kitaniji, the Conductor, and beyond it lies the Composer's room. The real Shibuya River starts near Shibuya Station and passes beneath it as a covered concrete drain, so the game's hidden river is a good fit.

Location precision: The game's river leads into an underground realm; the pin marks the real river by the station.

Visitor guidance: A short stretch beside Shibuya Stream has been landscaped for pedestrians.

The credits skip a week ahead. Neku walks from Udagawa to the statue of Hachikō to meet Beat, Rhyme and Shiki, telling Joshua in his head that he trusts him even if he has not forgiven him. Udagawa is also where a Reaper draws a circle in advance during the Game. Udagawachō is a district of Shibuya, bordering Dōgenzaka to the south.

Location precision: The game names the Udagawa area, not a spot; the pin marks the district.

Visitor guidance: Walk down from Udagawa to the Hachikō statue as Neku does.