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2023.2.16
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Movie "Legend & Butterfly" main

©2023 "THE LEGEND & BUTTERFLY" Production Committee

Seven locations in Kyoto and Shiga for the film "Legend & Butterfly"!

Legend & Butterfly," a film commemorating Toei's 70th anniversary, was released on January 27, 2023 (Friday) and is currently showing as a blockbuster hit! This film was shot mainly in Kyoto and also in Shiga, so you will want to enjoy visiting the locations. We have selected 7 locations in Kyoto and Shiga, including temples and shrines where the filming took place.

Most of the locations for this film are national treasures and important cultural properties. Director Otomo, who wanted to create a film appropriate for Toei's 70th anniversary, sought out "authentic" locations as much as possible and shot the film in more than 30 locations across the country.

Let your heart be shaken by the love story between the legendary Nobunaga Oda and Princess Nohime, who was called "Butterfly," although there is almost no historical record of their love. Experience the scenery that the two would have seen over time, and think about the unchanging feelings you have for your partner, even though the times have changed!

*This article contains spoilers for this film.

1.Nobunaga and Princess Nohime take to the town for a big scene / Jingoji Temple, Kyoto, Japan

It was filmed as the place where Nobunaga and Princess Nobuhime descended to the city center under the watchful eyes of their vassals. The bustling scene of many townspeople coming and going was filmed, and the sheer scale of the scene is breathtaking! The item Nobunaga purchased and presented to Princess Nohime here is an important key item that connects their feelings to the end. Furthermore, the scene where Nobunaga learns about kompeito for the first time follows the historical fact that Luis Frois sent jars of kompeito and candied sweets to Nobunaga when he had an audience with him, since sugar was precious at that time.

Film "Legend & Butterfly" Jingoji Temple

Jingo-ji Temple is an old Shingon Buddhist temple located halfway up Mt. There are many cultural assets dating from the early Heian period to the early Kamakura period, including the national treasure statue of Yakushi Nyorai and three statues of Jingo-ji: Taira Shigemori, Minamoto no Yoritomo, and Fujiwara no Mitsunoh. The temple also has buildings such as Shoin, Godaido, Bishamondo, Daishi-do, and Kondo. At Jizoin Temple, located to the west of Kondo, visitors can enjoy "Kawarake-throwing," in which unglazed plates are thrown to pray for good luck and to ward off evil spirits.

Jingoji Temple

  • three-person surname of Takao
  • 5 Umegahata Takao-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 7 minutes walk from bus stop "Tsuganoo".
  • Tel.075-861-1769

2.Filming at Reimyo-den and the descending approach to the temple, which are closed to the public / Sennyuji Temple, Kyoto, Japan

Reimeiden, which is closed to the public, was used for a scene in which a sumo tournament is held at Nijo Castle. In another scene, the gravel slope leading up to the Buddhist temple, called "Yeri Sando," was filled with people coming to pay their respects. The scene was filmed with many extras to depict the scene where Nobunaga went up to Kyoto in honor of Ashikaga Yoshiaki. Filming one temple as the location of two other temples is also unique to the film.

Film "Legend & Butterfly" Sennyuji Temple

It is the head temple of the Sennyuji School of Shingon Buddhism and is also called "go-ji" (temple) because of its close relationship with the imperial family since long ago. The temple houses a number of cultural assets, including one of Japan's largest paintings of a reclining Buddha, a cry dragon in the Shariden Hall, and a statue of the Yang Kuan Yin, which is said to be beneficial for praying for beauty and for matchmaking. Reimyo-den is a place where the tablets of emperors and members of the imperial family are enshrined and is usually closed to the public.

Shariden, the Buddhist hall of Sennyuji Temple

Gozenyuji Temple

  • Mitaroji Temple
  • 27 Sannaicho, Sennyuji, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
  • 15-minute walk from Sennyuji-michi bus stop
  • Tel.075-561-1551

3.A large-scale filming, said to be the largest ever, took place at Ninna-ji Temple in Kyoto.

The shinkinden (Imperial Hall) in the National Scenic Area Garden was used as the majestic Honmaru Palace in the majestic Azuchi Castle created by Nobunaga, and scenes of Nobunaga gathering a large number of warriors and Nobunaga hurrying down its corridor with medicinal herbs in his hand for Princess Nohime were filmed. The 88 sacred sites of Omuro in Ninna-ji Temple appeared in the scene where Nobunaga and Princess Nobuhime fight with ronin, who have been chasing pickpockets, and was filmed on the largest scale ever seen at Ninna-ji Temple.

Legends & Butterflies" film Ninna-ji Temple

The head temple of the Omuro school of the Shingon sect, founded by Emperor Uda in 888. Emperor Uda transferred his throne to Emperor Daigo and entered Buddhism, establishing a monastery called "Omuro," and the area around the temple came to be called "Omuro" in honor of him. Kondo, a national treasure, is the oldest remaining building of the shikinkinden (Imperial Hall), which was moved by a gift from the Imperial Household after it was all destroyed by fire in 1119 and the Onin War. The Omuro-zakura (cherry blossoms), which are said to be the latest to bloom in Kyoto, are also famous.

Legends & Butterflies" film Ninna-ji Temple

Ninna-ji Temple, head temple of the Omuro school of Shingon Buddhism

  • Shingon Omurosohonbasan Ninnoji (Buddhist deity)
  • 33 Omuro Ouchi, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
  • A short walk from the bus stop "Omuro Ninnaji"
    5 minutes walk from Randen "Omuro-Ninnaji Station"
  • Tel.075-461-1155

4.Scene where Takuya Kimura's character Nobunaga looks down on the beautiful scenery / Hikone Castle, Shiga, Japan

The scene where he and Princess Nohime decide to go to Kyoto while looking down on the view from Gifu (Inabayama) Castle was shot at Hikone Castle. Another scene was filmed when the Oda army, led by Mitsuhide and Hideyoshi Kinoshita, returned from the Battle of Kanegasaki with their lives. The stairs to the keep of Hikone Castle are very steep, but director Otomo shot many takes of the scene to show the soldiers returning from the dead, and had them climb up and down the stairs.

Film "Legend & Butterfly" Hikone Castle

Hikone Castle, one of the most famous castles in Japan, was built by Ii Naotsugu and Naotaka over a period of about 20 years and completed in 1622 (Genna 8). Also known as Konki-jo (Golden Turtle Castle), the name is said to derive from a statue of the Kannon (Goddess of Mercy) riding a golden turtle that was enshrined in a temple on Hikone Mountain prior to the construction of Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture. In addition to the castle tower, which is a national treasure, other important cultural properties such as the Tenbin Yagura and Taiko-mon Yagura still exist, and it is designated as a special historic site by the national government.

Film "Legend & Butterfly" Hikone Castle

Hikone Castle

  • epistolary style
  • 1-1 Kinkame-cho, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture
  • 15 minutes walk from JR Hikone Station
  • Tel. 0749-22-2742

5.Many heavy scenes were taken, including one in which Nobunaga Oda entertains Ieyasu Tokugawa! / Odori Temple, Shiga, Japan

The scene where Nobunaga Oda is said to have entertained Ieyasu Tokugawa at Azuchi Castle. The photo shows Akechi Mitsuhide (Miyazawa Hyogu) and Tokugawa Ieyasu (Saito Takumi), who were ordered to serve as the hostess. Director Otomo was deeply moved by the filming at the cultural property, which conveys the world of the luxurious Momoyama culture, saying, "It has a class without the need for unnecessary props and decorations. The cuisine served at the restaurant was created and supervised by a Kyoto-style restaurant. Even the dishes shown in glimpses of the restaurant were made with the utmost care and attention to "authenticity. The quality of the food is conveyed thanks to Ieyasu, who eats with a hearty appetite, but without being told, one would not know that Kyoto people also collaborated in this area. The uncompromising passion of the craftsmen at the studio and director Otomo for the film he is portraying is palpable.

Film "Legend & Butterfly" Odori Temple

A branch temple of the Nagahama Diocese of the Shinshu Otani sect. It is called Mugechizan Daiduji Temple and is generally referred to as "Nagahama Gobo. The temple was originally established by Kyonyo Shonin, the 12th head priest of Honganji Temple, in the former Nagahama Castle to preach and spread the Buddha Dharma to the Kohoku monks. The temple bell inscribed with an inscription from the Nanbokucho Period is a cultural asset designated by the prefecture. The interior walls of the guest rooms (Hozanken and Rantei) were painted by Kano Sangaku, Sansetsu, and Maruyama Okyo, and the garden is designated as a national place of scenic beauty.

Film "Legend & Butterfly" Hongwanji Betsuin Odoriji Temple

Hongwanji Betsuin Odsuji Temple (Unobstructed Mt. Chisan Odsuji Temple)

  • Grand Cordon of the Honganji Temple (Mugechiji Temple Grand Cordon)
  • 32-9 Motohama-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture
  • 10 minutes walk from JR Nagahama Station
  • Tel. 0749-62-0054
  • http://www.daitsuji.or.jp/daitsuji

6.Nobunaga enters the pond in the freezing cold, appearing in a tense scene / Ippongi cedar at Iwao Pond, Shiga, Japan.

The film was shot underwater in the extreme cold of winter. Nightmare scenes were filmed. His feelings for his family, which he never revealed as a military commander, overflowed in his dreams. In an unprecedented attempt to depict the weakness and conflicts of Nobunaga Oda, Director Otomo searched for a location with the insistence that "a scene never seen before must be shot in a place never seen before," and when the staff found this location, everyone was so gut-punched! When the staff found the location, everyone was so excited that they all popped their fists in the air. Director Otomo said, "The charm of Shiga is that there are spots like this that have yet to be discovered.

Legends & Butterflies" movie, Ipposugi

The cedar tree, a designated natural monument of Shiga Prefecture, is said to be more than 1,000 years old. Because it is located on the shore of Iwao Pond, it is called the "lone cedar of Iwao Pond," or "Lord of the Pond. It is said that in the early Heian period (794-1185), when Saicho visited this area in search of wood to build Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei, he ate a meal here and stuck his chopsticks in the ground.

Legends & Butterflies" movie, a lone cedar at Iwaoike

lone cedar at Iwaoike

  • a single ippon of iwao ikebana (i.e. one ippon of Japanese cedar)
  • Sugitani, Konan-cho, Koka-shi, Shiga
  • 15 minutes by cab from Konan Station on the JR Kusatsu Line

7.80% of set photography! Traditional skills of hairdressers, art, costumes, etc. gathered at Toei Kyoto Studio in Kyoto / Kyoto, Japan

The majority of the film was shot at Toei's Kyoto Studios in the city of Kyoto, including the scene at Kiyoshu Castle (a military meeting prior to the battle of Okehazama). The scene at Honnoji Temple is also a highlight of the film, with numerous performers engaging in a battle to kill Nobunaga and Ranmaru. The Otomo crew led by director Otomo and the staff of the film studio teamed up to shoot the film from the fall of 2021 to the winter of 2022.

Legend & Butterfly" Kyoto Film Studio, Toei

A film studio that houses the Toei Movie Village in Hadami, which has open sets for period dramas. Many famous craftsmen who create images gather here, including the lighting technicians and hairdressers who have supported many of the famous films that have been created here. Although many period dramas are produced here, many modern dramas have also been filmed, and Leaf's office has often been used in a publishing house setting and has appeared in dramas.

Legend & Butterfly" Toei Kyoto Film Studio 01
Legend & Butterfly" Toei Kyoto Film Studio 02

The historic temples and shrines in Kyoto that cooperated with Toei for the filming location all expressed their trust and sense of security in the studio, saying, "We would not have lent the film if it were not for the Kyoto studio," and "I think it was built on the trust between Toei and Kyoto from the old days to the present. Once again, I realized that this film was produced based on the strong relationship of trust between Toei, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary, and Kyoto, its hometown. After watching the film, please visit the filming locations in Kyoto and Shiga to feel closer to the film!

Toei Kyoto Film Studio

  • projector and patent application form
  • 9, Taihata Nishi Beeoka-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 10 min. walk from JR "TAHATA" station.
  • Tel. 075-862-5003
  • http://studios.toei-kyoto.com/
*Please note that the information contained herein is subject to change without notice.
*Since this site uses automatic translation, the translation may differ from the original Japanese content.

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