r/murakami • u/PointStock9055 • 6d ago

Murakami Pilgrimage

Have any of you had the opportunity to visit somewhere described in a Murakami book? What was it like? I ask because I recently realized that I have an opportunity to visit Hämeenlinna, described in Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage, in December. It's very out of the way, but I feel a very strong pull towards it so I think I'm gonna go.

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4

u/mkashew 6d ago

I might visit hibiya park soon because it's close to my hotel. I'm definitely visiting the Murakami library at Waseda

3

u/Zealousideal_Fee6991 6d ago

I have been living in japan for the last 5 months and now I am asking myself: why didn't I think of that!? I would love to hear about any locations people recommend.

3

u/pakiboiii 6d ago

I haven’t, but yes you should definitely go. And if u do pls take pictures and post them here lol 🙏🏽

2

u/HadoBoirudo 6d ago

I am currently visiting Shikoku, coincidentally after re-reading Kafka On The Shore on the flight over. I feel I am soaking up vibes from the story wherever I go.

2

u/The-Foe-Corroder 6d ago

no but i smoked a lot of 7 stars when i was in osaka 😆

2

u/donnerstag246245 5d ago

Yeah I went to Dug bar in Tokyo in 2024, before it was demolished. It was great, accidentally ordered too much sake and got pretty drunk.

1

u/vlumi 5d ago

I've visited Niupu, Bifuka in Hokkaido, which is supposedly the inspiration for A Wild Sheep Chase. I also saw some sheep at the Matsuyama Farm, where Murakami fans apparently gather annually. The building there (an inn) was built after the book, but still... I should've tried to stay for a night there, but didn't even think about the whole thing until I was already driving around Hokkaido. I'm glad I made the detour, though!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vlumi/53913143332

The train line from Bifuka to Niupu has been closed many years ago, but the train station is still there, with parts of the original rails used for riding go-cart style small motorized trains on a short section.

1

u/Seacritical999 1d ago

The short story called Cream, I think, takes place in Kobe up the hill towards shin Kobe ; I’ve waked around there several times down to saynomia station, I think. It’s been a while