Author Topic: Toei Kyoto Studio Park Photo Tour (Terrain Making References) (Read 13190 times)

Sakuragi Miniatures · « **on:** 20 March 2025, 02:39:41 AM »

This feudal Japan back lot has been used to shoot jidaigeki (period films) for over 50 years and 200 jidaigeki are still shot here annually. If you?ve watched any samurai films, chances are you?ve seen this highly flexible back lot. Just by changing signage, building decoration and changing angles, it can look like different towns for different stories. All of these buildings can be walked through and I found that the ones not set up for shooting or tourists are used for storage (a room full of sliding doors for example). I hope this is useful for all the terrain makers out there looking for details and inspiration.

Cat · « **Reply #1 on:** 20 March 2025, 03:04:46 AM »

Ooh, very nice!

You can also walk around in google street-view:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Toei+Kyoto+Studio+Park/@35.0152814,135.7086951,127a,35y,332.41h,45t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x6001077138dffbb9:0x2bba0881d61d9667!8m2!3d35.0164521!4d135.7080227!16s%2Fg%2F121_jp19?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMxNy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

(Street-view has been an amazing help for Japanese model railroad planning and building.)

Sakuragi Miniatures · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 March 2025, 03:10:31 AM »

That's neat, didn't realize they could do that within the park!

Sakuragi Miniatures · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 March 2025, 03:18:13 AM »

Cat · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 March 2025, 03:47:49 AM »

Quote from: Sakuragi Miniatures on 20 March 2025, 03:10:31 AM

That's neat, didn't realize they could do that within the park!

There's a lot of locations where people walk around with a backpack camera.

Sometimes they'll just stand in different spots and take a 360 snap. If you turn on Streetview and see a little blue dot instead of the usual line, the dot is where they stood. Their shadow is what gave away the backpack trick!

When cruising around Ibaraki, I've even stumbled on the streetview backpack shots taken inside train stations and shrines.

I've even been able to poke around Burg Frankenstein.
: 3

Sakuragi Miniatures · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 March 2025, 03:56:16 AM »

I haven't been to Burg Frankenstein in years! That ruin is so neat. When I went, it was a foggy morning and everything was shrouded in mist.

Mike Blake · « **Reply #6 on:** 20 March 2025, 09:00:15 AM »

Brilliant thanks.
Is there anything similar for a rural village or farm please?

Osmoses · « **Reply #7 on:** 20 March 2025, 09:51:53 AM »

There's an 'eigamura' (village film set) in Yamagata prefecture (Dewa province). You can't walk around it in streetview unfortunately.

Official site:
https://s-sedic.jp/

360 view (in poor light)

Pictures from various blogs etc

Sakuragi Miniatures · « **Reply #8 on:** 20 March 2025, 10:42:00 AM »

Quote from: Mike Blake on 20 March 2025, 09:00:15 AM

Brilliant thanks.
Is there anything similar for a rural village or farm please?

Nihon Minkaen in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Pref. has real old buildings relocated together as a post town, Kanto plains village and a mountain village. They show the regional variety in Japanese rural architecture.

Edo-Tokyo Tatemono in Koganei, Tokyo also has a collection of traditional farm houses depicting rural life in Tokyo. Tokyo as a whole, outside of what was originally "Edo" was pretty rural until the 1900s.

Kaitakunomura in Sapporo, Hokkaido Pref. has a collection of farm buildings and a full-on Old West-esque town of old buildings relocated depicting frontier life during the turn of the century.

Hope those help. I have photos from the second two locations I can share, if you'd like.

Mike Blake · « **Reply #9 on:** 20 March 2025, 12:50:09 PM »

Thank you both so much - I will enjoy investigating.

I am working on a 1/32-1/30th scale project to wargame the Seven S and some other scenarios involving Ronin and this means making the buildings from scratch. I aim to put the game on at the Partizan show next year.

Thanks again

Mike Blake · « **Reply #10 on:** 20 March 2025, 12:52:01 PM »

OOPS I meant to say yes please to the sharing of your photos Saguragi

robh · « **Reply #11 on:** 20 March 2025, 02:47:48 PM »

Quote from: Sakuragi Miniatures on 20 March 2025, 10:42:00 AM

.....I have photos from the second two locations I can share, if you'd like......

It would be great to see those pictures if you would share a link, thanks.

The TOEI pictures are fascinating, I visited some years ago but it was packed with visitors so getting pictures like yours was impossible. The costume and props (weapons) exhibitions are great. I note they have more recently installed an Evangelion area featuring a "life" size suit torso which would be fun to see.

McYellowbelly · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 March 2025, 03:50:41 PM »

Quote from: Mike Blake on 20 March 2025, 12:50:09 PM

Thank you both so much - I will enjoy investigating.

I am working on a 1/32-1/30th scale project to wargame the Seven S and some other scenarios involving Ronin and this means making the buildings from scratch. I aim to put the game on at the Partizan show next year.

Thanks again

I've got 1/32 Seven samurai figures along with Kurosawa and camera.
These are prepainted (in black and white) and are 'blind box' collectibles.
Ddrop me a line if these are of any use?

Mike Blake · « **Reply #13 on:** 20 March 2025, 04:21:35 PM »

Mc
I have PMd you

Sakuragi Miniatures · « **Reply #14 on:** 20 March 2025, 11:09:50 PM »

This is the Tenmyo Family farmhouse originally from Ota-ku in Tokyo; Ota-ku is wedged between Kawasaki, Kanagawa Pref. and Shinagawa. Today, it's also bordered by Haneda Airport. The family was of high status and this house was built in the late Edo period.