Sakurazaka46 Pilgrimage Guide: From the Awaji Yumebutai MV to Tokyo Dome & National Stadium

Awaji Yumebutai where 'BAN' was filmed, Moriya Station used in 'Guzen no Kotae,' and the Kashima Naval Air Corps Ruins featured in 'Nightmare Syndrome'—the music videos of idol group Sakurazaka46 make striking use of open-air architecture, active railway stations, and preserved historical sites.

Having launched under the name Sakurazaka46 in 2020, the group progressed through multiple Tokyo Dome runs to celebrate its fifth anniversary at the Japan National Stadium in April 2026. This guide explores the facilities that hosted their music video shoots alongside the stadiums that marked key concert milestones.

Architectural Complexes Where MVs Were Filmed and Milestone Concert Venues

1Awaji Yumebutai | The Architectural Complex of ‘BAN,’ Later Revisited by Miu Murayama

Awaji Yumebutai is the architectural complex where the music video for Sakurazaka46's second single, 'BAN,' was filmed in March 2021. In 2023, third-generation member Miu Murayama visited the exact filming spots on site for an official YouTube feature.

Overlooking Osaka Bay, the hillside complex features 'Hyakudan-en'—100 stepped flowerbeds arranged up the slope—alongside circular and elliptical concrete forums. The Circular Forum measures roughly 32 meters in diameter and 11 meters in height, connected by sea corridors, mountain corridors, sky gardens, and water courts that visitors can walk through.

Located at 2 Yumebutai, Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture, outdoor spaces including Hyakudan-en and the observation terraces are normally open free of charge from 7:00 to 22:00 (the Hyakudan-en elevator operates from 7:00 to 18:00, while the indoor greenhouse has separate hours and admission fees).

Sources: Awaji Yumebutai — 'BAN' MV Filming & Miu Murayama's Visit / Complex Architecture & Opening Hours

In addition to Awaji Yumebutai itself, the Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center and Grand Nikko Awaji cooperated on the 'BAN' shoot. Behind-the-scenes photographs taken by Yosuke Kamiyama are published on the single's special website, documenting the members on location.

Sources: Awaji Yumebutai — Filming Cooperation Facilities / 2nd Single Behind-the-Scenes Photo Gallery

2Kanto Railway Moriya Station | The Station Where ‘Guzen no Kotae’ Was Filmed

Moriya Station on the Kanto Railway Joso Line served as the filming location for the music video of 'Guzen no Kotae,' a coupling track on the second single 'BAN' whose music video is included on the TYPE-C Blu-ray edition.

Because Moriya Station in Moriya City, Ibaraki Prefecture, is an active commuter railway station, visitors entering the ticket gates or platforms must use a valid train ticket or platform admission ticket.

Sources: Ibaraki Film Commission — Filming at Moriya Station / Tracklist & Editions Containing the MV

3Kashima Naval Air Corps Ruins | The Historic Site Used to Film ‘Nightmare Syndrome’

In Miho Village, Ibaraki Prefecture, the Kashima Naval Air Corps Ruins served as the filming site for the music video of 'Nightmare Syndrome,' shot in February 2025 and released on February 17, 2025.

Preserved as a wartime historical site, the grounds are open to the general public on weekends. Guided tours also take visitors inside the former light-oil storage bunker and parts of the second floor of the main headquarters building that are normally closed during self-guided visits.

From March through November, the site is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry at 15:30). Adult admission is 800 yen with no reservation required, and guided tours depart at 10:00 and 14:00. The site sits near Oyama Lakeside Park in Oyama, Miho Village.

Sources: Miho Village — MV Filming Record / Ibaraki Film Commission — Release Announcement / Historic Site Opening Hours & Guided Tours

4Tokyo Dome | From Their First 2022 Dome Concerts as Sakurazaka46 to a Three-Day Run

Sakurazaka46 held their first concerts at Tokyo Dome under their current name across two days in November 2022, returning to the dome on June 15–16, 2024 and staging a three-day run from July 24 to 26, 2025.

During the inaugural November 8–9, 2022 dome concerts, member Ten Yamasaki performed a live piano intro for 'Joken Hansha de Nakete Kuru,' and the group debuted its first-ever moving stage—transporting the performers directly above the arena floor closer to the audience.

For the 2025 three-day Tokyo Dome run, a professional circus troupe also joined the staging, demonstrating how each dome tour constructs a distinct stage production within the same venue.

Sources: Akiho Onuma — 2022 Tokyo Dome Concerts / Miu Murayama — 2025 Tour Stage Production

Entering the seating bowl requires a ticket for a scheduled concert or event, while the dome's iconic roof and exterior can be viewed anytime from the open public plazas of Tokyo Dome City.

Sources: 2022 Inaugural Tokyo Dome Concerts / 2024 Tokyo Dome Concert Announcements / Tokyo Dome — Concert Archive

5MUFG Stadium (Japan National Stadium) | Venue of the 5th Anniversary Live

On April 11 and 12, 2026, Sakurazaka46 staged their '5th YEAR ANNIVERSARY LIVE' at MUFG Stadium (Japan National Stadium). Celebrating the group's fifth anniversary, the concert featured a special dance performance choreographed by member Yui Takemoto.

Footage of Takemoto's choreographed dance number was released officially after the concert, followed in September 2026 by the home video release documenting the full stadium stage.

Visitors on non-event days can walk the open public perimeter decks around the stadium, while entry into the seating bowl or pitch follows event ticketing or official stadium tour schedules.

Sources: 5th Anniversary Live Dance Video / Concert Home Video Release

6Tokorozawa Sakura Town | Filming Cooperation Complex for ‘Ikutsu no Koro ni Modoritai no ka?’

In Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture, Tokorozawa Sakura Town is credited for filming cooperation on the music video for 'Ikutsu no Koro ni Modoritai no ka?' Its open-air Central Plaza is freely accessible to the public, offering clear exterior views of the main complex and the angular Kadokawa Musashino Museum.

Located at 3-31-3 Higashi-Tokorozawa Wada, Tokorozawa City, the complex combines open outdoor plazas with indoor museum, bookshop, and event spaces that maintain individual opening hours and ticketing.

Sources: Sakurazaka46 Official MV — Filming Cooperation Credits / Outdoor Plaza Visitor Guidelines / Tokorozawa Sakura Town Campus Map

7Kenashi Pass | The Mountain Ridge Where Yui Kobayashi Centered ‘Sukimakaze yo’

Situated on the mountain border between Nagano and Gunma Prefectures, Kenashi Pass (Kenashi-toge) served as the filming site for the 2023 music video 'Sukimakaze yo.' Centered by first-generation member Yui Kobayashi, 17 first- and second-generation members performed across the windswept mountain ridge.

Members Kira Masumoto and Marino Kosaka documented the fierce mountain wind and biting cold during the shoot, which was directed by Kazuma Ikeda with choreography by TAKAHIRO and cinematography by Ryuhei Watanabe—contrasting indoor studio numbers with a sweeping 17-member formation atop an open ridge.

Road Access from the Nagano Side and Winter Closures

During the warmer months, ordinary passenger cars can reach Kenashi Pass via Nagano Prefectural Route 112 from the Nagano side; large buses cannot enter, and the road beyond the pass into Gunma Prefecture is closed to through traffic.

According to Nagano Prefecture's published 2026 schedule, the 3.7-kilometer section from Oinokura to Kenashi Pass closes for winter from November 11, 2026 at 15:00 until May 19, 2027 at 15:00. Because early snowfall can shift closure dates, always verify road conditions before driving up from the Nagano side.

Sources: Tsumagoi Village — Filming Record / MV Staff & Participating Members / Kira Masumoto on the Mountain Wind / Marino Kosaka on the Cold Shoot / Nagano Prefecture — 2026 Winter Road Closure Schedule / Suzaka Construction Office — Route to Kenashi Pass

8LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY | Where an MV Was Filmed and Nine 4th-Gen Members Headlined a Live Show

In Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture, LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY served as the filming location for the 2026 music video 'The growing up train.' Directed by Kazuma Ikeda and choreographed by TAKAHIRO, the video features stand-microphone choreography during which center Hikaru Morita sang while imagining the group's fans ('Buddies') filling the arena in front of her.

On June 2 and 3, 2026, the group held its 4th Generation Live inside this very arena. Fourth-generation member Konomi Asai recalled how, while filming the music video there earlier, she had imagined what it would feel like to perform a live concert in the venue—before stepping onto that same stage with all nine fourth-generation members for two days.

The concert premiered the fourth-generation song 'We got your back' and featured a solo dance sequence by Asai on the B-stage for 'Kogen,' turning an MV filming arena into a milestone concert stage for the newest generation.

Exterior Access from Minami-Funabashi Station and Event Admission

Located at 2-5-15 Hamacho, Funabashi City (a 6-minute walk from the South Exit of JR Minami-Funabashi Station or a 16-minute walk from Keisei Funabashi-Keibajo Station), the arena has no visitor parking or bicycle lot. Visitors can view the exterior from the public sidewalk, while interior entry requires a ticket for a scheduled event.

Sources: MV Filming Venue & Production / Hikaru Morita on the MV Shoot / Konomi Asai — From MV Shoot to Live Concert / Konomi Asai — Post-Concert Blog / Neo Sato — New Song Premiere / Venue Access / Arena Visitor Guide

9Roppongi Sakurazaka Slope | The Cherry-Tree Slope Named Alongside the Group’s Variety Show

In October 2020, when announcing the group's newly renamed variety program 'Soko Magattara, Sakurazaka?' ('Turn That Corner, Is It Sakurazaka?'), member Yui Kobayashi pointed out how turning the corner from Roppongi's Keyakizaka Slope leads directly onto Sakurazaka Slope—connecting the transition from Keyakizaka46 to Sakurazaka46 with two real streets in Roppongi.

Roppongi Sakurazaka is an open pedestrian promenade running behind the Roppongi Hills residences, lined with 75 cherry trees and adjoining Sakurazaka Park on its south side, where visitors can walk the real street referenced on the show.

Sources: 2020 Program Announcement & Yui Kobayashi's Remarks / Roppongi Hills — Sakurazaka Promenade

Deeper into the Songs | Sakurazaka46 Music Videos and Stage Performances

Here we revisit the music videos introduced in the location guide through their songs, choreography, and character roles—from the architectural formations of 'BAN' to the dramatic acting in 'Guzen no Kotae.'

Hikaru Morita’s ‘BAN’ and the Architecture of Awaji Yumebutai

Released on April 14, 2021, 'BAN' is Sakurazaka46's second single, centered by Hikaru Morita with music video production by P.I.C.S.

Directed by Hidejin Kato with cinematography by Koremasa Kamiike, production design by Yuichi Hatakeyama, and choreography by TAKAHIRO, the video was filmed across Awaji Yumebutai in March 2021. Morita recalled being blessed with clear weather on Awaji Island, while Ten Yamasaki described pushing past her physical limits repeatedly during the intense shoot.

Roughly two years after the shoot, third-generation member Miu Murayama (who joined in 2023) visited Awaji Yumebutai for an official video feature, carrying the connection between the architecture and the song forward to a new generation.

Sources: Sakurazaka46 — Song Formations / P.I.C.S. — MV Production Credits / Hikaru Morita on Filming on Awaji Island / Ten Yamasaki on Filming 'BAN' / Awaji Yumebutai — Filming & Revisit

Karin Fujiyoshi’s ‘Guzen no Kotae’ | A Music Video Blending Dramatic Acting and Dance

Included on the second single 'BAN,' the coupling song 'Guzen no Kotae' ('Coincidental Answer') features Karin Fujiyoshi as its center performer, with the music video directed by Nozomi Hayashi, choreography created by TAKAHIRO, and actress Riko Nagase appearing as Fujiyoshi's co-star.

In the story part of the video, Fujiyoshi portrays a high school student quietly wrestling with unrequited romantic feelings for a female classmate. Wanting to channel the members' expressive ability to convey emotion and worldviews through dance into dramatic acting as well, Director Hayashi proposed a narrative-driven music video that weaves Fujiyoshi and Riko Nagase's spoken dialogue and facial expressions seamlessly into the dance sequences.

Hikaru Morita and Ten Yamasaki appear in the video as members of the high school field hockey club, giving performers beyond the center distinct character roles within the story. Costumes were crafted right down to the lettering on the backs of their uniforms, and the members wore custom shoes adorned with small feathers during the shoot.

The scenes filmed on the platform and concourse at Moriya Station form a key pillar of this dramatic storyline. While the audio track is included on the Regular Edition CD, the music video itself is recorded on the Blu-ray disc bundled with the TYPE-C edition.

Sources: Nozomi Hayashi — Balancing Acting and Dance / Director's Production Note / Hikaru Morita on Her Role & Costume / Official MV Cast & Credits / Single Edition Tracklists

Listening to ‘BAN,’ ‘Guzen no Kotae,’ and ‘Sakurazaka no Uta’ on the Regular Edition CD

The Regular Edition CD of 'BAN' carries the catalog number SRCL-11756 and was released on April 14, 2021 as a single-disc audio edition. It brings together the title track 'BAN' filmed across Awaji Yumebutai, 'Guzen no Kotae' filmed at Moriya Station, and the group anthem 'Sakurazaka no Uta.'

Sources: Sakurazaka46 — Regular Edition Specifications / Tracklists & Video Contents by Edition

‘Ikutsu no Koro ni Modoritai no ka?’ | Waitress Roles and the Choreography Lifting Ten Yamasaki

In the music video for 'Ikutsu no Koro ni Modoritai no ka?'—filmed with the cooperation of Tokorozawa Sakura Town—each member steps into a specific role. Third-row members including Rina Matsuda play waitresses in a diner; although their characters dance reluctantly at the start, they are gradually drawn into the magnetic space led by center Ten Yamasaki and dance with complete freedom by the second half.

During the instrumental interlude, the choreography features a striking lift in which the surrounding members take the hands of Yamasaki as she lies flat on the floor and raise her high above the group. Shizuki Yamashita, who took part in this lift, noted how difficult the movement was because the shoes and carpet slid against each other, and choreographer TAKAHIRO tested the lift himself on set.

Ahead of filming, director Hidejin Kato handed each participating member a three-to-four-line character brief describing her persona. Yamashita was advised that while those around her sang with fierce strength, she could let a lingering sense of wistfulness remain in her expression—giving each performer an individual emotional role even while dancing within the same formation.

Sources: Rina Matsuda & Shizuki Yamashita on Filming the MV / Official MV Filming Cooperation Credits

‘Nightmare Syndrome’ | Water, Corridors, and Security Cameras Performed by Eleven 3rd-Gen Members

Filmed at the Kashima Naval Air Corps Ruins, 'Nightmare Syndrome' is a song included on the single 'UDAGAWA GENERATION,' released in February 2025. Performed by all 11 third-generation members active at the time, the music video incorporates scenes of stepping into water and being chased down long corridors.

Mio Matono performed both the water and corridor sequences, and fellow member Nagisa Kojima singled out how Matono nailed her takes on the very first try as a lasting memory from the shoot. Fellow third-generation member Riko Endo also recorded behind-the-scenes accounts of peering into security camera monitors and watching Miu Murayama inspect a room.

Airi Taniguchi, who handled the first-verse rap part, also experienced filming in a freezing bamboo grove. Throughout the music video, scenes cut back and forth between weathered indoor corridors and open outdoor groves, and for Murayama the shoot also marked a long-awaited opportunity for all 11 third-generation members to film together.

Sources: 2025 Participating Members & Single Release / Nagisa Kojima on Mio Matono's Scenes / Riko Endo on the Monitor & Room Scenes / Airi Taniguchi on the Bamboo Grove & Rap / Miu Murayama on Filming Together as 11 Members

‘Shonin Yokkyu’ | Expressing Inner Conflict Through Expanding Costumes

For the 2023 single 'Shonin Yokkyu' ('Desire for Approval'), Hikaru Morita served as center, Hidejin Kato directed the music video, and TAKAHIRO handled the choreography. The video features staging in which billowing, expanding costumes visually express the character's inner conflict, combining physical movement with changing garment silhouettes.

A brief teaser video for 'Shonin Yokkyu' was suddenly displayed without prior announcement inside the 2023 Sakurazaka46 exhibition 'Shinsekai' ('New World') held at Roppongi Museum, linking the music video reveal directly to the group's museum exhibition.

Source: 'Shonin Yokkyu' Costumes & Exhibition Reveal

‘Start over!’ | Karin Fujiyoshi Portraying a Woman Breaking Through Convention

In the 2023 single 'Start over!,' center Karin Fujiyoshi plays a woman who shatters fixed preconceptions and strides forward. What director Hidejin Kato sought for the character was a figure encompassing simplicity and unguarded innocence—a completely different persona from the conflicted high school student Fujiyoshi portrayed in 'Guzen no Kotae.'

The venue provided for the music video shoot was YOKOHAMA COAST on the second floor of ASOBUILD, a complex directly connected to Yokohama Station. Specialists operating drones, custom camera rigs, and spark special effects joined the production; public entry to the second-floor hall is determined by individual scheduled events.

Sources: Hidejin Kato — Character Concept & Production / ASOBUILD — MV Filming Venue Cooperation / ASOBUILD — Floor Access Conditions

From a No-Audience Debut Countdown to Tokyo Dome and the National Stadium

Launching Under the Name Sakurazaka46 in October 2020

Following its history as Keyakizaka46, the group officially launched under its current name, Sakurazaka46, on October 14, 2020, with Yasushi Akimoto serving as general producer.

On December 8, 2020, the day before releasing their first single 'Nobody's fault,' the group staged its Debut Countdown Live at Tokyo International Forum Hall A. Held without an audience inside the hall and streamed to movie theaters nationwide, the event was followed the next day, December 9, by the release of their inaugural single under the new name.

After holding their first national arena tour in autumn 2021 and advancing to their first Tokyo Dome concerts the following year, the group welcomed its third-generation members in 2023 and announced the inaugural live showcase for its nine fourth-generation members in 2025.

Sources: Sakurazaka46 — Group Launch / Debut Countdown Live / 2021 National Tour / Joining of the 3rd Generation / 4th Generation First Live Showcase

The 5th Anniversary Live Choreographed by Member Yui Takemoto

At the 2026 Japan National Stadium concerts held across two days on April 11 and 12, the group performed a special dance number choreographed by member Yui Takemoto, and official stage footage from the performance was unveiled on April 26.

The home video release of the 5th Anniversary Live includes stage performances of 'The growing up train,' 'BAN,' 'Ikutsu no Koro ni Modoritai no ka?,' and 'Sakurazaka no Uta,' bringing songs whose music videos were filmed at Awaji Yumebutai, Tokorozawa Sakura Town, and LaLa arena onto the anniversary stadium stage.

Sources: 5th Anniversary Live — Yui Takemoto Dance Video / 5th Anniversary Live Setlist & Video Release

Sakurazaka46’s Performance History and the CD Carrying Their Songs

Milestones from the 2020 Launch to the 5th Anniversary

Sources: Sakurazaka46 — Beginning of Activities / Discography & Release History / 2023 Outdoor Stadium Live Record / Tokyo Dome Concert History / 2026 5th Anniversary Live

Lab Note | From a Business Perspective: Distinguishing Filming Cooperation from Public Visitor Access

At Awaji Yumebutai, a newly joined member revisited the complex after the original music video shoot and shared the trip in an official video. In addition to cooperating on filming, the complex serves as a destination where fans can walk through open-air terraces and gardens.

The core of practical pilgrimage guidance lies in pairing each filming spot with the exact conditions for entering it today—whether purchasing a platform ticket at a railway station, checking open weekend hours at a historic site, or confirming event schedules at a concert venue.

Official Sources & Primary References

• Sakurazaka46 Official
• Awaji Yumebutai
• Kashima Naval Air Corps Ruins
• BAN Edition Tracklists

Exhibition dates, opening hours, admission fees, and ticket details are current at the time of writing. Always check the official websites for the latest schedule updates before setting out on your pilgrimage visit.