Shenmue Sacred Spot Guide Maps - All Editions Download Page

The Shenmue Sacred Spot Guide Map is a multi-page tourist pamphlet highlighting locations of interest to Shenmue fans around Yokosuka, created through a collaborative effort between Yokosuka City and SEGA. First released at the end of 2017, the map impressed fans with its high-quality and thoughtful detail, and has since seen several new editions - each tied to different milestones in Shenmue’s journey.

Over the years, three main versions of the map have been produced: the Original (2017), the Shenmue I & II edition (2018), and the Shenmue the Animation edition (2022 JP / 2024 EN). Each version has been available in both Japanese and English, offering fans worldwide the chance to explore Shenmue’s real-world setting.

In this post, we’ll tie all the versions together with an overview of how each edition differs - and supply PDF download links for each version in one handy place.

The Origins: The First Sacred Spot Guide Map (2017)

Original version cover (Japanese)

The very first Sacred Spot Guide Map appeared at the end of 2017, launched as part of the “Yokosuka City × Shenmue Project” promotion. It marked the beginning of a unique collaboration between SEGA and the city of Yokosuka, designed to promote local tourism while celebrating the cultural footprint of Shenmue.

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Scenes from Kyoto: Temple Garden Features & Pink Telephone

A few pictures from a recent visit to the scenic city of Kyoto which had strong vibes of Ryo's hometown.

Temple Garden

Koi fish swim lazily in a temple pond, approaching hopefully if you happen to be standing near their usual feeding spot.

The tranquil sounds of a summer day... insects chirping and the sound of cool running water. Every few minutes, the shishi-odoshi bamboo fountain tips over and back with a distinctive sound as it strikes the rock.

Pink Telephone

Public phones are becoming harder to find around cities now, but here's one that hasn't changed for years, waiting for a 10-yen coin to be dropped in the slot.

Related Posts

• The Bamboo Fountain in the Hazuki's Garden | Shenmue Realism
• Rotary Phones & Milk Delivery | Shenmue Realism

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Kawabata's Renders, Final Part: Locations and Promo Renders

Welcome to the fourth and final part of our review of the art renders shared by AM2 developer Hideki Kawabata (previous parts: Part One, Part Two, Part Three). This final post in the series will touch on some of the location renders and promotional CG art that was included in the collection.

The Original Karate Tournament Location: Yokohama Bunka Taiikukan

The first location we'll look at is one that once lived only in the imagination of fans: the stadium in which Ryo's high school karate tournament took place prior to the start of the first game, as revealed by Yu Suzuki in 2015:

Q: Where did Ryo get his band-aid?

Yu Suzuki: It didn't appear in Chapter 1, but there was a martial arts event. The scar is from the final match.

This response is from a Twitter event called "#YouAskYu" in 2015 - a transcript is archived on the old Shenmue Dojo forums.

This took on a concrete form in recent years, when a scene from this tournament was included in the first episode of Shenmue The Animation in 2022. For the anime, the tournament location was directly based on the real-life sporting venue, the Yokosuka Arena:

The location of the karate tournament in Shenmue The Animation: Yokosuka Arena

However, with Kawabata's collection of renders, another piece can now be added to the puzzle: a fully-rendered model of a stadium had been prepared back in the early days of the project, in April of 1996. 

Furthermore, it even shows two tatami platforms for the matches, set up inside the hall:

Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium: 30 April 1996

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Poll Result: Patrons' Choice Topic for August 2025

Every month Phantom River Stone holds a poll among our patrons to choose a topic for the blog in the coming month. After tallying the votes (including any accumulated from previous months), the winning topic this time is:

Sacred Spot Guide Map - Shenmue The Animation (English Version)

The superb Shenmue Sacred Spot Guide Map is a multi-page tourist pamphlet highlighting locations of interest to Shenmue fans around Yokosuka, created through a collaborative effort between Yokosuka City and SEGA.

The guide map was first released at the end of 2017, impressing fans with its high quality and thoughtful detail.

Original version (Japanese)

An updated version of the map followed in 2018 at the Tokyo Game Show, featuring a new cover and other small changes to commemorate the release of Shenmue I & II.

Shenmue I & II version (Japanese)

The updates didn't stop there - another revision was released in June 2022, themed around the new anime that had premiered earlier that year: Shenmue The Animation.

Shenmue The Animation version (Japanese)

Not only that, but versions were produced in both Japanese and English, catering to a wide range of tourists and fans visiting the area.

The most recent version is the Shenmue The Animation English version, printed some time after the Japanese edition and its existence is perhaps not as widely known.

In this post, we'll summarize the differences between the three versions - along with download links - so you can find them all in one handy place.

Coming soon to the blog!

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(Part 3/3) Concept Art From the 2022 Shenmue The Animation Promotional Event

Today is Part Three, the final part, of our exploration of the art from Yokosuka City's Shenmue anime celebration! 

Links to the previous parts:

• Part One: Concept Art From the 2022 Shenmue The Animation Promotional Event
• Part Two: Concept Art From the 2022 Shenmue The Animation Promotional Event

Special thanks: thanks again to も_なお Mo_Nao for kindly providing the source photos from the event, to which cropping & straightening has been applied. Be sure to follow her on X (Twitter) at @greed_air for a heap of original Shenmue content!

Hong Kong Locations

"Come Over Guest House, Wan Chai (night)"

"Wan Chai (morning)"

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(Part 2/3) Concept Art From the 2022 Shenmue The Animation Promotional Event

Welcome back to our exploration of Yokosuka City's Shenmue anime celebration! In Part One, we delved into some intriguing concept art and sketches from the game's early days and the anime's creation. 

Now, in Part Two of this mini-series, we'll uncover more captivating art from the streets of Dobuita that were on display during the event.

Let's continue our visual journey through Shenmue's world.

Special thanks to も_なお Mo_Nao for kindly providing her photos taken at the event, to which cropping & straightening has been applied. Be sure to follow her on X (Twitter) at @greed_air for a heap of original Shenmue content!

Hazuki Residence

"At the Hazuki Residence gate"

"At the Hazuki Residence gate (night)"

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(Part 1/3) Concept Art from the 2022 Shenmue The Animation Promotional Event

Concept art displayed at the entrance of the Honey Bee restaurant

In April to June 2022, Yokosuka City ran a promotional event in celebration of the Shenmue's adaption anime form, which was run in collaboration with IGN Japan. There were various activities arranged including give-aways of Shenmue The Animation themed postcards at participating stores and an online gacha-gacha game.

• Related post: Shenmue x Yokosuka: Animation Promotion Announced
• Related post: Photo Report: Shenmue The Animation Promotion in Yokosuka
• Related post: Yu Suzuki's Visit to Dobuita Street with IGN Japan

During the event, exhibits of concept art and sketches from both the early days of the game's development as well as during the anime's creation were put on display inside a number of stores around the Dobuita Street area.

The event was divided into three periods or "phases" that lasted 3 weeks each. The artwork selection was completely refreshed at the start of each period, rewarding those visitors lucky enough to be able to visit Dobuita St multiple times across the event period.

As only a limited number of fortunate fans would have been able to attend the event in person, we have gathered together as many photos of these art pieces as possible, with adjustments applied for perspective and/or contrast. There was a mixture of sketches and art from Shenmue The Animation, as well as from development of the first Shenmue game.

This first post focuses on images displayed during the Phase One of the event.

Special thanks to も_なお Mo_Naomi (@greed_air on Twitter / X) for providing her photos for the art displayed during Phase Two and Phase Three. The Phase One photos were sourced from my own visit. 

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Unofficial Fan Meet-Up in Yokosuka, January 2024 | Photo Report

Last weekend, an adventure with fellow Shenmue enthusiasts took us on a journey through Ryo's stomping grounds in Yokosuka. Our mission was to uncover the secrets behind Ryo's father's demise, help children name any stray kitten found... and generally have a fun day out exploring the setting of the first game in Yu Suzuki's epic series with other fans.

Grab your leather jacket and join us as we dive into a report on the day's escapades of this unofficial Shenmue fan meet-up!

Harbor Vista

The initial gathering point on this sunny afternoon was outside JR Yokosuka station, at one end of Verny Park. This was a perfect place to wait and soak up the atmosphere, as the park stretches along the harbor and provides magnificent views of ships and submarines belonging to the bases of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force on one side and the US Navy on the other.

Verny Park, Yokosuka (image credit: 怪猫)

It was fun to see all the Shenmue and Sega themed items being worn or carried - replicas of Ryo's leather jacket (including one with exquisite hand-stitched patches), Ryo's Timex watch, jeans and white sneakers, custom-made Ryo and Ren figurines, official and unofficial Shenmue T-shirts, and even a complete "black suit" cosplay that would fool Lan Di himself. Other items included Shenmue guide books and photos of prized Shenmue merchandise and items signed by Yu Suzuki and other Sega legends. The copies of SkillJim's Shenmue World magazines that I brought along also received a lot of interest from those who had not seen them before (Issue One is available for viewing online).

Two special guests (image credit: 怪猫)

A wonderful memento from EREN(echo) Small treats and gifts were shared out, and one of the group had kindly visited the tourist office beforehand to gather Shenmue guide maps. The generosity of Shenmue fans knows no bounds!

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Photo Report: Visiting Shenmue's New Yokosuka Harbor in Real Life (Nagaura Port)

Nagaura Port is the real-life harbor on which New Yokosuka Harbor in the first game is modeled. True to its depiction in the game, it can be reached by a short ride from the bus stop near Dobuita Street. This post contains photos that highlight how close certain features of the real-life location still match today with the game's 1986 version.

Current-day Nagaura Port

Ryo admires New Yokosuka Harbor

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Poll Result: Patrons' Choice Topic for September 2023

Every month Phantom River Stone holds a poll among our patrons to choose a topic for the blog in the coming month. After tallying the votes (including accumulated votes from previous months), the winning topic that has been voted this time is:

"Concept Art from the Shenmue The Animation Promotional Event in Dobuita (2022)"

In April to June 2022, Yokosuka City ran a promotional event in celebration of the Shenmue's adaption anime form, which was run in collaboration with IGN Japan.

• Related post: Shenmue x Yokosuka: Animation Promotion Announced
• Related post: Photo Report: Shenmue The Animation Promotion in Yokosuka
• Related post: Yu Suzuki's Visit to Dobuita Street with IGN Japan

There were various activities arranged including give-aways of Shenmue The Animation themed postcards at participating stores and an online gacha-gacha game.

In addition, there were physical exhibits of concept art and sketches from both the early days of the game's development as well as during the anime's creation, to be found on display inside a number of stores around the Dobuita Street area.

In this post, we will aim to bring together and present as many pieces as possible of the fascinating art that was displayed during this event.

Coming soon to the blog!

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"Bailu Cave" in Kamakura, Japan | Real-life Location

Engaku-ji is the name of a peaceful temple compound in Kamakura, Japan that houses over twenty temples and halls, and is considered to be one of the most important Zen Buddhist complexes in Japan.

At Engaku-ji

On visiting the temple, a small cave entrance can be discovered at one side, just off the main path, with a stone post next to it engraved with the kanji characters of its name.

A mysterious cave

The first two characters of the name look strongly familiar: 白鹿洞 = White Deer Cave! You may recall that these are the same written characters of the name of Shenhua's village of Bailu in Guilin - she explains to Ryo the white deer is the guardian of her village.

How did this cave come to have this name? A sign nearby gives some additional background. 

White Deer Cave

According to this sign, legend has it that on Engaku-ji's opening day, a herd of white deer emerged from this cave to listen to the sermon of Zen master Mugaku Sogen, the temple's founder, along with a great many people. Hence, the cave was named "White Deer Cave". (Note: in Japanese, the pronunciation is "Biyaku Dou", however, with no similarity to "Bailu").

Kamakura is a place we know Yu Suzuki has visited in the past - a recent example being with the Kickstarter super backers on the day of their Kickstarter Backer Dinner. Perhaps Yu Suzuki and team were inspired in the naming of Bailu Village through this very legend.

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Sacred Spot Guide Map (Shenmue The Animation Version)

In Dobuita, June 2022 witnessed the emergence of an electrifying two-month spectacle known as the "Shenmue x Yokosuka: Anime Commemoration Project," coinciding with the highly-awaited broadcast debut of Shenmue the Animation. Amidst this festivity, a renewed rendition of the much-beloved Sacred Spot Guide Map was introduced by Yokosuka City. The map can be collected on location for those visiting the area.

For preservation purposes, we've scanned all pages of the map for download at the link below. Note that this version of the map is currently only available in Japanese.

• PDF of the Sacred Spot Guide Map - Shenmue The Animation version (Japanese)

Enjoy!

Download the original version of the Shenmue Yokosuka Map (PDF) in English or Japanese

Outer pages

Inner pages

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What Has Changed? Sacred Spot Guide Map (Shenmue The Animation Version)

Since its debut in December 2017, a result of a collaboration between Yokosuka City and SEGA, the Shenmue Sacred Spot Guide Map has become an essential companion for Shenmue enthusiasts exploring the nostalgic charm of real-life Dobuita Street and the surrounding area. This sought-after map holds the key to exploring many of the real-life locations that inspired the immersive world of the first game. From the serene Suwadai Shrine to Kurita's military surplus store, visitors can uncover the connections between reality and the virtual realm, stepping into the footprints of Ryo Hazuki in his hometown.

• Shenmue Sacred Spot Guide Map: Japanese [Original version]
• Shenmue Sacred Spot Guide Map: English [Original version]

The following year, during the 2018 Tokyo Game Show (TGS), the map received a rejuvenating update. With a brand-new cover and subtle tweaks, it paid homage to the momentous release of Shenmue I & II.

• Sacred Spot Guide Map (Shenmue I & II Version): The Differences

Covers: original (left) and Tokyo Game Show 2018 (right)

In June 2022, an exciting two-month-long event called the "Shenmue x Yokosuka: Anime Commemoration Project" unfolded in Dobuita, marking the much-anticipated release of Shenmue the Animation. As part of this grand celebration, a fresh iteration of the Sacred Spot Guide Map was unveiled, igniting a wave of enthusiasm among fans, (although unfortunately Japan had closed its borders to overseas visitors at this time due to the Covid pandemic).

Cover: Shenmue The Animation version

Shenmue The Animation version: inner pages

In this post, our focus will be on exploring the changes and distinctions found within this version of the map compared to its predecessors. Specifically, we will be delving into the Japanese-language editions, as although the original release and the Shenmue I & II versions were available in both English and Japanese, the anime edition is exclusively offered in Japanese.

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Tomato Convenience Store Spotted in Real Life?

"Especially since you bought merchandise..."

Located in Nagano city - not strictly speaking a convenience store but a Tomato-branded supermarket!

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Forklift No. 5

Spotted in the wild... a genuine Forklift No. 5.

Ready for the morning race.

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Shenmue Anime Real-life Location Photo Report: Yokosuka Arena

The depiction of the high school karate tournament that Ryo attends in Shenmue The Animation was based on a real-life multi-purpose sporting venue known as the Yokosuka Arena. Previous posts on this blog have shown how remarkably closely the stadium interior and building exterior were reproduced for the anime.

I recently had the opportunity to visit the Yokosuka Arena and obtained permission to go inside the main hall itself. I was pleased to discover that even minor backdrops in the anime such as the stairs leading up to the seating were faithfully portrayed in the anime, as you will see in the additional comparisons below.

Although this view was not shown in the anime, the Yokosuka Arena complex consists of several buildings, with a futuristic elevated pedestrian skybridge joining separate areas together. The main stadium, where the karate tournament took place, is at the far side behind the skybridge:

When I visited, there was a Tai Chi class taking place in the main stadium, which helped to provide a suitable Shenmue atmosphere:

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Photo Report: Shenmue The Animation Promotion in Yokosuka

For the last two months, a promotion to celebrate the release of Shenmue The Animation has been running in Yokosuka. I went down to check out each of the eight stores participating in the promotion. This post has a selection of photos from the visit.

Four of the participating stores were on Dobuita Street itself:

• Dobuita Station (tourist center)
• MIKASA Vol.2 (Sukajan jacket store)
• Taisho (embroidery & patches)
• KANMANIA Yokosuka (souvenirs & cafe)
• Kakita (military clothing)

While the others were located nearby:

• HONEY BEE restaurant (on Route 16)
• MIKASA Cafe
• Hanamatsu flower shop

Inside each participating store, Shenmue-related artwork and sketches were on display, and they also had Shenmue anime postcards to give away with a purchase of 500 yen. The owners were all very friendly and welcoming to Shenmue fans, and I managed to persuade some of them to strike a pose for the blog photo!

Arrival in Yokosuka

I arrived at Yokosuka-chūo train station, on the Keikyu line, handily located about a 5-minute walk from the Dobuita Street area.

East Gate of Yokosuka-chūo station

The Yokosuka city tourist information center can be found immediately to the left as you exit the East Gate of the station (it has moved in recent times from "THE PRIME" shopping center building). With the newly-updated Shenmue The Animation themed version of the Sacred Spot map, and a leaflet detailing the current campaign, we head in the direction of Dobuita Street.

Left: the cover of the Shenmue Sacred Spot map. Right: a leaflet about the current promotion, known as the "Anime Celebration Project"

Main road near the station

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Shenmue The Animation Photo Report: "Xuhe Hall" Restaurant Closes Its Doors

15th May 2022 sadly marked the closure of a restaurant that will have special meaning for fans of Shenmue as having been a potential stop on any "Shenmue the Animation pilgrimage" for a few short months.

The restaurant's exterior and interior served as models for the venue seen in Episode 3 of Shenmue the Animation called "Xuhe Hall", which is visited by Lan Di in order to extract information about the whereabouts of the mirrors from the owner.

Xuhe Hall exterior (Shenmue the Animation)

Xuhe Hall interior (Shenmue the Animation)

The real-life restaurant's name is Heichinrou and was the flagship store for the chain throughout Japan. It was the oldest existing restaurant in Yokohama Chinatown, and is closing after more than 130 years in business.

News outlets initially suggested that plans for a possible relocation were being considered, but a more recent news item has reported that this main branch of the restaurant has filed for bankruptcy after struggling through the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, so reopening would appear unlikely.

However, to capture the last days of the restaurant while still in operation, I went along just before opening time on the last day to take some on-location pictures. The manager (I don't think he was the one in the anime!) kindly granted permission for me to also take some of the interior.

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Shenmue The Animation vs Real Life: Kowloon Walled City

"There's this guy I know of, Yang, who worked for Yuanda."

In Episode 10, Ren gives Ryo a possible lead in Kowloon - a location which is introduced with a panning shot of a crowded high-rise blocks of apartment buildings with a plane soaring overhead.

Although Kowloon Walled City was demolished in 1993, this scene is in fact directly modeled on a location which exists today. It is an apartment tower called Montane Manion, which is located on King's Road in Quarry Bay.

Thanks to George Kitchen for identifying this location and for sharing the photos below, which were taken by George on a visit to the same location.

Montane Mansion, Quarry Bay (photos by George Kitchen)

The crowded, run-down aesthetic is certainly strongly reminiscent of the Kowloon Walled City that once existed. 

Other Shenmue The Animation vs Real Life comparisons:

• Dobuita Street
• Yokosuka Road Tunnel
• MOUNTAIN Shop & Tunnel #2
• Karate Tournament Venue: Interior
• Karate Tournament Venue: Exterior
• Ryo Farewells His Teammates
• Mikasa Park
• Yokosuka High School
• Motorcycle Ride Tunnel
• Peninsula Hotel
• Xuhe Hall Exterior
• Xuhe Hall Interior

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Shenmue The Animation vs Real Life: Xuhe Hall Interior

Xuhe Hall is the name of the restaurant Lan Di visits in Episode 3 of Shenmue The Animation to pressure the owner for information on the mirrors taken out of China.

A previous post showed how closely the exterior matched the real-life Heichinrou restaurant in Yokohama.

It is not just the exterior that has been reproduced, however; the interior also serves as the model for the anime's depiction, which was spotted by George Kitchen:

As mentioned previously, Heichinrou Yokohama branch will be closing on 15 May, 2022 to move location, so if you are in the area plan a visit soon!.

Other Shenmue The Animation vs Real Life comparisons:

• Dobuita Street
• Yokosuka Road Tunnel
• MOUNTAIN Shop & Tunnel #2
• Karate Tournament Venue: Interior
• Karate Tournament Venue: Exterior
• Ryo Farewells His Teammates
• Mikasa Park
• Yokosuka High School
• Motorcycle Ride Tunnel
• Peninsula Hotel
• Xuhe Hall Exterior

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