Photo/Illutration The entrance to the Shibuchika underground mall is also replicated at the Ashikaga Scramble City Studio in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, on March 2. (Norio Kamijima)

ASHIKAGA, Tochigi Prefecture—While tourists and locals will continue to swarm across Tokyo's bustling Shibuya scramble crossing, a full-size replica here some 90 kilometers away will soon get its last day in the sun. 

The Ashikaga Scramble City Studio, a massive open-air set in Ashikaga that realistically re-creates the iconic Shibuya landmark, will close at the end of December.

The operating company will hold a final public viewing on Nov. 9, offering a last chance to see the famous intersection that has served as a familiar backdrop for movies, dramas, music videos and commercials.

The studio was built in the summer of 2019 on the site of a former racecourse owned by Ashikaga city for the filming of a Chinese movie.

Due to the challenges of filming at the real, high-traffic Shibuya scramble crossing, the city leased the former racecourse site for an open-air replica.

Although it was scheduled to be demolished after filming, the set was donated to the city free of charge in 2020.

The Tokyo-based video production company Geek Pictures Inc. and others signed a contract with the city and have continued to manage and operate the replica. 

According to the city, the set has significantly deteriorated.

This time, the operators decided not to extend the contract, and the closure at the end of December was finalized.

The facility will be demolished in the future. A new city hall and civic center are set to be built on the former racecourse site.

The studio spans 6,585 square meters.

It replicates the Hachiko statue plaza as it was at the time of construction, along with the Shibuya Station ticket gates, restrooms, and an entrance to the Shibuchika underground shopping area.

To facilitate incorporating computer graphics (CG) during video productions, the surroundings are enclosed by green screens.

To date, a total of about 70 productions have been filmed here, including movies such as “Toukenranbu The Movie,” dramas like Netflix’s “Alice in Borderland,” music videos for Nogizaka 46, Kaze Fujii and the rock band ONE OK ROCK, as well as commercials.

The fourth and final public viewing will be held on Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with free admission.

The previous third viewing was held in March and drew approximately 4,700 visitors.

As more crowds are expected this time, free priority admission tickets are available to enter without waiting in line.

Additionally, a composite photo booth will be set up to synthesize the scenery of the actual scramble crossing, with sessions limited to 150 groups.

Panels from some of the works filmed there will also be on display.

Food trucks will be stationed near the entrance.

“We want to provide a place that everyone from adults to children can enjoy,” said a representative from Geek Pictures.

Applications for priority admission tickets and photo booth sessions open Nov. 1 via the dedicated website: (https://geek-ashikaga-scramble-ticket.peatix.com)

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