Rashomon (1950) – Filming Locations
Crime / Drama / Mystery · Directed by Akira Kurosawa · Starring Toshirō Mifune, Machiko Kyō
Four people recount different versions of the story of a man's murder and the rape of his wife.
Where was Rashomon filmed?
- Tokyo, Japan, Tokyo – Opening and closing sequences with the three men sheltering under the ruined gate during rain. Though a studio reconstruction, this is the iconic setting where the film's narrative frame occurs; Kurosawa had the gate rebuilt on the Toei lot based on historical records
- Nara, Japan, Nara – The woodland rape and murder sequence where the crime is said to have occurred. Kurosawa filmed the central flashback scenes in the natural forests and rural areas around Nara, using the dense woodland as the crime scene location
- Kyoto, Japan, Kyoto – Interrogation sequences where witnesses give testimony about the crime. Interior and exterior courthouse scenes were filmed on location in Kyoto, establishing the formal judicial inquiry structure of the narrative