Where was the 2023 Netflix series Sanctuary filmed? We discuss the popular Netflix series and its filming locations.
You don’t see many TV shows focusing on Sumo wrestling, but if that sounds like something you would enjoy, you can check out the 2023 Netflix show Sanctuary. The story follows Enno, who decides that Sumo will be his way out of his current situation, even though he is a bit of a bad guy with some unconventional fighting skills.
The Sumo aspect and the brutal fighting and training scenes are pretty much the show’s high points.
The subplots surrounding the often stretched-out narrative are usually a little aimless, almost just distracting, and you get the feeling that they should probably have made more of the Sumo fighting and concentrated a bit more on the characters. However, that is an article you can find elsewhere on Ready Steady Cut.
This carefully choreographed article is more interested in the production of the show, so if you have any interest in Sanctuary at all, here’s a quick look at where the show was filmed.
Where was Sanctuary on Netflix Filmed – a breakdown of filming locations
Tokyo, Japan
So no great surprises as the show is set here. It makes sense that the filming should take place in locations that are as recognizable and authentic as possible. Although it is hard to pinpoint actual locations in the show, it is safe to say that most of the location work was done in Tokyo, in and around local streets and neighborhoods.
Toho Studios Setagaya, Tokyo
The Toho Co. Ltd. is a well-known and well-used studio for productions based in Japan. The studio facility is situated in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is associated with the distribution of lots of kaiju and tokusatsu films, anime productions, and the films of Akira Kurosawa.
If the name sounds familiar, it may be from the many Godzilla films that originated at this very studio.
It is worth noting that Netflix specifically established a base at Toho, the first time they had done this, to help move the production of live-action films in Japan forward, implying that there may be other productions like this in the pipeline.
Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Arena
Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Arena is located at 1 Chome-3-28 Yokoami in Sumida City, Tokyo. Reports indicate that this arena was used as the main location for many of the Sumo wrestling bouts we see in the show.
NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building
This iconic tower is seen in the show. The tower has a host of offices and is used to house lots of tech and equipment used for the company’s phone service.
Asahi Beer Hall
The Asahi Beer Hall, also known as The Super Dry Hall, belongs to the Asahi Brewers and is located on the East bank of the Sumida River in Tokyo.
It is another iconic landmark of the area that was utilized in filming the show.
The unmistakable shape of the building, it’s a giant beer glass, makes it easy to spot.
