What is Sukagawa’s connection to Ultraman?

Sukagawa is the birthplace of Eiji Tsuburaya, the father of Ultraman and “god of tokusatsu.” Per the Sukagawa Tourism Association’s official page, on 5 May 2013 the city became a sister city of Ultraman’s fictional homeworld, the “Land of Light, M78 Nebula,” which is why the whole city carries Ultraman branding.

How do I get to Sukagawa from Tokyo?

Take the JR Tohoku Shinkansen to Koriyama, then transfer to the JR Tohoku Main Line local for Sukagawa Station. For drivers, official material references Sukagawa IC on the Tohoku Expressway. Check JR’s latest timetable for exact times and services.

Can I cover Sukagawa’s Ultraman spots in one day?

Yes. Taimatsu-dori, the station plaza, city hall, the Eiji Tsuburaya Museum and SHOT M78 Ohtsukaya all cluster within the walkable centre, so half a day to a full day is enough.

Where should I go to learn more about Eiji Tsuburaya?

The Eiji Tsuburaya Museum on the fifth floor of the tette community centre covers his life and special-effects work — the most context-rich stop for understanding why Sukagawa became an Ultraman city.

Home › Anime Pilgrimage 88 › Ultraman Series

Ultraman Series Anime Pilgrimage Guide

ウルトラマンシリーズ・ Officially certified on the Anime Tourism 88 (2018–2025)

📍 5 verified spots 🚄 Tokyo day trip OK 🏅 88-Selection No.8 (2018–2025)

Quick take

Certified pilgrimage sites: 須賀川市 (1 locations)
5 verified filming spots, sourced from tourism boards and official guides
Doable as a day trip from Tokyo

Sukagawa in Fukushima is the birthplace of Eiji Tsuburaya — the “god of tokusatsu” and father of Ultraman. Per the Sukagawa Tourism Association’s official page, on 5 May 2013 the city signed a sister-city agreement with Ultraman’s fictional homeworld, the “Land of Light, M78 Nebula.” That is a real municipal designation, not a marketing gimmick, and it anchors the whole-city Ultraman branding: hero and monster statues along Taimatsu-dori, streetlamps bearing character silhouettes, the “Ultra Floor” at city hall, and giant signboards at the station. Rather than a single filming spot, the entire town has been remade into an Ultraman theme street, clustered within the walkable centre — a comfortable half-day.

Pilgrimage map

Verified filming spots

Spot	Area	Scene & guide	Access
たいまつ通り	1 須賀川市	Per the Sukagawa Tourism Association’s official page, statues of Ultraman heroes and monsters line this street, and even the streetlamps carry character silhouettes. It is the main artery of the city’s Ultraman atmosphere — best walked slowly, statue by statue.	JR 須賀川站徒步約 20–30 分鐘；須賀川 IC 開車約 10 分鐘
JR須賀川駅・駅前広場	1 須賀川市	Per the official Sukagawa Tourism Association page, the ticket gates carry large hero signboards and tapestries, the plaza holds a sister-city monument, and the streetlights are themed on Ultraman and Ultraseven. You step off the train straight into Ultraman’s world — the natural start of the route.	JR 須賀川站直接連通；須賀川 IC 開車約 6 分鐘
須賀川市役所ウルトラフロア・光の広場	1 須賀川市	Per the official Sukagawa Tourism Association page, the Light Plaza holds a monument to “Ultraman the Father,” and the 6F observation deck was built to match the character’s height. It is a clever touch that turns city hall itself into an attraction — worth the ride up for the view over town.	須賀川 IC 開車約 5 分鐘；JR 須賀川站徒步約 20 分鐘
円谷英二ミュージアム	1 須賀川市	On the fifth floor of the tette community centre, this museum covers the life and special-effects work of Eiji Tsuburaya, the father of Ultraman. If you want to understand why Sukagawa became an Ultraman city, this is the stop with the most context.	須賀川市中心 tette 大樓內，市中心徒步可達
SHOT M78 おおつかや	1 須賀川市	Per the official Sukagawa Tourism Association page, this is a licensed Tsuburaya Productions shop with Showa-era tokusatsu dioramas on display. It is the place for official merchandise and the kind of exhibits that older tokusatsu fans appreciate. Address: 15 Nakamachi, Sukagawa.	須賀川市中町15（松明通上）；JR 須賀川站徒步約 20 分鐘

Spots verified against tourism-board / municipal / official sources (2026-07-18); confirm on-site conditions locally.

Getting there and routing the pilgrimage

From Tokyo, the faster approach is the JR Tohoku Shinkansen to Koriyama Station, then a transfer to the JR Tohoku Main Line local for Sukagawa Station (rely on the JR timetable for exact times and services; we do not guess minutes here). The official Sukagawa Tourism Association page mostly gives car distances from “Sukagawa IC” on the Tohoku Expressway — about 10 minutes to Taimatsu-dori, 5 minutes to city hall and 6 minutes to the station plaza. The central spots sit close together, so walk between them on arrival; drivers should use Sukagawa IC as the way in and out.

A pilgrimage run means walking with one hand holding your phone up against an anime screenshot the whole day — that eats data fast. Grab a KKday Japan eSIM before you land so you are not hunting for Wi-Fi at every filming spot.

The real locations

The exterior of JR Sukagawa Station, a white station building with cars in the plaza — JR Sukagawa Station, the starting point of the route, with hero signboards and a sister-city monument inside Photo: Mister0124 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Sukagawa City Hall's modern building exterior, with a glass facade and observation tower — Sukagawa City Hall, home to the "Ultra Floor" and a 6F observation deck built to match the character's height Photo: 聖石大戦ぶぅぶぅ / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1：What is Sukagawa’s connection to Ultraman?: Sukagawa is the birthplace of Eiji Tsuburaya, the father of Ultraman and “god of tokusatsu.” Per the Sukagawa Tourism Association’s official page, on 5 May 2013 the city became a sister city of Ultraman’s fictional homeworld, the “Land of Light, M78 Nebula,” which is why the whole city carries Ultraman branding.
Q2：How do I get to Sukagawa from Tokyo?: Take the JR Tohoku Shinkansen to Koriyama, then transfer to the JR Tohoku Main Line local for Sukagawa Station. For drivers, official material references Sukagawa IC on the Tohoku Expressway. Check JR’s latest timetable for exact times and services.
Q3：Can I cover Sukagawa’s Ultraman spots in one day?: Yes. Taimatsu-dori, the station plaza, city hall, the Eiji Tsuburaya Museum and SHOT M78 Ohtsukaya all cluster within the walkable centre, so half a day to a full day is enough.
Q4：Where should I go to learn more about Eiji Tsuburaya?: The Eiji Tsuburaya Museum on the fifth floor of the tette community centre covers his life and special-effects work — the most context-rich stop for understanding why Sukagawa became an Ultraman city.