
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World places
August 24, 2014Pictures of the places possibly appeared or mentioned in Haruki Murakami’s Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World.
“And where were these unicorns?” “In here,” I said, tapping my temple. “The unicorns were all in my head.” — Haruki Murakami, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World (Ch. 31)

The sculptures of unicorns stand in front of Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery,
According to the Professor’s instructions, there ought to be a turn to the left under the tree-lined avenue toward the Art Forum— Haruki Murakami, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World (Ch. 29)

The Art Forum described in the novel is “Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery” founded in 1925.
From here you’ll be headin’ in the direction of Sendagaya, toward the INKling lair, a little this side of the National Sports Arena. — Haruki Murakami, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World (Ch. 27)

(Note on July 2020: this is a picture of old stadium demolished in 2015)
The National Sports Arena (we call National Stadium) is under reconstruction to prepare for 2020 Olympic games.
Then the tunnel takes a turn to the right, in the direction of the Jingu Baseball Stadium — Haruki Murakami, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World (Ch. 27)

College rookie baseball championship final was played at the stadium.
we were near enough to Aoyama Itchome to watch the station platform from the shadows — Haruki Murakami, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World (Ch. 31)

This must be the gate of Aoyama Itchome underground station where the Narrator and the Professor’s granddaughter got out from.
We were directly under the Kawade Bookshop, the Victor Recording Studio, and those two landmark ramen shops—Hope-ken and Copain. — Haruki Murakami, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World (Ch 29)

Copain has gone but Hope-ken still serves greasy ramen as they did 30 years ago.
We were directly under the Kawade Bookshop, the Victor Recording Studio, and those two landmark ramen shops—Hope-ken and Copain. — Haruki Murakami, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World (Ch 29)

The Victor Recording Studio is also granted as a landmark in the same street of Hope-ken. BTW, Kawade is a publisher, not a bookshop.
On a rainy Sunday, the four driers at the laundromat were bound to be occupied. — Haruki Murakami, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World (Ch. 33)

(Note July 2020: The public bath has been demolished and there is a laundromat in the new building now.)
Found a laundromat in the part of classic public bath near the former “Peter Cat” location.

Legendary Peter Cat Jazz club owned and operated by Murakami until 1981 is now an Italian bar named Adone. (This pic is of 2014, as of July 2020, a wine bistro, Amphora, locates this place)

Adone is a good place to eat, drink and read.
(This pic is of 2014, as of July 2020, a wine bistro, Amphora, locates this place)