‘Shin-Hamamatsu Project’ sees Evangelion promote local tourism in Japan
Hamamatsu City has announced an Evangelion themed tourism initiative titled the “Shin-Hamamatsu Project”.
This project leverages the city’s connection to the popular anime franchise and will run from Saturday, April 20, 2025, until the end of February 2026.
It hopes to attract both domestic and international fans of the Evangelion series and revitalize the local tourism industry.
The initiative gained momentum following the revelation that Tenryu-Futamata Station on the Tenryu Hamanako Railway, a local private railway line traversing the city, served as a model for “Village-3”, a location in the final “Rebuild of Evangelion” film.
This connection has already established Hamamatsu City as a mecca for enthusiasts of the “Evangelion” series.
On April 4th, Hamamatsu City revealed that the centerpiece of the “Shin-Hamamatsu Project” will be the installation of an impressive six-meter-tall statue of Evangelion Unit-01 within the lobby of the Hamamatsu City Hall.
This statue will be accessible to the public on weekends and national holidays, offering fans a prime photo opportunity and a tangible connection to the anime.
The statue is scheduled to remain on display until January 25, 2026, with the exception of the New Year holiday period.
The City Hall lobby will be open to visitors from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on the designated days.
Visitors to the statue will also have the opportunity to participate in a survey and receive limited-edition “Shin-Hamamatsu Project” stickers.
In a nod to Tenryu Ward, one of the areas within Hamamatsu that inspired the “Village-3” setting, an emblem crafted from Tenryu wood sourced from the local forests, will be installed adjacent to the Unit-01 statue.
This element serves as a tribute to the region’s influence on the film’s setting.
Another key component of the tourism initiative is a stamp rally titled “Humanity Ride Project”.
This interactive activity will guide participants to 21 designated locations situated along the routes of the Tenryu Hamanako Railway and the Enshu Railway, another private railway operating within the city.
Participants who collect 10 stamps from specified stations, including the Hamamatsu City Tourist Information Center (Chuo Ward), Ryugasando Cave (Hamana Ward), Entetsu’s Shin-Hamamatsu Station (Chuo Ward), and Tenryu-Futamata Station (Tenryu Ward) on the Tenhama Line, will be rewarded with a limited-edition sticker featuring “Shin-Hamamatsu Project” artwork.
In addition to the stamp rally, a newly designed version of the one-day pass for both the Enshu Railway and the Tenryu Hamanako Railway will be issued.
This special pass will feature Shinji Ikari and Kaworu Nagisa making it a collectible item for fans and a convenient way to explore the city’s Evangelion related locations.
Looking ahead to the second half of the project, Hamamatsu City intends to collaborate with local restaurants and retail stores to offer “Shin-Hamamatsu Project” themed collaborative menus and merchandise.
Mayor Nakano Yusuke of Hamamatsu City emphasized the dual goals of the “Shin-Hamamatsu Project” stating, “We want domestic and international fans to create special memories, and we also aim to revitalize the local tourism industry, which has been affected by rising prices”.
By leveraging its unique connection to the globally recognized Evangelion franchise, Hamamatsu City hopes to attract a significant influx of tourists, boosting the local economy and solidifying its position as a noteworthy destination for anime tourism.
This initiative joins a growing trend in Japan where local governments and businesses collaborate with popular anime and manga properties to promote regional tourism and cultural heritage.
Other recent examples of this include Hatsune Miku events held at a Shizuoka area camping resort, a Slowpoke Pokémon themed train in Kagawa Prefecture and Oita’s local airport renaming itself after Hello Kitty.
Source: Shizuoka Shimbun (A, B)
Images: © Hamamatsu City
