“The Colors Within” (Japanese title: Kimi no Iro) is an animated film directed by Naoko Yamada. Many of its scenes are based on the scenery of Nagasaki Prefecture. Nagasaki Prefecture introduces four municipalities as model locations: Nagasaki City, Sasebo City, Goto City and Shinkamigoto Town.
This article introduces places you can visit on a “The Colors Within” pilgrimage, focusing on the Minamiyamate area of Nagasaki City. The main spots are Dondon-zaka, a model location, and the Minamiyamate Rest House, where signed boards from the director and cast were displayed. I also cover nearby Kinen-zaka and the Glover Sky Road, and suggest an order for walking them.
I walked through Minamiyamate on October 23, 2024. All photos in this article were taken that day.
About the information in this article
- Model locations, opening hours and fares were checked on October 14, 2026 (on the tourism websites of Nagasaki Prefecture and Nagasaki City, and the official Nagasaki City website).
- The “The Colors Within” display at the Minamiyamate Rest House is what I saw in October 2024. I do not know if it is still there. Please check with the facility before you go.
- No images from the anime are used. All photos show the actual locations.
- Contents
- 1. What is “The Colors Within”? | An animated film modeled on Nagasaki
- 2. Model locations in Nagasaki Prefecture
- 3. Pilgrimage spots in Minamiyamate, Nagasaki City
- ① Dondon-zaka | A stone-paved slope with ivy-covered walls and street lamps [Model location]
- ② Minamiyamate Rest House | The Western-style house with signatures from the director and cast
- ③ Oura Observation Park | A small park overlooking the hillside town
- ④ Kinen-zaka | A narrow stone path near Oura Church
- ⑤ Glover Sky Road | Ride up the hill by elevator
- 4. Recommended route
- 5. Getting to Minamiyamate
- 6. Pilgrimage etiquette
- 7. FAQ
- 8. Summary
Contents
- What is “The Colors Within”? | An animated film modeled on Nagasaki
- Model locations in Nagasaki Prefecture
- Pilgrimage spots in Minamiyamate, Nagasaki City
- Recommended route
- Getting to Minamiyamate
- Pilgrimage etiquette
- FAQ
- Summary
1. What is “The Colors Within”? | An animated film modeled on Nagasaki
“The Colors Within” is an animated film released in Japan on August 30, 2024. It was directed by Naoko Yamada, written by Reiko Yoshida, and scored by Kensuke Ushio. The theme song is “in the pocket” by Mr.Children.
The main character is Totsuko, a high school student who can see people’s feelings as “colors.” At a secondhand bookstore, Totsuko meets Kimi, a girl who used to attend the same school, and Rui, a boy who loves music. The three form a band. They practice in an old church on a remote island and work toward a live performance at their school festival.
| Character | Voice (Japanese) |
|---|---|
| Totsuko | Sayu Suzukawa |
| Kimi | Akari Takaishi |
| Rui | Taisei Kido |
Official website: The Colors Within (Japanese)
2. Model locations in Nagasaki Prefecture
Nagasaki Prefecture’s tourism website, “Nagasaki Tabinet,” introduces the following places as model locations.
| City / Town | Model locations |
|---|---|
| Nagasaki City | Dondon-zaka, Akasako tram stop, Bellnard Kanko-dori, Nakadori Shopping Street |
| Sasebo City | Kuroshima Church, Sasebo Civic Cultural Hall (former Sasebo Naval District Triumphal Memorial Hall) |
| Goto City | Former Gorin Church |
| Shinkamigoto Town | Arikawa Port |
Nagasaki City’s tourism website, “travel nagasaki,” also introduces “Kozone Kendo-dori” and “Glover-dori and the Minamiyamate area,” in addition to Dondon-zaka. Both are presented as places where you can feel the world of the film.
This article covers the Minamiyamate area of Nagasaki City, which I walked myself.
3. Pilgrimage spots in Minamiyamate, Nagasaki City
Minamiyamate is a hillside district overlooking Nagasaki Port. It was a foreign settlement from the end of the Edo period into the Meiji era, and Western-style houses and stone-paved slopes still remain. Oura Church and Glover Garden are also in this area.
① Dondon-zaka | A stone-paved slope with ivy-covered walls and street lamps [Model location]
Dondon-zaka is a stone-paved slope in Minamiyamate-machi. According to Nagasaki City’s tourism website, its ivy-covered walls and street lamp were used as the model for a scene in the film.
The slope is lined with high stone walls and ivy, and blue street lamps stand along the way. As you walk down, Nagasaki Port comes into view ahead.
The name is said to come from the sound of rainwater rushing “dondon” through the gutter beside the slope. The gutter changes shape along the way: U-shaped at the top, V-shaped in the middle and rectangular at the bottom. This design helps the water flow smoothly.
Nearby are old buildings such as the red-brick “former Maria-en.” From partway down the slope, you can see the cranes of the shipyard in Nagasaki Port beyond the former Maria-en.
② Minamiyamate Rest House | The Western-style house with signatures from the director and cast
The Minamiyamate Rest House was built at the end of the Edo period and is one of the older Western-style houses in Nagasaki. Its stone outer walls and its mix of stone and wooden pillars give it a blend of Japanese and Western styles. It serves as a tourist information and rest area, and admission is free.
In October 2024, a fan space for “The Colors Within” opened in this building. According to Nagasaki City’s tourism website, it displayed signatures from the director and cast, film panels and banners, and photos of the model locations. There was also a notebook where fans could write their impressions.
When I visited, the room had film posters and panels introducing the model locations. The panels introduced Dondon-zaka in Nagasaki City, the Former Gorin Church in Goto City, the Sasebo Civic Cultural Hall and Arikawa Port in Shinkamigoto Town.
On the wall hung a signed board from director Naoko Yamada, Sayu Suzukawa, Akari Takaishi and Taisei Kido. It is addressed “To Nagasaki City” and dated “2024.7.31.”
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 7-5 Minamiyamate-machi, Nagasaki City |
| Opening hours | 9:00–17:00 |
| Closed | December 29 – January 3 |
| Admission | Free |
| Phone | 095-829-2896 |
*Checked on the official Nagasaki City website on October 14, 2026. Please call to check whether the “The Colors Within” display is still there.
③ Oura Observation Park | A small park overlooking the hillside town
Next to the Minamiyamate Rest House is a small park with a few benches. From here you can look out over houses packed closely on the hillside, a typical Nagasaki view. Nagasaki City’s tourism website introduces it as a place to watch the town at dusk.
④ Kinen-zaka | A narrow stone path near Oura Church
Kinen-zaka is a narrow stone-paved slope near Oura Church. The path runs down through old house walls and greenery.
On the slopes of Minamiyamate, Nagasaki Port appears over the tiled roofs every few steps. It is a place where you can feel the atmosphere of the hillside town that inspired “The Colors Within.”
⑤ Glover Sky Road | Ride up the hill by elevator
The Glover Sky Road links an inclined elevator with a vertical elevator. It lets you reach the upper part of Minamiyamate from the bottom of the hill without climbing steep slopes or stairs. It is a city road, so it is free to use.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Hours | 6:00–23:30 |
| Fare | Free |
| Boarding point | A short walk from Ishibashi tram stop |
*Checked on Nagasaki City’s tourism website on October 14, 2026. It may stop for inspections.
4. Recommended route
Minamiyamate has many slopes, so I recommend riding the Glover Sky Road to the top first and then walking downhill.
- Take the tram to Ishibashi stop
- Ride the Glover Sky Road up to the upper part of Minamiyamate
- Minamiyamate Rest House and Oura Observation Park
- Kinen-zaka
- Walk down Dondon-zaka toward Nagasaki Port
I walked in this order too.
5. Getting to Minamiyamate
You can reach Minamiyamate from Nagasaki Station by tram (Nagasaki Electric Tramway). The nearest stops are “Ishibashi” and “Oura Tenshudo (Oura Church).”
From Nagasaki-Ekimae to Ishibashi
You need to change trams once on the way from Nagasaki-Ekimae to Ishibashi.
- At Nagasaki-Ekimae stop, board Line 1 (for Sofukuji)
- Get off at Shinchi Chinatown stop and change to Line 5 (for Ishibashi)
- Pass Oura Tenshudo stop and get off at the last stop, Ishibashi
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Fare | Adults 150 yen, elementary school children 80 yen per ride (flat fare) |
| Payment | Cash, transportation IC cards, contactless credit cards |
| Transfer discount | If you pay by transportation IC card or contactless credit card and transfer within 30 minutes at designated stops such as Shinchi Chinatown, your second ride is free |
*Checked on the official Nagasaki Electric Tramway website on October 14, 2026. If you pay in cash, you pay the fare twice when you transfer.
From the tram stops to the Minamiyamate Rest House
- From Ishibashi stop: about 5 minutes on foot using the Glover Sky Road
- From Oura Tenshudo stop: about 15 minutes on foot
*Based on the official Nagasaki City website (checked on October 14, 2026).
6. Pilgrimage etiquette
Many people still live in houses along the slopes of Minamiyamate. Nagasaki City’s tourism website also asks visitors to be considerate of local residents when visiting the model locations.
- Do not enter private homes or private property
- On narrow slopes, do not stop for too long, and make way for other people
- Take photos without showing houses or people’s faces
- Keep your voice down, especially early in the morning and late at night
- Take your trash home with you
7. FAQ
Q. Where is “The Colors Within” set?
A. The film is modeled on the scenery of Nagasaki Prefecture. Nagasaki Prefecture introduces four municipalities as model locations: Nagasaki City, Sasebo City, Goto City and Shinkamigoto Town.
Q. What are the model locations in Nagasaki City?
A. Nagasaki Tabinet lists Dondon-zaka, Akasako tram stop, Bellnard Kanko-dori and Nakadori Shopping Street. Nagasaki City’s tourism website also introduces Kozone Kendo-dori and Glover-dori and the Minamiyamate area.
Q. Where is Dondon-zaka?
A. It is in Minamiyamate-machi, Nagasaki City. It is near Glover-dori, close to Glover Garden and Oura Church.
Q. Can I still see the “The Colors Within” display at the Minamiyamate Rest House?
A. I do not know. When I visited in October 2024, signed boards and panels were on display. Please contact the Minamiyamate Rest House (095-829-2896) before you go.
Q. The slopes are steep. Is there an easier way to get around?
A. The Glover Sky Road takes you by elevator to the upper part of Minamiyamate. Walking downhill from the top is easier.
8. Summary
Minamiyamate in Nagasaki City is a hillside town where you can walk while feeling the world of “The Colors Within.”
- The model location Dondon-zaka is known for its ivy-covered walls, street lamps and the gutter beside the slope
- In October 2024, signatures from the director and cast were displayed at the Minamiyamate Rest House (please check the current display)
- From Kinen-zaka and Oura Observation Park, you can look out over the hillside town and Nagasaki Port
- Ride up with the Glover Sky Road and walk downhill for an easier route
In Nagasaki City, you can also visit places that tell the history of the atomic bombing. Please read this article as well.
Related article: The History of the Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki (Japanese)
Official information referred to (checked on October 14, 2026)
- The Colors Within official website (Japanese)
- Model locations of The Colors Within in Nagasaki Prefecture | Nagasaki Tabinet (Japanese)
- The Colors Within spots in Nagasaki City | travel nagasaki (Japanese)
- Dondon-zaka | travel nagasaki (Japanese)
- Glover-dori and the Minamiyamate area | travel nagasaki (Japanese)
- A fan space for The Colors Within opens at the Minamiyamate Rest House | travel nagasaki (Japanese)
- Minamiyamate Rest House | Nagasaki City (Japanese)
©2024「きみの色」製作委員会
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