Evangelion in Tenryu-Futamata: The Station That Inspired the Third Village

Tenryu-Futamata Station, in Hamamatsu, is part of the location map for Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time. Its railway depot served as one of the models for the Third Village, the settlement where the film finds a respite amid ruins and battles. The site's appeal lies precisely in that blend: real railway infrastructure and an image that viewers recognize in the fiction.

The lance is not a 2026 novelty

Operator Tenryu Hamanako Railroad announced the installation of a Lance of Longinus on August 10, 2023, within the depot grounds. This is an important correction to the original edition of this article: that date did not correspond to a release planned for 2026.

The company's announcement tied the visit to its depot and turntable tours. For that reason, arriving at the station and accessing the facilities should not be understood as the same activity. Visiting the work areas depends on the tour conditions.

How to prepare for the visit

Before organizing your trip, check the line's schedules and the operator's events page. Evangelion collaborations, station signage, and decorated trains may have specific periods and do not guarantee that a particular train set will run on the day of your visit.

• Check the depot tour calendar, prices, and whether reservations are required.
• Check the themed train's schedule separately: a recent photograph is not enough.
• Distinguish Tenryu Hamanako Railroad's activities from those of Enshu Railway, even if both take part in collaborations.
• Respect authorized tours and do not enter tracks or work facilities to recreate a shot.

A recognizable place even without a temporary collaboration

Tenryu-Futamata's appeal is not limited to photographing a promotional piece. The depot's rails, workshops, and mechanisms help you understand what Evangelion found in this landscape: a community built around everyday tasks. Looking at that relationship between space and film is more interesting than chasing an exact reproduction of every shot.

To plan a specific itinerary, the useful reference is always the railway company's current information. This article explains the connection with the work; it does not replace its operations calendar.

Originally published on Anitsu by Eduardo Casanova. Text revised and updated for DonOtaku on November 5, 2026; the original publication date is preserved.