Onomichi, Japan

My favourite place for movie nostalgia is Onomichi, a charming city near Hiroshima. It’s where Yasujiro Ozu’s Tokyo Story (1953, above) took place, and the location of the former home of feminist writer Fumiko Hayashi, whose novels Floating Clouds and Horoki were adapted into masterpieces by Mikio Naruse. Visitors can call in to her old house, admire memorabilia over coffee at Fumiko Café and contemplate her works along the Path of Literature. But my main draw is to seek out the atmosphere of my favourite director Nobuhiko Obayashi, who shot 11 films in his hometown including the romantic fantasy Onomichi Trilogy. His films capture the energy of youth as schoolgirls run up the famous sakamichi (slopes), passing through ancient buildings with spectacular views such as the Senkoji temple.