The Last Samurai was primarily filmed in New Zealand, especially in the Taranaki region, where the landscape, including Mount Taranaki, was used to represent Mount Fuji due to its similar appearance. Key filming locations in Taranaki included the Uruti Valley, where a Japanese village was constructed, as well as Pukekura Park and Lake Mangamahoe for various scenes like battles and the Imperial Army parade area
. In addition to New Zealand, some scenes were filmed in Japan, including at Nijo Castle in Kyoto and the Shoshazan Engyo-ji Temple in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture. Engyo-ji Temple served as a significant filming location for temple and monastery scenes
. There were also some filming activities in the USA, including studio work in Los Angeles
. In summary, the main filming locations for The Last Samurai were:
- Taranaki region, New Zealand (Uruti Valley, Mount Taranaki, Pukekura Park, Lake Mangamahoe)
- Kyoto and Himeji, Japan (Nijo Castle, Engyo-ji Temple)
- Los Angeles, USA (studio scenes)
