The world shown in Alice in Borderland looks like an empty and alternative version of Tokyo, with the filmmakers combining real streets, closed buildings, and sets to create locations that seemed familiar yet unsettling. The crew worked across several regions of Japan, shifting between studio space and public locations according to the demand of the story.
In many cases, the team used real locations and added props or lighting to change the mood of the milieu as per the script. At other times, areas of the city were recreated using computer graphics. The mix of sets and visual effects allowed the makers to give crowded areas of Tokyo a deserted look for the show.
Adjustment in camera angles and lighting helped turn ordinary places into game arenas, as details mattered. Production also recorded actual lighting and reflections to match the effects with filmed footage, which kept scenes consistent. Season 3 of Alice in Borderland is scheduled to stream on Netflix from September 25, 2025. Let us take a look at the show's filming locations.
An imitation set in Tochigi created the empty Shibuya crossing

Important portions of the show had to be shot at the Shibuya Crossing of Tokyo. However, as the place is crowded almost all day, the makers had to create a set resembling the area at the Ashikaga Scramble Studio in Tochigi, per Looper.
The producers placed physical props such as a ticket gate and a public toilet to give the set an authentic look, and filmed the actors there. Most of the surrounding cityscapes, crowds, and distant buildings of Shibuya were added using computer graphics.
A vacant apartment block in Kobe served as the tag arena
An early game set in an apartment building was filmed in an empty residential block of Kobe, the address reported as 4-2 Kōeidai, Kita-ku.
The greenhouse game was filmed inside Osaka’s large botanical garden

Scenes in Alice in Borderland that show the players hiding and moving among plants were shot inside Sakuya Konohana Kan, a large greenhouse in Osaka’s Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park. The conservatory houses various kinds of plants and it provided the covered indoor space that the show needed. The production used the greenhouse interior, adjusted lighting, and added effects to change the look to suit the scenes.
A shut-down hotel in Shiga was passed off as The Beach resort
The scenes featuring The Beach, the resort where the survivors gathered, used a hotel building in Shiga named Royal Oak Hotel and Spa. Reports indicate the hotel has later been shut down.
Visual effects and practical props worked together across locations for Alice in Borderland shooting

Many shots in Alice in Borderland combined real props, green-screen work, and detailed CGI. The production captured lighting on location to match CGI elements and filmed footage. Some sequences used continuous takes that mixed live action with visual effects. The method allowed ordinary places to appear abandoned on screen.
The filming of Alice in Borderland shows how real locations and imaginative production design can create a world that feels both authentic yet unfamiliar. By using places across Japan, including apartment blocks, greenhouses, hotels, and large studio sets, the show presents a version of Tokyo that looks deserted yet full of tension.
Season 3 of Alice in Borderland is scheduled to stream on Netflix on September 25, 2025, and the new episodes promise to continue with the approach of mixing sets with real sites, and visual effects to shape the show's distinct world. For viewers, knowing where these scenes were filmed adds a layer of interest, connecting the story’s drama with real places.