The film begins with a stunning display of comets streaking across the night sky. Two teenagers, Taki Tachibana and Mitsuha Miyamizu, find themselves inexplicably communicating about the concepts of time and dreams, pondering their significant losses. After a comet fragment crashes to Earth, we see Mitsuha struggling in her sleep; she calls out to Taki, pleading if he remembers her.
As it turns out, she wakes up not as herself, but as Taki, who is startled to find himself in the body of a girl, albeit not too shy about exploring this new form. Mitsuha’s younger sister, Yotsuha, enters her room, remarking on her odd behavior and informing her that breakfast is served. As Taki, now in Mitsuha's body, examines himself in the mirror, he is bewildered by the dream he keeps experiencing, where he awakens as a girl.
Once downstairs, Mitsuha returns to her usual self, joining Hitoha, her grandmother, and Yotsuha for breakfast, who remark on her peculiar actions the previous day. During breakfast, they view a news report about an unusual comet that will be visible in a month, a subject that piques Mitsuha's interest.
Walking to school, she meets her friends, Katsuhiko and Sayaka, and they stumble across a campaign speech for the local mayor—Mitsuha's estranged father, who shouts at her to stand up straight, igniting a wave of embarrassment. At school, an unexpected note in a notebook reads, “Who Are You?,” leaving her puzzled. Later on, she realizes that she had forgotten her classroom and locker the previous day, a situation that adds to the stress of her upcoming Miko ritual, which she’s desperate to avoid.
The trio of friends, bemoaning their small town, dreams of a city like Tokyo to escape to. As Katsuhiko suggests coffee, they arrive only to find a mere vending machine, prompting Mitsuha to head home alone. Yotsuha and Hitoha practice the intricate art of Kumihimo, learning the significance of their craft. Meanwhile, tensions rise between the mayor, Mitsuha's father, and Katsuhiko's dad, who's involved in the local construction union.
That night, as Mitsuha and Yotsuha undertake their shrine ritual, something inside Mitsuha snaps as she cries out, “I hate this town! I hate this life! Please make me a handsome Tokyo boy in my next life!”
The following day, Mitsuha wakes up once again, but this time as Taki. As she adapts to being a boy (and all the awkwardness that comes with it), she quickly realizes she’s finally in Tokyo. Her late arrival at school becomes the subject of her friends’ concern. Taki works in a restaurant, experiencing a whole new world of challenges—everything feels overwhelming, especially when an obnoxious customer threatens trouble. However, Taki's resilient coworker, Ms. Okudera, saves the day, leading to a budding connection between them, much to the intrigue of Mitsuha.
As the two teens continue their body-swapping, they write notes to each other to navigate their peculiar new reality. This leads to moments of playful manipulation and awkwardness, such as making classmates fall for Mitsuha and Mitsuha flirting with Ms. Okudera, which irks Taki.
Their journey escalates when Mitsuha, her family, and her sister visit the family shrine, leading to a magical moment where she wishes to see Taki again. Taki, in the midst of his day, receives a text from Ms. Okudera, indicating that Mitsuha had arranged a date for them. Conflicted feelings arise as both begin to realize they’re developing deeper feelings for each other, despite the physical absence.
However, time takes a darker turn. Taki learns about the tragic fate of Itomori—destroyed three years ago by a comet fragment. He becomes consumed with the desire to find Mitsuha, now linked to the memories of a girl he has lost but never met.
In a whirlwind, Taki's journey through Japan ensues, searching for a face he cannot remember, until he discovers the truth about the tragedy that struck Itomori, realizing that Mitsuha and her loved ones perished. Heartbroken and desperate, he takes one last chance to connect with her spirit, imbibing the sake she left behind.
As they finally converge in the ethereal realm, the urgency of their connection reveals itself; during the comet’s historic return, both must race to save what remains of their lives. The story weaves through time, past and present, as they seek one another across an impossible divide.
In an emotional climax, Taki and Mitsuha meet yet fail to grasp the threads of their connection. In a poignant conclusion, as they navigate their lives separately, echoes of their bond linger in fleeting glances and unexplainable feelings.
Ultimately, they find themselves on different trains, crossing paths but still unsure of the magic that binds them. In a beautiful circle of fate, as they finally call out to one another, they ask: “Can I ask you your name?” leaving audiences filled with hope that they will uncover their memories and intertwine their destinies once more.
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