A Self-Guided Can This Love be Translated Tour

There is something unexpectedly special about encountering a scene from your favourite show on a real street – especially if it’s filmed in the city where you live! When Calgary’s scenery unfolds behind Joo Ho-jin and Cha Mu-hee in the Netflix series Can This Love Be Translated?, the familiar streets and buildings take on a beautiful and romantic quality as the backdrop to the characters’ story.

The Canadian portion of the series was filmed in Calgary and the surrounding area from late September to early October 2024. The Canadian episodes begin when the main characters travel to Alberta to film an international reality show. Throughout their journey, Calgary’s streets, buildings, markets and restaurants are naturally woven into the story.

Visiting these filming locations and recalling scenes from the series can make even familiar places feel entirely new. Following the paths the characters walked, taking in the same views and imagining the scenes again makes for a memorable journey.

If you watched the series and wondered, “Where is that?”, now is the time to discover those places one by one. How was Calgary portrayed in Can This Love Be Translated? Follow the scenes from the series as we introduce filming locations across the city and the stories waiting to be discovered there.

The elegant accommodations where Joo Ho-jin, Cha Mu-hee and their companions stay in the series is actually Lougheed House. Although it appears to be a luxury hotel on screen, it is a historic mansion built in the late 19th century.

Constructed in 1891 with approximately three acres of surrounding gardens, it is one of Calgary’s most notable historic buildings and offers a glimpse into the city’s early history. Restoration work completed in 2005 revived much of its original appearance, and it remains one of Calgary’s oldest buildings preserved on its original site.

The mansion was built for Sir James Alexander Lougheed, a Canadian lawyer, politician and businessman, and his family. It is distinguished by its stately exterior and elegantly decorated interior.

The series made excellent use of Lougheed House’s distinctive character, transforming it into an upscale hotel for the main characters. The location has attracted so much interest from viewers that some have even asked whether it is possible to stay there overnight. However, Lougheed House is not a hotel, but operates as a historic site and cultural venue.

Visitors can explore the mansion’s interior, learn about its history and the lifestyle of Calgary’s upper class at the time, and enjoy the surrounding gardens and architecture.

Crossroads Market is one of Calgary’s best-known weekend markets, bringing together a wide variety of shops and food vendors. If you want a glimpse of the two characters’ everyday life in the series, this market is well worth a visit.

A scene in which Joo Ho-jin and Cha Mu-hee explore an early-morning market was filmed here. The scene may make it seem as though the market opens at dawn, but its actual opening time is 9 a.m. Unlike a polished tourist attraction, Crossroads Market offers an authentic glimpse into local life, making it a great place to experience the Calgary depicted on screen.

Although the scene focuses mainly on the two characters browsing fruit and vegetable stalls outdoors, there is much more to explore inside. The market offers food from around the world, making it a convenient place to stop for breakfast or a light meal. After enjoying the market’s food offerings, take some time to browse other shops, which sell toys, books, records, accessories, crafts and collectibles. As you wander through the market, you may come across an unexpected treasure or an intriguing little shop.

If you love retro style, Galaxie Diner is not to be missed. The diner appears in a scene where Joo Ho-jin and Cha Mu-hee have breakfast after exploring Crossroads Market.

Naturally woven into the characters’ everyday life in Calgary, this long-standing local favourite has become even more popular since appearing in the series. Step inside and you will immediately notice the colourful retro interior and vintage décor. You can also watch the food being prepared in the open kitchen.

For brunch, try the Montreal-style smoked meat served with a generous portion of potatoes and eggs. The portions are substantial, making it a great place to enjoy breakfast before starting a full day of sightseeing. It can get especially busy on weekends, so arriving at opening time is recommended. Dining in the same place seen in the series offers fans a special opportunity to bring the story to life while enjoying an authentic taste of everyday Calgary.

Insider tip for visitors

The coffee never stops flowing, and the toast and hash browns are bottomless!

Heritage Park is one of the best places in Calgary to experience the storybook atmosphere as seen in the series. It appears as the location where Hiro and Cha Mu-hee first meet and as the backdrop where they begin filming their “Romantic Trip” while riding bicycles.

In the series, Hiro rides a bicycle through Baker Park while Cha Mu-hee runs, after which the characters appear at Heritage Park. Viewers unfamiliar with Calgary might assume that the two locations are part of the same park. In reality, however, the scenes were filmed in two separate locations and seamlessly connected through editing.

With its historic streets and preserved scenes from the pioneer era, Heritage Park feels very different from modern-day Calgary. Walking through its entrance can feel like stepping back in time.

Located beside the Glenmore Reservoir in southwest Calgary, Heritage Park is more than a theme park. It is a living history museum that recreates life in Western Canada from the 1860s through the 1930s. Since opening in 1964, it has become one of Calgary’s best-known attractions, offering visitors the chance to experience the buildings, streets and everyday life of earlier generations.

Inside Heritage Park, historic streets, buildings and shops unfold like a real town. Interpreters dressed in period clothing bring history to life by sharing stories about the people who lived during those eras, creating an experience that goes far beyond simply viewing historic buildings.

Insider tip for visitors

When visiting Heritage Park, be sure to ride the steam train around the park and take a cruise on the S.S Moyie around the Glenmore Reservoir. Both experiences are included with general admission at no additional cost.

For panoramic views of Calgary’s skyline, visit Crescent Heights Lookout and Mount Pleasant Viewpoint. Both offer excellent views of downtown and are ideal places to enjoy the city while retracing scenes from the series.

In Can This Love Be Translated?, Crescent Heights Lookout serves as the backdrop for a scene in which Cha Mu-hee and Hiro admire Calgary’s beautiful scenery. Around sunset, the downtown skyline and Bow River complement the romantic mood between the two characters, creating a particularly memorable scene.

Crescent Heights is one of Calgary’s best-known viewpoints, offering sweeping views of downtown across the Bow River. On a clear day, the Rocky Mountains can be seen rising beyond the city, making it an ideal place to photograph Calgary’s iconic skyline. During the day, visitors can enjoy expansive city views, while at sunset, the sky glows above the downtown skyline, revealing a different side of the city.

The Mount Pleasant viewpoint at Rotary Park appears in a scene where the main characters share a conversation while looking out over Calgary’s nighttime skyline. Visitors can stroll through the park and take in the view along with one of the original lions from the Centre Street Bridge. Fans of the series may enjoy finding a viewing angle like the one seen by the characters and comparing the on-screen landscape with the real city.

During a trip to Calgary, consider taking an evening stroll to both viewpoints after dinner to enjoy the sunset and nighttime skyline. It is a wonderful way to discover a quieter side of Calgary, away from its more prominent tourist attractions.

If Calgary’s urban scenery caught your attention in the series, Centre Street Bridge may already feel familiar. It is also the location where Hiro goes jogging in the series.

Spanning the Bow River, Centre Street Bridge is one of Calgary’s most recognizable landmarks, offering sweeping views of the downtown skyline and the surrounding riverside pathways.

Completed in 1916, Centre Street Bridge has a long history and stands as a symbol of Calgary’s past and present. The lion sculptures at each end of the bridge are particularly distinctive and have become well-known symbols of Calgary’s strength, integrity, and independent character.

To experience the atmosphere of downtown Calgary, take a walk along Stephen Avenue. In the series, the main characters are seen walking along the pedestrian street and interacting with locals. Lined with historic buildings, restaurants and shops, the avenue mixes historic buildings with more modern skyscrapers.

Running through the heart of downtown Calgary, this popular street is closed to most vehicle traffic during the day. In warmer weather, restaurant patios expand into the street and fill with diners, while buskers and live performances add energy to the street.

Fans following the drama’s filming locations can stroll along the avenue and look for places that appeared on screen such as the Galleria trees and the arched portico outside of the former Hudson’s Bay building. Afterward, stopping at one of the many restaurants or pubs provides an opportunity to experience not only the Calgary portrayed in the series, but also the downtown atmosphere enjoyed by locals.

Following Calgary’s filming locations eventually leads to Inglewood. As one of Calgary’s oldest communities, Inglewood combines historic buildings with distinctive local shops, cafés and restaurants. It is an ideal neighbourhood to explore slowly on foot after you check out The Next Page.

As you walk through Inglewood, you will come across the bookstore where Joo Ho-jin stops to buy a book. Although the series only shows him browsing on the main floor, the bookstore also has a café and a lower level of used books that is well worth exploring.

For fans, it offers the pleasure of visiting a place seen on screen. For first-time visitors to Calgary, it is an opportunity to experience the atmosphere of a historic neighbourhood loved by local residents. Follow the scenes from the series, but do not rush—exploring Inglewood’s streets and shops along the way may reveal an entirely different side of Calgary.

As someone who lives in Calgary, I am delighted to see the city’s everyday life and attractions showcased in Can This Love Be Translated? Watching familiar streets and places appear on screen has allowed me to discover a different side of Calgary and appreciate its charm in a new way.

If you enjoyed Can This Love Be Translated?, why not experience the Calgary you saw on screen for yourself? Start by following in the footsteps of the series' characters and visit its filming locations, then venture beyond them to discover Calgary’s food, culture, history, and the everyday life of the people who call the city home.