In Japan, however, anime fans have taken it upon themselves to suss out and visit locations that look like or have inspired their favourite series. The inspiration for the setting is Yuwaku Onsen, a hot-spring town in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture. Visit if you’re a fan of: GeGeGe no Kitaro, Detective Conan, Free! The set used for the live-action version of the animated film is now open as a zakka (雑貨) shop. More recently, it’s remembered as the place that Your Name’s protagonist, Taki, visited with his friends in search of co-protagonist Mitsuha. Hidashi Library, where Taki researches about Itomori, As many locations featured in the film can be found in the rural town, it has now become a popular day trip destination for enthused fans. , Steins:Gate , Nana , Read or Die (ROD) , and the recent Makoto Shinkai feature Your Name (Kimi no Na Wa). For the anime fans, Studio Ghibli’s classic anime techniques and surreal stories keep our childish hearts delighted. 11 Best Real Life Anime Locations in Tokyo 1. You will use public transportation or taxi/tour bus. Opening hours: Hidashi Library: Tue – Sat 9AM-8PM, Sun 9AM-5PM, Closed every Mon and last Fri of the month Shirakawago is well worth the day trip from Nagoya, Kanazawa, or Takayama (just an hour’s bus ride away!). Opening hours: 24 hours, Daily From an obscure library in a rural town to mystical woodlands inhabited by ancient trees, we have put together 10 real life anime locations for a sacred anime tour around Japan. Taki approaching locals for directions at Keta Wakamiya Shrine in Hida City  Arguably the biggest independent animation studio in the vicinity is GoHands, set in a couple of floors on the NLC Building #6 in Shin Osaka. A post shared by kochi Fading Scenery (@kochifadingscenery). Website, Stairs leading to the Romon gate  The island makes for an ideal getaway from the concrete jungle, and is great for nature and outdoor activities like hiking, scuba diving, and stargazing. The closest station is Ogawamachi Station on the Tobu Tojo Line — don’t confuse it with Tokyo’s Ogawamachi Station! Image adapted from: Netflix and Takeshi Kuboki. While neither is set in Tottori, die-hard fans of these manga-turned-anime are sure to find Tottori worth the pilgrimage. Nearest Station: Sendai Subway Tomizawa Station He makes a pit stop in the small town of Hida Furukawa, visiting the city library and other locations in search of Itomori. The moment you step out of Hida-Furukawa Station, you’ll instantly be hit with deja vu, as the station — as well as the taxi stand right outside — appears in Your Name. The house was built in 2005 for the Aichi Expo Memorial Park and it remains a popular attraction today. Near the end of the film, Hina and Hodaka reunite right outside the south exit of Tabata Station, an unassuming station on the JR Yamanote Line. was constructed in 1940 to commemorate 2,600 years of rule by the Japanese imperial family. For Evangelion fans, though, Hakone is more than a resort town — it’s Tokyo-3, the fortress city where most incarnations of the Evangelion franchise take place. . Women and girls who are a fans of Sanrio’s popular Hello Kitty property should check out Universal Wonderland’s Hello Kitty Fashion Avenue. Sunshine!. It’s also one of the few mainstream shows to portray a healthy romantic male-on-male relationship. Stroll around this small village, and spot as many familiar locations from Higurashi as you can: Shirakawa Hachiman Shrine (known in-series as the Furude Shrine), the Wada House, Miboro Dam, and more. There is even a Universal Studios in Osaka that is also a themed paradise for people who are mega-fans of movies. The set used for the live-action version of the animated film is now open as a, (雑貨) shop. ‘pilgrimage to the holy land’) is a great way to explore the lesser-known parts of rural Japan. Japanese scientists have estimated the tree to be at least 2,500 years old, though bolder estimates put the age closer to 7,000 years old. Keihan Electric Railway Omijingumae Station, -hour ferry ride from Kagoshima will take you to the subtropical island of, , whose mystical woodlands have inspired the setting of, Apart from being renowned as one of the first UNESCO World Heritage sites in Japan, the island is also populated with. Sunshine! There are many hidden spots of anime in Osaka. Every year since 2011, Bonbori Festival, a lantern festival is held in Oct. at Yuwaku, Kanazawa. Visit if you’re a fan of: Weathering With You (Tenki no Ko). One step out of JR Akihabara station, and you’ll see the Radio Kaikan building where the seminar from... 3. Although some things are certainly beyond the realm of reality altogether, when it comes to the core of anime compared to reality in Japan, the similarities can be quite vivid, but not always. The only problem is that, unlike in Tokyo, trains and buses don’t run frequently, so you’ll have to plan your itinerary carefully. Opening hours: 24 hours, Daily Shōdoshima in Kagawa Prefecture is famous for its olive production due to the ideal Mediterranean climate, with approximately 2000 olive trees and 130 kinds of herbs grown in the Shōdoshima Olive Garden located on the island. Visiting anime locations in real life (known as 聖地巡礼 in Japanese — seichi junrei, lit. The school served as the basis for Silver Spoon‘s Ooezo Agricultural High School (a.k.a. Seedlings of herbs are also available for green-fingered visitors. Image credit: @mamyako. It’s known for its stunning natural beauty: rolling fields, bountiful farms, and lush greenery. But dedicated fans have managed to find a real-life split boulder located at Amanotateiwa Shrine in Yagyū, a village near the city of Nara. Nearest Station: JR Shinagawa Station, Image adapted from: Netflix and @kate6475124. Nearest Station: JR Tabata Station, Guchokipanya in the animated film (left) and Corico, a herb shop on the island (right) Visit Karatsu for an ice-skating session at Iizuka Ice Palace. e later find out that the restaurant is struggling to keep up with the barrage of orders from commuters, and naturally. People tend to think of Tokyo as an ultra-modern metropolis, but many would be surprised to know that Tokyo actually has some islands under its jurisdiction! But its mountainous landscapes are very much real and inspired by Gifu Prefecture. Do as Taki and friends did, and order gohei-mochi (skewered rice cakes glazed with a sweet-savory sauce) — it’s a popular delicacy in the Chubu region of central Japan, of which Gifu Prefecture is part. You can find all real-life anime locations featured in Poco’s Udon World here. Address: Yazako, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1103, Japan Close by is the town of Chichibu — the setting of two slice-of-life anime, Ano Hana: The Flower We Saw That Day and Anthem of the Heart. Nearest Station: Keihan Electric Railway Omijingumae Station Obihiro is one of Hokkaido’s main farming towns. Unfortunately, Chupakabura Kingdom doesn’t exist, but there are plenty of photogenic places you can visit instead, like this field of sunflowers. It’s no surprise, then, that when he decides to move to the big city, he’s practically a fish out of water. We introduce the iconic places to visit in Osaka, including well-known spots and hidden areas, from shopping malls to observation decks, aquarium, and more! The gymnasium is open to the public daily. You can take photos to your heart’s content at the south exit of Tabata Station without the watchful gaze of the train station staff as it’s unmanned. Figure skating is pretty big in Japan, so Yuri!!! One of Tokyo’s islands is Kozushima, which makes a few brief appearances in Makoto Shinkai’s Weathering With You, or Tenki no Ko in Japanese. A popular day-trip location from Tokyo, Hakone is famous for its views of Mt. Emperor Tenji, the 38th emperor of Japan and the founder of Otsu, is enshrined as a deity here. Image adapted from: Toho and @konitanjp. the centre, as though with one swift stroke, is aptly named. If a manga artist grew up in Toyama, Saitama, or Fukuoka, he or she will draw Toyama, Saitama, or Fukuoka landmarks. It has everything you want and more, minus the huge crowds! Visit if you’re a fan of: Silver Spoon (Gin no Saji), A post shared by Toshi (@toshi23kotobuki). In this anime, schoolgirls form a music group hoping to debut and become an idol group. In episode 3 of the first season, the sheltered Kaguya gets a chance to commute to school on her own. Set in Kagawa Prefecture, the show follows the lives of Souta and a shape-shifting tanuki (raccoon dog) named Poco. My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU (やはり俺の青春ラブコメはまちがっている。), which is also known as just OreGairu or My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected, is a popular modern anime series with the genre of slice of life (the setting is based on dailly life). Famous for hosting the annual national karuta championships, the shrine is said to be connected to the creation of karuta. Coffee jelly recipes that will make Saiki K. salivate, 10 Anime Locations That Actually Exist In Real Life For You To Recreate Your Favourite Scenes, 11 Romance Manga To Read So You Can Fill The Void In Your Non-Existent Love Life, 20 Iconic Japanese Anime Series To Watch When You’re Bored At Home, 20 Best Japanese Dramas From The Last 20 Years To Catch Up On While Stuck At Home, 20 Japanese Anime Movies to Watch When You're Social Distancing, 10 Sports Anime To Watch Other Than Haikyuu!! Nonetheless, it has that same sense of nostalgia that the animation studio is renowned for. Nearest Station: Expo Memorial Park Station Here are the places that became visual inspirations for Studio Ghibli’s movies: 1. Hikone is just over 1 hour from Kyoto by Tokaido Line (local, not Shinkansen). Noto Railway, one of the transport operators in the area, even ran some trains featuring Hanasaku Iroha characters! Hidashi Library, where Taki researches about Itomori  Hidden amidst Tokyo's shimmering towers, concrete lego blocks and heaving rush-hour trains, are the real-life inspirations behind many anime locations. The series takes place in Nanto, Toyama Prefecture. Many Anime spots in Weathering with You are situated in the east of Shinjuku Station. !, having held multiple tie-in campaigns, selling exclusive merchandise, and so on. The prefecture is so proud of its homegrown talents that its two airports have “Kitaro” and “Conan” in their names! is a romantic comedy with a straightforward premise – the main female and male characters try to win a confession from each other. are no strangers to hard-fought matches in Kamei Arena Sendai, formerly known as Sendai City Gymnasium. Get a fortnightly roundup of our best blog posts, plus exclusive offers and curated picks from around the internet! Opening hours: 8.30AM-5PM, Daily Kochi’s proximity to the ocean means that it has an abundance of fresh fish and produce. For those in the mood for an anime that’ll give you the warm fuzzies, check out Poco’s Udon World. Famous for, is said to be connected to the creation of. Taxis, buses, and even manholes have sported Love Live! Giant moon face  After Mitsuha’s sudden disappearance, Taki travels from Tokyo in search of her. Avid fans of anime often wonder how similar lives portrayed in virtual stories are to real life in Japan. Nearest Station: Arakawa-tozan guchi Bus Stop Visit if you’re a fan of: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni. Opening hours: 6AM-6PM, Daily It’s the site of the former longest bench in the world! Compared to the bustling Shinjuku Station that appeared in Your Name, Tabata Station is awfully quiet for a place in Tokyo. Are you a city or a country person? bummer, but at least we have something to look forward to. Anime in Real Life Japan: Fantasy vs Reality. Even without their anime connection, each one of these places makes for exciting sightseeing and are easy to get to! Most anime are set on the main island of Honshu, including the metropolitan areas of Tokyo, Yokohama and Saitama (satellites of Tokyo) Kyoto, Osaka, Sendai, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki. Even the Hida Tourism Association has jumped on the bandwagon, mapping out a comprehensive tour of all, Miyagawacho Ochiai, Hida-shi, Gifu, 509-4415, Japan, 1297 Furukawacho Kamikita, Hida, Gifu 509-4212, Japan, 8 Furukawachō Kanamorichō, Hida, Gifu 509-4225, Japan, Hidashi Library: Tue – Sat 9AM-8PM, Sun 9AM-5PM, Closed every Mon and last Fri of the month, 2-22 Furukawacho Honmachi, Hida, Gifu 509-4232, Japan, a competitive Japanese card game that is physically and mentally demanding. Anime tourism, as it’s commonly referred to as, has grown in recent years meaning that people from all over the world are traveling to Tokyo to see real life places that featured in their favorite animes.Although the amount of information out there on these places is certainly growing, it is still fairly limited. Address: 8 Furukawachō Kanamorichō, Hida, Gifu 509-4225, Japan, Hidashi Library  One of the most famous anime locations and one of the most popular real-life anime places in Japan of... 2. Address: 1941-1 Nishimura-kou, Shodoshima-cho, Shozu-gun, Kagawa 761-4434, Japan Address: 2-22 Furukawacho Honmachi, Hida, Gifu 509-4232, Japan Nanto is also close to the scenic Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, which is known for its impressive snow walls in winter, and stunningly gorgeous nature the rest of the year. is located in Nagakute, a city in Aichi Prefecture. The original anime series was first aired in 1995, but even now, you’ll still be able to spot the similarities between Tokyo-3 and Hakone. Hina and Hodaka reunites near Tabata Station, Near the end of the film, Hina and Hodaka reunite right outside the. Nearest Station: JR Hida Furukawa Station Numazu has fully embraced its connection to Love Live! character designs at some point. pic.twitter.com/eL7i1K3FmL, Visit if you’re a fan of: Non Non Biyori; Ano Hana. For an easy day trip, take the ferry to Shodoshima, a beautiful island famous for its olives. Website, Image adapted from: Netflix and Kimamanidansu. (小倉百人一首), a classical collection of 100 Japanese poems by 100 poets. It was owned by Rin Shibuya, one of the main characters. Often the anime creators will copy that location as much as possible. Whether you’re just making a pilgrimage for one anime or multiple series, consider spending more than a day in Tottori — especially if you’re traveling from someplace much farther, like Tokyo. It’s about a recent graduate who hopes to make it big in Tokyo, but instead gets appointed the queen of the ‘Kingdom of Chupakabura’ (a pun on the words kabura (turnip) and “chupacabra” due to a hilarious mixup. In January 2020, the Odakyu Group — a major player in developing tourism to Hakone — unveiled a large-scale tie-up between Hakone and the Evangelion franchise. Universal Studios Osaka features a number of anime themed rides and attractions including giant Attack on Titan statues and a Yokai Watch themed stage show. At night, the statues are cast in an eerie light, and projection mapping and other effects help enhance the spooky-but-fun (think Disney’s Haunted Mansion–level spooky) atmosphere of the area. She passes by Tamachi – the informal name for the area surrounding Tamachi Station in Minato, Tokyo. Anime pilgrimage is hugely popular in Japan and slowly gaining traction internationally among anime lovers. Website. With a knack for visual storytelling, Shinkai Makoto is renowned for his attention to detail and conscientious effort in background drawing. On the lineup were exciting campaigns like collecting stamps in exchange for prizes, a special red-orange bath resembling LCL (the liquid that Evangelion pilots are submerged in) at the Hakone Yunessun onsen theme park, and more. The slice-of-life anime is made into from the light novel that completed with the 17th volume in 2019. It tells the story of a boy in Tokyo and a girl in the countryside as they suddenly, The film splits its scenes between two contrasting locations – the urban landscape of Tokyo that is home to male lead Taki, and, idyllic countryside setting of Itomori where female lead Mitsuha, Taki approaching locals for directions at Keta Wakamiya Shrine in Hida City, Unbeknownst to many, the town of Itomori is fictional. This means that there are many recognizable anime “filming locations” which exist in real life. It was featured in the sports anime, Yuri!!! Kissuiso and Fukuya Inn, the two fictional ryokan in the series, were based on Hakuunro Hotel and Shuhokaku, respectively. Visit if you’re a fan of: Your Name (Kimi no Na wa). Address: 1-chōme-17 Higashitabata, Kita City, Tōkyō-to 114-0013, Japan If you don’t know whether to get the nationwide JR Pass or a regional one, check out our handy guide. There are other areas scattered across the country, one of the most notable being Den Den Town in Osaka. Image adapted from: Nippon TV and @kentahasebe_photo. We later find out that the restaurant is struggling to keep up with the barrage of orders from commuters, and naturally, our protagonists use their culinary expertise to help the owners get back on track. Foray into the island’s moss-covered forest grounds and you will find, the oldest and largest cedar tree in Japan. Still, that clearly hasn’t done much damage to Shirakawago’s reputation, and the village has even held at least one tie-in campaign to promote the games. But as early as the 2000s, fans of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (a.k.a. But its mountainous landscapes are very much real and inspired by, is a neighbouring town of Itomori. After Mitsuha’s sudden disappearance, Taki travels from Tokyo in search of her. In this episode, students are assigned to various cooking locations across the country as part of their internship. Here are some shows that take place in the Japanese countryside along with their real-life locations. Image adapted from: Netflix and Wikimedia. It’s within walking distance from Obiyamachi and Kochi Castle. Only those who's seen K-On (a highschool girls' band manga and anime) would recognize the place. Website, Entrance of the gymnasium  This tour will show you places only known by locals. Shigeru Mizuki Road is a bustling 1-km-long shopping street where you’ll find lots of creatures that go bump in the night. Image adapted from: Toho and @cylut. http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/search/detail/shopping_5186.html Image adapted from: Netflix and @toorurira. Address: 1 Chome-4-1 Tomizawa, Taihaku Ward, Sendai, Miyagi 982-0032, Japan Protagonist Yuuri Katsuki’s hometown is the fictional town of Hasetsu, which is based on the city of Karatsu in Saga Prefecture. A more recent addition to Tottori’s appealing points for otaku is Iwami, a two-hour train ride from Tottori Station. Fuji and hot springs. A 4-hour ferry ride from Kagoshima will take you to the subtropical island of Yakushima, whose mystical woodlands have inspired the setting of Princess Mononoke. In this episode, students are assigned to various cooking locations across the country as part of their internship. You can take photos to your heart’s content. There’s even a local brewery that serves ashitaba craft beer and a delicious ashitaba pizza! Nowadays, the garden has become a pilgrimage destination for fans of Kiki’s Delivery Service – a Studio Ghibli classic that follows 13-year-old Kiki as she completes her training to become a witch. The cynical and … Food Wars!, or Shokugeki no Soma, follows young aspiring chef Yukihira Sōma and his journey in a prestigious culinary institute in Japan. Works original Hanasaku Iroha is a coming-of-age story set in a quaint hot-spring resort in Ishikawa Prefecture. Discover and book amazing travel experiences in Japan and beyond! Lastly, don’t miss the breathtaking sunsets that are sure to soothe your soul. It’s famous for udon, earning it the nickname “Udon Prefecture.” Having a piping-hot bowl of these wide noodles is a must-do when visiting! Image adapted from: Toho and @kei_baphoto. It’s a bummer, but at least we have something to look forward to when the current pandemic blows over. Modelled after the European-style bread shop in which Kiki lives and works, the miscellaneous goods shop sells everything ranging from gardening supplies to pastries. And of course, there’s a museum dedicated to the legendary creator himself. – a Studio Ghibli classic that follows 13-year-old Kiki as she completes her training to become a witch. Japanese scientists have estimated the tree to be at least 2,500 years old, though bolder estima, Thanks to the popularity of Studio Ghibli films and, in Japan and worldwide, Yakushima has become a popular hiking trail for fans of the film. Image adapted from: Netflix and Majyo no takkyūbin. Tottori prides itself on being a “manga kingdom” because it’s the hometown of renowned manga creators Shigeru Mizuki and Gosho Aoyama. Our male protagonist, along with Hisako, are assigned to a small local restaurant near a busy train station – Shinagawa Station.