Ever wondered whether anime is real?
Of course it is! The backgrounds, at least!
Barring fantastical settings, many of your favourite anime with Japanese settings are actually inspired by real life locales!
Not only do they ground the fictional world of anime in reality and make it more believable, they also showcase the mundane, almost invisible beauty of everyday Japan, far beyond tourist traps (they still pop up occasionally though).
In fact, there’s an entire subculture of visiting these sites in so-called “sacred site pilgrimages” or 聖地巡礼(seichi junrei), with local businesses and governments even promoting their association officially!
Despite problems with overtourism and the behaviour of tourists, these pilgramages are still popular among local and overseas anime fans.
So, while making sure to obey local laws and respect the people who live there, why not join in on your very own pilgrammage?
Your Name
Tateishi Park & Lake Suwa (Nagano)
Location: 立石町-10399 Kamisuwa, Suwa, Nagano 392-0003, Japan (Google Maps)
Makoto Shinkai’s smash 2016 hit Your Name takes place in both rural and urban settings, with the Lake Suwa region and the Tokyo metropolitan area featuring heavily as inspirations.
The Lake Suwa region was the inspiration for Mitsuha’s fictional decimated hometown of Itomori in the film and its crater lake, though it’s not quite the same without the steep hills and mountains.
To get a great bird’s eye view of the lake, head up to Nagano City’s Tateishi Park. Though the park is a simple one with a set of stairs leading down to a small, grassy open area, it opens up to a million-dollar view of Nagano City and Lake Suwa.
How to Get There
Board the Azusa 53 Limited Express Matsumoto Train on the Chuo Line to Kami-Suwa Station. Then take a 10-minute taxi ride up to the park.
Other Stuff to Check Out
Check out and learn about the live geyser at Suwa Lake Geyser Center
Take a dip in a hot spring fed by Lake Suwa
Admire the Yaegaki Princess statue in the lake
Stairs to Suga Shrine, Yotsuya (Tokyo)
Location: 5-6 Sugacho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0018, Japan (Google Maps)
This iconic set of stairs closes the end of the film as the two leads Taki and Mitsuha reunite, it also shows up in promotional posters for the movie.
Sadly, the buildings on the right don’t quite match the height and angle of the poster versions, but everything else almost matches perfectly, particularly the red railings and the buildings in the background.
How to Get There
Take the Marunouchi Line train to Yotsuya-sanchome Station, then take a 10-minute walk to the flight of stairs.
Stuff to Check Out
Offer a prayer at the Suga Shrine or Shokoji Shrine.
Take a stroll and admire the blooms at the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Learn a little something at the Fire Museum or Tokyo Toy Museum
Slam Dunk
Kamakura High School Front Station Crossing (Kanagawa)
The anime based on the smash hit sports manga Slam Dunk by Takehiko Inoue features one of the most photogenic shots in Kanagawa, whether you’re a fan of the show or not!
In the anime’s opening, the delinquent Hanamichi Sakuragi, with schoolbag slung over his shoulder, catches sight of his love interest Haruko Akagi against a backdrop of the wide, blue, gleaming ocean right after a train whizzes past.
With such an iconic and memorable shot, it’s no wonder Slam Dunk fans and curious tourists alike make it a point to visit. Sadly, this brings its own set of overtourism problems with some inconsiderate tourists wandering onto the active road instead of staying on the sidewalk. Remember to always respect the locals when you visit!
How to Get There
Take the Enoshima Electric Railway (Enoden) to Kamakurakōkō-Mae Station and then take a 5-minute walk to the crossing.
Stuff to Check Out
Catch panoramic views of Sagami Bay at the Enoshima Sea Candle
Stroll on a beach at Cape Koyurugi or Shichirigahama Beach
Explore the mysterious Enoshima Iwaya Caves
Spirited Away
Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award-winning classic Spirited Away mainly takes place in a supernatural inn, of which the design was partly inspired by the onsen ryokan or hot spring inns.
Though there isn’t one single inn that wholly inspired Miyazaki, there are actually several inns that each contributed in their own special way to the fantastical lodge that lead character Chihiro finds herself in.
And where else should you start but the famous red bridge?
Sekizenkan Onsen Ryokan (Gunma)
Location: , 〒377-0601 Gunma, Agatsuma District, Nakanojo, Shima, 温泉 ４２３６(Google Maps)
Though not quite the same, the red bridge leading to the Sekizenkan Onsen Ryokan certainly does look the part.
Plus, being an onsen and all, this hot spring inn offers various facilities to soothe tired traveller such as baths, footbaths, lounges.
How to Get There
From JR Nakanojo Station, take the bus on the Shima Onsen Line to Kirinoki Daira and take a five-minute walk to the onsen.
Other Stuff to Check Out
Take a dip at Oizumi Falls
Play a tune at the Spirited Away Musical Road
Admire the waters of Lake Okushima
Kanaguya (Nagano)
Location: 2202 Hirao, Yamanochi, Shimotakai District, Nagano 381-0401, Japan (Google Maps)
For the towering façade that greets Chihiro when she arrives at the inn, look no further than the four-storey-high ryokan inn Kanaguya in the town of Hirao.
Besides looking splendid by day with its vintage construction and gentle eaves, at night the inn basks in a golden glow as its lights and lanterns come on!
How to Get There
From the Nagano Electric Railway Yudanaka Station, take the Nagaden bus to the Shibu Onsen bus stop and take a 2-minute walk to the onsen.
Demon Slayer
Ashikaga Flower Park (Tochigi)
Koyoharu Gotouge’s shonen fantasy Demon Slayer features the fictional Mount Fujikasane, where prospective Demon Slayer candidates have to survive a night against the demons imprisoned there by the wisteria-covered hills.
There aren’t any wisteria and demon-coverered hills in Japan (as far as I know), but wisteria can be found plenty enough throughout Japan, particularly in its many world-class parks such as Ashikaga Flower Park!
Located just a few hours away from Tokyo by train, this park features a massive wisteria tree that sprawls outward. Supported by wooden frames, these far-reaching branches drape curtains of purple wisteria all over the park area, transforming it into a romantic refuge. And what’s more, by night, these blooms are lit up by a dazzling display of lights!
If you’re still hungry for flowers, there’s also a wisteria tunnel along with plenty of other flowers to ooh and aah at here.
How to Get There
Take a train on the JR Ryomo Line to the Ashikaga Flower Park Station
5 Centimeters per Second
Sangubashi Crossing (Tokyo)
Location 1: Near 5 Chome-59-1 Yoyogi, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0053, Japan (Google Maps)
Location 2: Near Akariya by Light Shop, 4 Chome-8-1 Yoyogi, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0053, Japan (Google Maps)
Makoto Shinkai’s use of real-life locations actually goes farther back than most people realize, especially in his second feature film 5 Centimeters per Second.
In the film, a train crossing bookmarks the beginning and end of this heartrending tale of loss, unrequited love and moving on.
There are actually two real-life crossings featured in the movie, both located near Tokyo’s Sangubashi Station.
The first one in the film’s beginning is located to the south of Sangubashi, while the second one at the end of the film is just a few minutes’ walk away. Don’t forget to take a look around to catch some more sights from the movie!
How to Get There
From Shinjuku Station, take the Odakyu Line to Sangubashi Station.
Other Stuff to Check Out
Stroll through the Meiji Jingu Park and visit the shrine
Drop by Harajuku for some snacks and shopping
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