This season's anime heat, tracked daily.
A heat map of anime pilgrimage sites across Japan. See which sacred spots are hot now, and which classics remain evergreen.
59 spots
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urbzoo, CC BY 2.0 Setagaya, Tokyo
The music district where STARRY's real-world model is located
From Tokyo: About 10 min from Shinjuku on the Odakyu Line
From Osaka: About 3 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen + local train
Local food: Curry battleground (many curry shops)
663highland, CC BY-SA 4.0 Goshogawara, Aomori Prefecture
Birthplace of Osamu Dazai. A pilgrimage site where literary and anime fans intersect
From Tokyo: About 4 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + local train
From Osaka: About 4 hours from Osaka via plane + local train
Local food: Jusanko corbicula clams
663highland, CC BY 2.5 Hakodate, Hokkaido
Setting of Liella! Pilgrimage includes Goryokaku and Hakodate's famous night view
From Tokyo: About 4 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen
From Osaka: About 2 hours from Osaka via plane
Local food: Ika sashimi (squid sashimi), Hakodate ramen
t.kunikuni, CC BY-SA 2.0 Ōarai, Higashiibaraki District, Ibaraki Prefecture
Setting of Girls und Panzer. The entire shopping district welcomes fans, a model success case for anime tourism
From Tokyo: About 2 hours from Tokyo via Joban Line + Kashima Rinkai Railway
From Osaka: About 4 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen + local train
Local food: Anko nabe (monkfish hot pot), shirasu don
663highland, CC BY 2.5 Miyazu, Kyoto Prefecture
Model for Haru's hometown Iwatobi. One of Japan's Three Views
From Tokyo: About 4 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + limited express
From Osaka: About 2 hours from Osaka via limited express
Local food: Iwagaki (rock oysters), oil sardines
663highland, CC BY 2.5 Uji, Kyoto Prefecture
Setting of Kitauji High School Concert Band. Uji Bridge and Mt. Daikichi are pilgrimage sites
From Tokyo: About 2.5 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + local train
From Osaka: About 50 min from Osaka on the Keihan Line
Local food: Uji matcha sweets
そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0 Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture
A story of gods descending on the hillside city. Senkoji Temple and shopping streets are the setting
From Tokyo: About 4 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + local train
From Osaka: About 2 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen + local train
Local food: Onomichi ramen, hassaku daifuku
Syced, CC0 Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture
Date spot for Sakuta and Mai-senpai. Pilgrimage sites dot the Enoden line
From Tokyo: About 1 hour from Tokyo
From Osaka: About 3.5 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen + local train
Local food: Shirasu don, tako senbei
Syced, CC0 Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture
Home base of Aqours. Awashima and Mito Sea Paradise are major pilgrimage sites
From Tokyo: About 2 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + bus
From Osaka: About 3 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen
Local food: Numazu Port seafood bowl
ThorstenS, CC BY-SA 3.0 Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture
Setting of Yatogame-chan. The castle town of Inuyama is the pilgrimage site
From Tokyo: About 2.5 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + Meitetsu
From Osaka: About 1.5 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen + Meitetsu
Local food: Dengaku, Inuyama Dog (hot dog)
663highland, CC BY 2.5 Shirakawa, Ono District, Gifu Prefecture
Model for Hinamizawa. UNESCO World Heritage gassho-zukuri village
From Tokyo: About 5 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + bus
From Osaka: About 4 hours from Osaka on highway bus
Local food: Hida beef, hoba miso
Stephen Kelly from San Francisco, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 Chiyoda, Tokyo
The electric town where Okabe's lab is located. Radio Kaikan is the iconic pilgrimage site
From Tokyo: About 5 min from Tokyo Station on the Yamanote Line
From Osaka: About 2.5 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen
Local food: Maid cafés, Niku no Mansei
京浜にけ, CC BY-SA 3.0 Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture
The setting of Anohana. Old Chichibu Bridge and Jourinji temple preserve the anime's landscapes
From Tokyo: About 80 min from Ikebukuro on the Seibu Limited Express
From Osaka: About 3 hours from Shin-Osaka via Shinkansen + local train
Local food: Waraji katsudon, Chichibu soba
ori2uru from Japan, CC BY 2.0 Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture
The 'Little Kyoto of Aki' where Potte lives. Edo-period townscape preserved intact
From Tokyo: About 5 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + local train
From Osaka: About 3 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen + local train
Local food: Takehara-yaki (grilled items), junmai sake
Kentagon, CC BY-SA 4.0 Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa Prefecture
Model for Tokyo-3. Lake Ashi and Hakone-Yumoto have numerous pilgrimage spots
From Tokyo: About 85 min from Shinjuku on the Romancecar
From Osaka: About 3 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen + local train
Local food: Black eggs, yosegi-zaiku (wood mosaic)
663highland, CC BY 2.5 Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture
Home of the SOS Brigade. The area around the real school that inspired North High
From Tokyo: About 3.5 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + Hankyu
From Osaka: About 30 min from Osaka on the Hankyu Line
Local food: Nishinomiya sake
Sei F, CC BY-SA 2.0 Suwa, Nagano Prefecture
Lake Suwa, the model for Itomori Lake. The view from Tateishi Park is iconic
From Tokyo: About 2 hours from Shinjuku on the Limited Express Azusa
From Osaka: About 3.5 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen + local train
Local food: Unagi (eel), miso tendon
Suikotei, CC BY-SA 4.0 Toyosato, Inukami District, Shiga Prefecture
Model for Sakuragaoka High. The old school building has a permanent pilgrimage corner
From Tokyo: About 3 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + Ohmi Railway
From Osaka: About 1.5 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen + Ohmi Railway
Local food: Omi beef
LERK, CC BY-SA 4.0 Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture
World-famous for the OP railroad crossing scene. International pilgrims visit year-round
From Tokyo: About 1 hour from Tokyo
From Osaka: About 3.5 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen + local train
Local food: Shirasu don, Kamakura beer
Asturio Cantabrio, CC BY-SA 4.0 Hida, Gifu Prefecture
The real-world setting of Your Name. Hida-Furukawa station and Keta Wakamiya Shrine are established pilgrimage sites
From Tokyo: About 4 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + Takayama Main Line
From Osaka: About 4 hours from Osaka on the Limited Express Hida
Local food: Hida beef, Takayama ramen
