urbzoo, CC BY 2.0 Setagaya, Tokyo
The music district where STARRY's real-world model is located
Depuis Tokyo: About 10 min from Shinjuku on the Odakyu Line
Depuis Osaka: About 3 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen + local train
Cuisine locale: 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
Depuis Tokyo: About 4 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + local train
Depuis Osaka: About 4 hours from Osaka via plane + local train
Cuisine locale: Jusanko corbicula clams
663highland, CC BY 2.5 Hakodate, Hokkaido
Setting of Liella! Pilgrimage includes Goryokaku and Hakodate's famous night view
Depuis Tokyo: About 4 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen
Depuis Osaka: About 2 hours from Osaka via plane
Cuisine locale: 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
Depuis Tokyo: About 2 hours from Tokyo via Joban Line + Kashima Rinkai Railway
Depuis Osaka: About 4 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen + local train
Cuisine locale: 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
Depuis Tokyo: About 4 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + limited express
Depuis Osaka: About 2 hours from Osaka via limited express
Cuisine locale: 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
Depuis Tokyo: About 2.5 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + local train
Depuis Osaka: About 50 min from Osaka on the Keihan Line
Cuisine locale: 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
Depuis Tokyo: About 4 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + local train
Depuis Osaka: About 2 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen + local train
Cuisine locale: Onomichi ramen, hassaku daifuku
Syced, CC0 Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture
Date spot for Sakuta and Mai-senpai. Pilgrimage sites dot the Enoden line
Depuis Tokyo: About 1 hour from Tokyo
Depuis Osaka: About 3.5 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen + local train
Cuisine locale: Shirasu don, tako senbei
Syced, CC0 Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture
Home base of Aqours. Awashima and Mito Sea Paradise are major pilgrimage sites
Depuis Tokyo: About 2 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + bus
Depuis Osaka: About 3 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen
Cuisine locale: 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
Depuis Tokyo: About 2.5 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + Meitetsu
Depuis Osaka: About 1.5 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen + Meitetsu
Cuisine locale: Dengaku, Inuyama Dog (hot dog)
663highland, CC BY 2.5 Shirakawa, Ono District, Gifu Prefecture
Model for Hinamizawa. UNESCO World Heritage gassho-zukuri village
Depuis Tokyo: About 5 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + bus
Depuis Osaka: About 4 hours from Osaka on highway bus
Cuisine locale: 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
Depuis Tokyo: About 5 min from Tokyo Station on the Yamanote Line
Depuis Osaka: About 2.5 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen
Cuisine locale: 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
Depuis Tokyo: About 80 min from Ikebukuro on the Seibu Limited Express
Depuis Osaka: About 3 hours from Shin-Osaka via Shinkansen + local train
Cuisine locale: 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
Depuis Tokyo: About 5 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + local train
Depuis Osaka: About 3 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen + local train
Cuisine locale: 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
Depuis Tokyo: About 85 min from Shinjuku on the Romancecar
Depuis Osaka: About 3 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen + local train
Cuisine locale: 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
Depuis Tokyo: About 3.5 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + Hankyu
Depuis Osaka: About 30 min from Osaka on the Hankyu Line
Cuisine locale: 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
Depuis Tokyo: About 2 hours from Shinjuku on the Limited Express Azusa
Depuis Osaka: About 3.5 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen + local train
Cuisine locale: 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
Depuis Tokyo: About 3 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + Ohmi Railway
Depuis Osaka: About 1.5 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen + Ohmi Railway
Cuisine locale: Omi beef
LERK, CC BY-SA 4.0 Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture
World-famous for the OP railroad crossing scene. International pilgrims visit year-round
Depuis Tokyo: About 1 hour from Tokyo
Depuis Osaka: About 3.5 hours from Osaka via Shinkansen + local train
Cuisine locale: 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
Depuis Tokyo: About 4 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen + Takayama Main Line
Depuis Osaka: About 4 hours from Osaka on the Limited Express Hida
Cuisine locale: Hida beef, Takayama ramen