For anime fans and enthusiasts, visiting Japan isn’t just about experiencing the culture; it’s about stepping into the vibrant worlds of your favourite anime shows and movies. Many anime series are set against the backdrop of real-life locations, allowing fans to walk the same streets as their beloved characters. Several famous anime places in Japan allow fans to wander through the very worlds that their favourite characters live in – maybe you’d like to experience an anime trip for yourself!
Lucky for you, some of the most memorable anime series ever were based on real places in this beautiful nation. If you’re planning a trip to Japan and want to map out locations for your anime pilgrimage, here are fifteen places to visit in Japan for anime fans.
1. Steins Gate – Akihabara
Often referred to as the heart of otaku culture, Akihabara is a bustling district in Tokyo known for its electronics shops, themed cafés, and anime merchandise stores. This area is the setting for numerous anime series, including Steins Gate, one of the best and most-loved anime shows. Radio Kaikan, the building which houses the series’ iconic time machine, is an actual building that fans of the show can see. You can spend an entire day walking through these streets, losing yourself in the many sights and sounds brought to you by Akiba.
Once you exit Akihabara station, you are greeted by colourful buildings left and right, with many flashing billboards and tourists, akin to New York Times Square. Arcades, maid cafes, and 8-storey gaming and anime shops flood Akihabara’s upbeat and quirky streets. Make sure to bring home memories and keepsakes from your anime pilgrimage!
2. Tokyo Revengers – Shibuya
Often referred to as the heart of otaku culture, Akihabara is a bustling district in Tokyo known for its electronics shops, themed cafés, and anime merchandise stores. Furthermore, this area serves as the setting for numerous anime series, including Steins;Gate, one of the best and most-loved anime shows. Notably, Radio Kaikan, the building housing the series’ iconic time machine, is an actual location that fans can visit. As a result, you can easily spend an entire day walking through these streets, immersing yourself in the many sights and sounds brought to you by Akiba.
When you exit Akihabara Station, you are immediately greeted by colorful buildings on every side, complete with flashing billboards and crowds of tourists. In fact, the scene is reminiscent of New York’s Times Square. Additionally, the streets are filled with arcades, maid cafés, and massive 8-story gaming and anime shops, adding to Akihabara’s upbeat and quirky vibe. Therefore, make sure to bring home memories and keepsakes from your anime pilgrimage!
3. Jujutsu Kaisen – Harajuku
Only 2 km away from Shibuya Station, where the infamous Shibuya Incident takes place, Harajuku has been prominently featured in Jujutsu Kaisen multiple times. For instance, Takeshita Street, where Yuji and Megumi meet Nobara for the first time, is a busy and lively area filled with colorful cafes, trendy shops, and food carts, showcasing the youthful center of fashion known as Harajuku. Additionally, Harajuku Station, Aoyama Cemetery, and Meiji Shrine Station have also been highlighted in Jujutsu Kaisen. So, don’t forget to check them out!
Furthermore, since Harajuku is conveniently located between Shibuya and Shinjuku, it’s an ideal stop for your anime trip. Not only can you walk the same streets as the Jujutsu Kaisen characters, but you can also explore several cosplay shops, iconic cafes, and even collect unique souvenirs to commemorate your anime adventure in Japan!
4. Weathering With You – Kabukicho
Shinkai and his team brought the quirky town of Kabukicho to audiences everywhere with their 2019 anime, Weathering With You. Tourists go to Shinjuku because it is home to some of the most excellent ramen spots in Tokyo and the Golden Gai, a small, unique collection of tiny bars that visitors love. Kabukicho, a tiny entertainment area, is well-known for its adult-oriented nightlife due to its abundance of wacky cosplayers and unassuming attractions like robot restaurants and rock bars. This general area is where Mitsuha, Weathering With You’s resident climate manipulator and “sunshine girl”, resides, and the movie’s plot takes place.
Kabukicho is only a five-minute walk from the east exit of Shinjuku Station, and while it may be known for adult entertainment, it’s considered one of the safest red-light districts in Asia. You might also spot a local resident of Kabukicho – the famous Godzilla head that serves as both a landmark and a popular tourist attraction. Make sure to drop by the manga cafe where Hodaka stayed as part of your Japan anime tour!
5. Your Name – Suga Shrine
The settings of Makoto Shinkai’s works are so lifelike that they’ve become renowned in and of themselves. Since his anime are all based on real locales in Japan, he has a staff that travels all over the country taking photographs to serve as a reference. They are perfect carbon copies of real towns and tourist hotspots, down to the smallest detail.
One such location is the famous Suga Shrine and its stairs, where Mitsuha and Taki crossed paths in the film Your Name. Fans of Shinkai from all over the world would kill to find their way to the site, as it is one of the film’s most iconic sequences.
6. Bungo Stray Dogs – Yokohama
Yokohama is home to Japan’s biggest Chinatown, and it’s also the primary setting for the anime Bungo Stray Dogs, whose characters are named after real-life Japanese authors. The program’s premise is rich with real-world references, and the characters’ abilities are based on genuine works of literature. Therefore, this city is a must-see for lovers of the show.
Yokohama is the second biggest city in Japan, and it is recognised for many things, including the professional soccer team Yokohama FC (also known as Yokohama F. Marinos), a Ferris wheel, Yokohama Tires, and the famous local actor Yokohama Ryusei. Moreover, the amusement park’s Cosmo Clock 21 lights up into a brilliant sphere at night, making it a striking symbol of the city. Notably, Yokohama also serves as the setting for the popular anime Bungo Stray Dogs, further enhancing its cultural significance.
7. One Punch Man – Saitama’s Apartment
One Punch Man is one of the funniest and craziest anime, with its main character, Saitama, one of the most famous protagonists. People now question if Saitama is the strongest anime character ever. He is often at the center of debates about power levels. This is no surprise, as season one showcased his incredible strength.
Saitama is loved by anime fans, though season two didn’t match the high expectations of the first. His home, a small apartment in the quiet Setagaya village, is famous even though it’s not a popular tourist spot. Fans imagine his humble flat as the perfect place to relax and play video games with Genos, Garou, and the rest of the One Punch Man cast.
Let’s hope that One Punch Man Season 3 restores the show to its rightful place as a fantastic programme.
8. Yuru Camp – Lake Motosu
Yuru Camp, also known as Laid Back Camp, is a charming slice-of-life advertisement showcasing the finest camping spots in Japan. It simplifies the idea of connecting with nature via camping by showing cute girls doing cute things. Activities, attractions, and dining options around the locations Rin, Nadeshiko, and the rest of the crew explore are detailed throughout the many sites the crew visit.
The best place they visited was Minobu, home to the Koan Camping Ground by Lake Motosu. This place is extraordinary because it does not have a splendid view of Mt. Fuji but a lake that reflects it perfectly at certain angles. At night, the moonlight sparkles off the mountain and the sea reflects the stars, putting the perfect finishing touch to their memorable camping trip. If you’re in the mood for something out-of-the-ordinary in the great outdoors, you should certainly check out this, just one of the numerous camping locations Yuru Camp brings to its visitors.
9. K-On! – Toyosato Elementary School
Another entry into the cute girls doing cute things genre is Toyosato Elementary School. It is the perfect place to see a traditional elementary school that you’d see in your typical school-based anime. K-On! fans will enjoy visiting the many areas where Yui, Mio, Mugi, and the band members first met each other to create the Light Music Club.
Within the school, they even pay ode to events from the anime when not in use, with fans recognising the hallways, stairs, tables, chalkboards, and even specifically coloured musical instruments that they use. Looking at the drawings and writings on the blackboards, you may conclude that the mischievous girls drew and wrote them while arranging their next big hit. The cherry on top is a group shot taken at their usual hangout spot, where they can make it seem like you were truly there.
10. Sword Art Online – Ginza
Every teenage boy wishes they were Kirito from Sword Art Online. Its widespread appeal is self-inserting yourself into the power-fantasy-themed Isekai, living as an overpowered boy in a world of monsters and weaker players. Having many of the film’s key sequences take place in Ginza, Japan’s posh shopping and dining area must be a dream come true for Kirito and the show’s many admirers.
Ginza is well-known as a shopping and eating destination due to its many boutiques, speciality shops, and restaurants. Whether it’s ramen, poke, or sushi, Ginza is a great place to eat, like the characters in Sword Art Online. Did you know that the restaurant where Kirito and Seijiro first met, the Parlour Shiseido, exists in the neighbourhood? The interior is a replica of the real-life location, meaning you can pretend you are Kirito, eating the same food he did on a date of your dreams with your very own Asuna.
11. Higurashi – Shirakawa-Go
Finally, we visit Shirakawa-Go, a UNESCO World Heritage site located 350 kilometres beyond Tokyo in the Gifu Prefecture. The Higurashi: When They Cry series is set in a historic hamlet, a cluster of mountain settlements that will take you back to simpler times. Shirakawa-Go is a beautiful sight, a river valley filled with traditional farmhouses built by hand more than 250 years ago. These buildings have a look and feel that you’d expect to see only in fairytales.
The moment you step foot into Shirakawa-Go, you will immediately feel like you are transported to another world. In one untouched by the hustle and bustle of modern living. Furthermore, the picturesque village, with its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses. It also served as inspiration for Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. Additionally, its stunning landscapes beautifully capture the essence of rural Japan. Thematically, it makes perfect sense that Higurashi chose this village as the backdrop for its plot, which intricately deals with motifs of time travel. Therefore, making the trek to the outskirts of Japan allows you to stand in the same spots where Rena, Kagome, and the rest of the elementary school students experienced the memorable murder mystery whodunit narrative.
12. Sailor Moon – Azabu Juban
For fans of the iconic and well-loved series, Sailor Moon, the real-life Azabu-Juban inspired the fictional Juban, where Usagi lives a seemingly ordinary life as a schoolgirl by day but transforms into a powerful magical warrior at night. Walking through the streets of Azabu-Juban allows Sailor Moon enthusiasts of all ages to walk in the footsteps of Sailor Moon herself and experience a piece of the magic that has enchanted audiences for decades. Naoko Takeuchi, the author of the manga, is known to have attended university in the Minato Ward, which is where she might have taken inspiration for some of the locations.
Azabu-Juban is a charming neighbourhood in the Minato Ward of Tokyo, located close to the bustling areas of Roppongi and Akasaka. It’s also known as one of the most expensive wards of Tokyo to live in. Travel around Azabu-Juban to find upscale restaurants, cosy cafes, and several trendy shops that might catch your eye. You can visit areas inspired by locations in Sailor Moon, such as Azabu-Juban Station and Hikawa Shrine. While some of the areas have developed since the ‘90s, Azabu-Juban is still a must-visit in your Japan itinerary.
13. Ano Hana: The Flower We Saw That Day – Chichibu Bridge
Ano Hana: The Flower We Saw That Day is a deeply emotional anime that explores themes of grief, friendship, and healing. The series is set in Chichibu, a scenic town in Saitama Prefecture. It follows childhood friends who reunite to face the pain of losing Menma, who died years ago. One key real-life location in the anime is Chichibu Bridge, a beautiful and emotional spot in the story.
Chichibu, near Tokyo, is famous for its natural beauty, historic temples, and rural charm. The anime captures the town’s serene landscapes, combining its peacefulness with the story’s emotional depth. Real locations like Chichibu Shrine, Mount Buko, and Chichibu Bridge are depicted with care, grounding the anime in a realistic setting.
It’s the perfect stop in your anime pilgrimage if you need a place to wind down and reflect.
14. Your Lie in April – Shakuji River
Your Lie in April is a poignant anime that touches on themes of love, loss, and the healing power of music. While the story is fictional, the anime’s setting and the locations that inspired it ground the emotional drama in a tangible reality. It is particularly the Shakuji River in Tokyo: one of the most picturesque scenes of the anime.
The Shakuji River, which flows through the Setagaya and Nerima Wards of Tokyo. It is a relatively quiet and scenic waterway, not far from the heart of the city. Known for its picturesque banks and lush greenery. It also serves as a peaceful contrast to the fast-paced urban landscape of Tokyo.
The river is lined with walking paths and parks, making it a popular spot for leisurely strolls, picnics, and quiet reflection. You might also recognise other places in the area such as the Shakuji Park, the Kami-Shakuji Railway Crossing, and the restaurant The Butcher’s Table, which you can stop at for a bite to eat.
15. Demon Slayer – Asakusa
Although you won’t find any demons and demon slayers in the rich traditional Asakusa, this area is still a must-see for fans of Demon Slayer. In this anime, the city of Asakusa plays a key role in the Mugen Train arc. Asakusa is where Tanjiro and his friends begin their journey to board the Mugen Train. This sets up one of the series’ most emotional and action-packed arcs. The anime takes creative liberties, but Asakusa’s historic charm fits the world of Demon Slayer.
Located in Tokyo, Asakusa is a famous district known for its history and culture. It draws visitors to the Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise shopping street. The area’s traditional vibe offers a glimpse of old Tokyo. For anime fans, Asakusa stands out for its ties to Demon Slayer.
Which of these 15 real-life anime locations has caught your eye? The next time you book your tickets and plan your itinerary, mark these sites for your Japan anime tour! Remember: Are you a fan if you never visit these sites, even once in your life?
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