Anime and Manga Pilgrimage in Japan
Seichi junrei — sacred place pilgrimage — is the practice of visiting real-world locations that inspired or appear in anime and manga. What began as a niche fan activity has grown into a significant tourism category, with some towns transforming their economies around the connection to a beloved series.
Iconic Pilgrimage Destinations
Washinomiya Shrine in Kuki City (Saitama) — the prototype for the shrine in Lucky Star — became one of Japan’s first seichi junrei destinations after the 2007 series aired. Visitor numbers jumped dramatically and the town embraced the connection with official merchandise and events. Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture inspired the village in Higurashi no Naku Koro ni and draws fans of that series alongside UNESCO-listed heritage tourists. Numazu City in Shizuoka has fully embraced its role as the real-world setting of Love Live! Sunshine!!, with cafe collaborations and permanent fan-facing infrastructure.
Studio Ghibli Locations
Ghibli films draw visitors to specific locations across Japan. The Satsuki and Mei’s House reconstruction in Nagakute (near the Ghibli Museum in Nagoya) replicates the home from My Neighbour Totoro. Tomonoura, a preserved port town in Hiroshima Prefecture, inspired the setting for Ponyo. The coal loader at Innoshima is said to have inspired the bathhouse boiler room in Spirited Away. Ghibli Park opened in Aichi Prefecture in 2022, offering the most concentrated Ghibli experience in Japan — advance tickets are required and sell out months ahead.
Tokyo’s Anime Districts
Akihabara (Akiba) in Tokyo remains the global epicentre of anime and manga merchandise retail. Multi-floor stores like Yodobashi Camera Akiba, Kotobukiya, and Animate sell figures, doujinshi, merchandise, and rare collectibles. Nakano Broadway in Nakano Ward is a less touristy alternative with deep stocks of vintage and niche items. Ikebukuro’s Sunshine City and Otome Road area cater more specifically to female fans of boys’ love (BL) manga and reverse-harem genres. The monthly Comiket event at Tokyo Big Sight (August and December) is the world’s largest fan-made doujinshi market.
Practical Pilgrimage Tips
Use the Anime Tourism Association’s official app (88 Places) which lists verified pilgrimage spots with GPS coordinates and Japanese/English descriptions. Most pilgrimage sites are ordinary public spaces — shrines, parks, bridges, school exteriors — and visitors are expected to behave respectfully as they would at any site. Do not disrupt local residents for photos. Many towns have published fan visitor guidelines in response to inconsiderate behaviour at seichi sites. A printed or digital comparison photo of the anime scene alongside the real location adds to the experience and is standard practice among pilgrims.