Anime Places in Japan

One of the reasons why foreigners become so enamoured of Japanese culture is due to its strong showing of interesting anime. Case in point: Pokemon, the popular anime series about capturing monsters so successful that its mobile game spin-off, Pokemon Go is currently taking the world by storm. Undoubtedly, many travellers will love to visit anime-themed places in Japan so as to indulge their love for their favorite characters and even fuel their passion for anime. Do check out the following four kinds of anime places and create your own exciting adventures!

Anime museums Hayao Miyazaki’s iconic films like "Spirited Away" and "Princess Mononoke" are critically acclaimed and commercially well-received, so it's no wonder that many travellers go out of their way to Dogo Onsen and Yakushima Islands – the sites that were inspiration fodder for these two films. Now, you may not have time to roam around Japan, but you can still visit the Studio Ghibli museum that is located near Mitaka station on the JR Chuo Line. Secure your entrance ticket in advance at any Lawson convenience store, and you're good to go! Get a glimpse of Miyazaki's creative mind by browsing through his original drawings and understanding how he generated ideas for his wacky films!

Other anime museums abound in various parts of Japan. Detective anime buffs will relish the opportunity to visit the Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory, where they can similarly peep into the mind of the author behind one of Japan’s best-loved boy detectives, Detective Conan. Be enthralled by elaborate set-ups that depict legendary crime scenes from the anime! Also not to be missed out is the Fujiko F. Fujio museum, where you can relive your childhood by taking attention-grabbing selfies with life-size Doraemon statues.

Anime festivals Just a stone's throw from Akihabara, Kanda Myojin Shrine is not your typical Japanese shrine but features prominently in the anime hit, Love Live! as one of the main characters, Nozomi works there as a part-time shrine maiden. Hence, if you follow this series fervently or just want to observe how religion is infused seamlessly with fiction, check out the Kanda festival, where you can pen down your wishes on too-cute-for-words ema prayer tablets and get your hands on exclusive Love Live! products like omamori charms. Don’t forget to show your support for the Love Live! kitchen car by trying out its fascinating anime-inspired lattes, juices and marshmallows!

Aside from Kanda Myojin Shrine, anime festivals are held at other places integral to Japanese culture. Case in point: Yuwaku Onsen in Kanazawa. This onsen town was enterprising enough to capitalize on the success of "Hanasaku Iroha", an anime series of a teenage girl working at her grandmother’s hot spring inn. Since "Hanasaku Iroha" extolled the fun of an imaginary festival that featured colourful lit lanterns (bonbori) with wishes written on them, Yuwaku Onsen decided to bring this festival to life. Witness the grand spectacle of all wishes collected throughout the year being offered up to the gods and burnt in a magnificent ritual bonfire by the lake – just like in the anime!

Anisong concerts Do you have an encompassing love for all things anime? Then you must love listening to the theme songs of anime series as well. Why not attend an anisong concert, where you can immerse yourself in smashing good music from anisong singers? These concerts usually feature many accomplished artistes whose works come from a smorgasbord of genres, thus making for an awesome opportunity to get acquainted with Japan’s anisong scene. Indeed, from ClariS, a duet known for their sweet voices to Flow that will blast your ears off with its pulsating rock music, concert-goers are spoilt for choice!

Anime-themed trains These days, everyone is deeply engrossed in playing PokémonGO, a mobile game spin-off from Pokémon that harnesses augmented technology to fulfil one’s childhood fantasy to catch all Pokémon monsters. Why not take your dedication towards this game one notch further and board the Pokémon With You train that runs from Ichinoseki to Kessennuma in Iwate prefecture? Engaging a forest theme, this train allows you to immerse yourself in a Pokémon-filled world, with its train seats, curtains and even ceilings showcasing vivid Pokémon characters. On the other hand, if futuristic sci-fiction anime are your cup of tea, you may want to check out the Neon Genesis Evangelion bullet train that will run between Fukuoka City and Osaka City for a limited period till March 2017. Suspend reality as you step inside the fantasy world of Neon Genesis – seats are transformed into innovative set pieces featuring the fantasy world of Neon Genesis.

authentic logos from the show. There's even a life-size mecha (robot) cockpit that you may be able to climb into and realize your piloting dream! Anime is deeply embedded in the everyday lives of Japanese people, and is so prevalent that it has pervaded almost every segment of society from traditional shrines to modern shinkansen trains. Why not join the locals at some of these anime places and bond with them over your common passion for anime?