A bulk of the anime we know and love are set in real-life locations in Japan. Often, the stories are based on a specific location mentioned in the anime, such as Ikebukuro where popular anime Durarara! and its sequel are set. In other cases, the setting is not mentioned but fans are quick to identify the location using scenes found in each episode. One such example would be the hit franchise The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi, which featured scenery from Nishinomiya in Hyogo Prefecture. Avid anime fans have had a long tradition of making pilgrimages to key spots in their favorite series through an activity known as Seichi Junrei. There’s now even a website dedicated to documenting these spots and they have recently released a ranking of the wards in Tokyo that contain the most number of pilgrimage spots.
If you only have a couple of days in Japan to go on a pilgrimage, this ranking should probably come in handy!
One of Japan’s rarest sweets is a sell-out hit that looks and tastes like frost
Japan now has fish-shaped soy sauce bottle hand cream
Mysterious light-up rainy night-sound Totoro figure doesn’t actually show a scene from the anime
Chiikawa lucky bag required a four-month wait, but was it worth it?【Photos】
Japanese company develops classy heavy metal band frames for glasses
Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke plushies show a softer side of formidable Ghibli characters
That awkward moment when anime becomes reality
Japanese hamburger chain replaces buns with beef patties for awesomely crazy sandwich
To beard, or not to beard, that is the question. Here are Japanese women’s answers
What do you eat when you catch a cold? We asked 11 of our Japanese reporters
Studio Ghibli tea blends contain ingredients inspired by My Neighbour Totoro
Japan’s Kanji of the Year announced, shows the bright and dark spots of 2024【Video】
Japan’s tap-to-pay Suica train card system aims to go tapless with walk-through gates, location data scans
Starbucks teams up with 165-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Snake decorations【Photos】
Over 800 Studio Ghibli anime world paintings compiled in beautiful new hardcover art book【Pics】
Studio Ghibli showcases traditional craftsmanship with new wallet range
Japanese city paints well-known prostitution street bright yellow, adds fish art【Video】
Possessing Harry Potter’s Sword of Godric Gryffindor is now illegal in Japan
Uniqlo announces first-ever collaboration with horror manga master Junji Ito【Photos】
J-pop mega star Ado reveals she’s been living in the U.S., may not understand language acquisition
Starbucks Japan is calling it quits with paper straws
Studio Ghibli releases new range of cardigans for anime fans
Japan’s most popular castle raising ticket prices by up to 200 percent for non-local tourists
Furikake rice seasoning sales are soaring, which is bad news for Japan as a whole
Studio Ghibli heroine cardigans give you warmth and strength to face everyday challenges
Eight unforgettable hot springs, as recommended by Japan’s “Professor Bath”
Berserk T-shirts coming to Uniqlo for launch of new Manga Curation line【Photos】
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers
[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Studio Ghibli releases free-download board game — Here’s how to play it without reading Japanese
Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke plushies show a softer side of formidable Ghibli characters
That awkward moment when anime becomes reality
Japanese hamburger chain replaces buns with beef patties for awesomely crazy sandwich
To beard, or not to beard, that is the question. Here are Japanese women’s answers
What do you eat when you catch a cold? We asked 11 of our Japanese reporters
Ghibli Paper Theater craft kits are back to end your stocking stuffer/souvenir search【Photos】
Pizza Hut releases a turtle pizza that looks like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle
A visit to the back-alley Tokyo ramen restaurant listed in the Michelin dining guide
Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno is writing for the new Gundam anime TV series【Vido】
This beautiful Starbucks just outside Tokyo has an aural connection to Japan’s samurai past【Pics】
We visit izakaya in Thailand billed as “Middle Aged Man’s Paradise”, try food that’s illegal in Japan
Clever design trick means beautiful Ghibli Artboard Jigsaw Puzzles won’t have bittersweet ending