Your Name's Scenes Are a Huge Hit!: Top 5 Anime Pilgrimage Routes in Japan

By /MOOKCompiled and reported by the Scenic Spots Editorial Team

Makoto Shinkai’s new animated film Your Name from Japan,with its hyper-realistic and intricate art style,and numerous scenes that overlap with real-world locations,has ignited a wave of pilgrimage-related discussions across the globe. Filming locations spanning Tokyo, Oshima, Gifu,and Nagano have also been revealed one by one.

As a major exporter of animation,Japan has countless filming locations for classic anime scattered throughout the country,making them worthwhile destinations for travelers. Hotels.com has compileda list of Japan’s top five classic pilgrimage cities, inviting travelers to step into the real-world counterparts of their favorite animated worlds,and experience the magical overlap of reality and fiction that even non-die-hard anime fans can’t resist.
 
 
1.    Your Name Scene-by-Scene Pilgrimage: Tokyo
In the anime, the male protagonist lives in Tokyo. In addition to famous settings such as the NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building,the film’s meticulously detailed art style has also made many hidden locations extremely popular. One of the most iconic,the red escalator where the male and female leads first meet, is located at Sakuragaoka Shrine, about a 10-minute walk from Shinanomachi Station,heading toward Yokohama Stadium.Also, the Shinanomachi pedestrian bridge where the male lead gazes up at the sky in the show is right there. Moreover,the scene featuring a row of tall office buildings with a circular traffic lightis located near a police station close to Shinjuku Station — a perfect spot to visit when the area lights up at night.
 
Tokyo Accommodation Recommendation: Roppongi S Hotel – 3.5 stars

2.    Slam Dunk Classic Comeback Journey: Kamakura
Slam Dunk is considered a shared memory for many people in Taiwan.The shining coastline and classic train crossing scene from the opening theme song are located in Kamakura, just over an hour’s drive from Tokyo.Take the retro-style Enoden train to “Kamakura High School Front,”and relive the world of Slam DunkThe scene of Umi and Sakuragi waving in the opening theme is a must-photo spot for many travelers!The nearby Kamakura High School is the model for the strongest rival school in the manga — Ryonan High.And the refreshing, azure coastal scenery is also the highway that anime character Rukawa rides along every day on his way to and from school!on his bicycle!
 
Kamakura Accommodation Recommendation: Breathe Hotel — 3-star

3.    A Romantic Journey Inspired by "The Wind Rises": Karuizawa
Karuizawa, originally a popular summer retreat near Tokyo, gained even more fame after Hayao Miyazaki’s farewell masterpiece "The Wind Rises." In addition to the red brick arch bridge that the train passes over in the film,which is identical to the Usui Third Bridge (also known as Eyeglasses Bridge),the over 100-year-old Hotel Wanpaku is also believed to be an important scene location in the movie.It’s worth spending an afternoon cycling through the lush, poetic surroundings of Karuizawa — the setting where the film’s protagonists, Jiro and Naoko, fell in love.Enjoy the green, poetic surroundings of Karuizawa — where the protagonists fell in love.the setting where the film’s protagonists, Jiro and Naoko, fell in love.
 
Karuizawa Accommodation Recommendation: Hotel Prince Karuizawa — 4-star