Many people come to Japan for tourism because of their fascination with Japanese anime.
This article describes recommended spots for foreign visitors to Japan who want to visit Japanese spots that have been the setting of anime. It also explains what to keep in mind when making a pilgrimage to sacred places and how to take good pictures.
Please refer to this information in conjunction with the Japanese restaurants and entertainment facilities introduced on this website.
■Pilgrimage to sacred places allows you to visit places that were modeled after anime.
A “pilgrimage to a sacred place” is the act of visiting a place that has been the setting of an anime or manga.
Let us take the famous Japanese animation film “Spirited Away” by Ghibli as an example of a pilgrimage to sacred places.
It is said that the oil house in the film was modeled after the public bath “Shiho-yu”. Koho-yu is a sacred place in “Spirited Away,” and sightseeing at Koho-yu is considered a pilgrimage to a sacred place.
The main benefits of a pilgrimage to a sacred site are as follows
・You can get emotionally involved with the characters of the work.
・You can take pictures of the holy places and share them on SNS
・You can share your emotions with other fans of the same work.
If you go to a sacred place, you can see the same scenery that the characters saw, so you can get emotionally involved with the characters and deeply appreciate the work. Uploading photos of sacred places to SNS allows you to share your emotions with other people who like the same works.
If you go on a pilgrimage to a place that has been the setting of an anime or manga, you will be able to enjoy the work even more.
■Manners to observe on pilgrimages to sacred places
Pilgrimages to sacred sites should be conducted with good manners.
In recent years, with the increase in the number of foreign visitors to Japan, violations of manners by tourists have occurred.
A shopping street in Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture, was a popular spot for photographing Mt. Fuji. However, due to frequent problems with foreign tourists crossing the roadway, dark curtains were put up to prevent them from seeing Mt.
To prevent problems, please know the manners before visiting Japan on a pilgrimage to a sacred site.
The following are the five main manners that foreign visitors to Japan should observe to ensure a trouble-free pilgrimage to sacred sites.
1.Refrain from taking pictures when there are people around
2.Do not sit outdoors
3.Do not litter.
4.Check the facilities where you are allowed to enter with your feet on the ground
5.Do not enter private property
Please observe good manners when making pilgrimages to sacred sites, as regulations may increase as the number of problems continues to grow.
■Five recommended holy ground pilgrimage spots
Here are five recommended spots for pilgrimages to sacred places. We will introduce not only famous anime but also slightly minor ones, so if you are interested in watching them after reading this article, please do so.
The following five anime spots will be introduced.
・Neon Genesis Evangelion” JR Ube-Shinkawa Station
・Tada-kun wa Koi ni nai” Sake brewery Chichibu Nishiki
・Sakuragaike Pond in “Sakura Quest
・The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya” Clock tower in front of Nishinomiya-kitaguchi Station
・Jeweler Richard’s Mystery Appraisal” Shiseido Parlor Ginza Main Store
This section provides an overview of each spot’s anime, how it is treated in the film, and how to get to the spot.
“Neon Genesis Evangelion” JR Ube-Shinkawa Station
“Neon Genesis Evangelion” is an anime in which a timid boy named Shinji Ikari rides a giant man-made weapon called Evangelion and fights an enemy called the Apostles. The series has gained many fans, and the last film in the series, “Shin Evangelion the Movie,” recorded a box-office revenue of 10.28 billion yen.
JR Ube-Shinkawa Station is used in the Shin Evangelion Theater Version and as a model for posters, etc. The reason why JR Ube-Shinkawa Station is used is because it is located in the hometown of Hideaki Anno, the director of the Evangelion series.
It is the perfect sanctuary for fans of JR Ube-Shinagawa Station, as they can not only deepen their emotional attachment to Shinji Ikari, but also trace their roots back to Mr. Anno.
“Tada-kun wa Koi-no-Kunai” Sake Brewery Chichibu Nishiki
“Tada-kun wa Koi wo Naiai” is an anime about a Japanese boy, Mitsuyoshi Arita, who meets a lost foreign girl, Teresa, and develops an exchange with her. The appeal of this work is its romantic comedy element, in which high school students who do not yet know love fall in love with each other, transcending nationality barriers.
The sake brewery Chichibu Nishiki is the model for the Tada Coffee Shop, where the main character, Mitsuyoshi Arita, lives with his sister. Built in the early Showa period, it was originally used as a charcoal store. It is now a tavern where visitors can enjoy a drink while thinking about the anime.
“Sakura Quest” Sakuraga-ike
“Sakura Quest” is an anime about Yuno Kiharu, who is about to graduate from junior college but has not found a job, and becomes the king of the “Chupacabra Kingdom.
In this work, Yuno Kiharu struggles to revitalize a tourist town called the “Chupacabra Kingdom. For foreigners visiting Japan as a tourist destination, this anime is an easy and enjoyable way to get into the setting.
Sakuragaike is the model for Sakura Pond, the central setting of “Sakura Quest. The Chupacabra Kingdom in the anime is located on the shores of Sakura Pond, so a walk around Sakuraga-ike will immerse you in the world of the anime.
“The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya” Clock Tower in front of Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi Station
“The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya” is an anime in which Kyon, an ordinary high school boy, is pushed around by his unprecedented classmate Haruhi Suzumiya.
It is known as the work that popularized the “school romantic comedy” genre overseas, and it still boasts strong popularity today, long after its broadcast in 2006.
The clock tower in front of Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi Station is the spot where Kyon and his friends frequently meet in the work. Although it was once removed, it was re-installed in front of the station after fans requested its restoration by finding the clock tower before it was discarded.
Other spots that appear in the anime, such as Koyoen Station and Hirota Shrine, are located in the surrounding area, allowing visitors to enjoy sightseeing at the same time.
“Jeweler Richard’s Mystery Appraisal” Shiseido Parlor, Ginza, Tokyo
The “Jeweler Richard’s Mystery Appraisal” is an anime about a university student, Masayoshi Nakata, who solves mysteries related to jewelry with a jeweler, Richard. The mystery element is strong and keeps the viewers interested until the last episode.
The Shiseido Parlor Ginza main store actually exists with the same name, appearance, and type of business as the one in the anime. Since Richard frequently visits the shop in the anime, you can immerse yourself in the story by eating the high-end confectionery on sale there.
■Four steps to take a great photo
You can take a good photo by following the four steps below.
1.Decide on the time of day to take the picture.
2.Decide on the composition
3.Decide on the position
4.Decide on the angle.
If you shoot early in the day, the photo will have a bluish tint; if you shoot late in the day, the photo will have a reddish tint. Adjusting the time of day according to the color of the subject is recommended.
Basically, the subject should be placed in the center of the composition. If you take a distance and compose your photo so that the sky is included, you will be able to take a photo that does not feel oppressive.
Position is the height of the camera when shooting. The higher the position, the more the landscape stands out, and the lower the position, the more the subject stands out.
If the subject is small, shooting from an overhead angle will result in a stylish photo. Take pictures that look good and help create memories.
■Let’s enjoy pilgrimages to sacred places by following the rules!
In this article, we have explained what a pilgrimage to sacred sites is, rules to follow in a pilgrimage to sacred sites, recommended pilgrimage spots, and how to take pictures that look good.
If you remember the rules of etiquette, you will be able to enjoy sightseeing in Japan without trouble, not limited to pilgrimages to sacred sites.
Please enjoy your pilgrimage to sacred places while taking pictures that look good.
【Q&A】
Q. What is a pilgrimage to a holy place?
A. It is the act of visiting places that have been the setting of an anime or manga. It is a great way to deepen your emotional attachment to the characters and to share your excitement with other fans by taking pictures and uploading them to social networking sites.
Q. Are there any points to keep in mind when making a pilgrimage to a holy place?
A.Please observe the following manners when touring Japan, including pilgrimages to sacred sites.
1.Refrain from taking pictures when there are people around you.
2.Do not sit outdoors
3.Do not litter.
4.Check the facilities where you are allowed to enter with your feet on the ground.
5.Do not enter private property.
