ANIME PILGRIMAGE

Quite a few anime and manga stories take place in real-world locations and borrow their scenery. Fans of these works regard these locations as “holy sites” and visit them frequently. Lucky Star (Raki☆Suta), a four-frame manga drawn by Kagami Yoshimizu, became an anime work in 2007 and won many fans inside and outside Japan. An anime version of the manga appeared on TV, using Washinomiya in Saitama Pref. as the setting of its story. As a result, sightseers spent more than a billion yen over three years to visit this location — the most financially successful anime pilgrimage yet.

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This place appears as Takanomiya Shrine in the story. The father of two sisters (who are the main characters) of the Hiiragi family is the chief priest of this shrine. He is skilled at drawing illustrations on wooden plaques (ema) for dedication to the spirits.

This summer festival has been held for generations in Washinomiya. Since 2008, the Lucky Star mikoshi (portable shrine) has made its appearance, carried by fans. This mikoshi procession is accompanied with the rallying cry of “moe moe” instead of the regular “sore sore.”

An old-fashioned mom-and-pop candy store is filled with drawings from Lucky Star.

GAME BAR
a gathering spot for grownups where old games are available
OSAMU TEZUKA
creator of Japan’s manga and anime cultures
AKIRA BIKE
enthusiasts create a dream machine from the world of Otomo’s AKIRA
TOTTORI YOKAI ROAD
where yokais and humans live together
Kaminari-mon
雷門
Soba (Japanese traditional noodles)
日本蕎麦
Karaoke
カラオケ
Capsule hotel
カプセルホテル
Tokyo Tower
東京タワー
Shinjuku
新宿
Edo kiriko
江戸切子
Architecture Street
建築ストリート
Sanshin
三線
Shiisaa
シーサー
Mangroves
マングローブ
Village of Long Life
長寿の里
Taiwan
Mobile Suit Gundam
Russia
Magic Knight Rayearth
Japan
Fate/Zero , BLEACH
Korea
Hakuohki / Adekan
Harajuku fashion is a way to express myself.
Harajuku girl leads next-generation kawaii.
The color wizard behind 80s kawaii revival.
How global fans see Japan: kawaii heaven.
Mizuura Mikuji
水占みくじ
Small Torii
小さな鳥居
Suguki pickles
すぐき漬け
Fushimi Inari Taisha
伏見稲荷大社
Department store basement
デパ地下
Cosmetics
化粧品
Hasamiyaki ceramics
波佐見焼
Japanese sake
日本酒
SUSHI
寿司
SOBA
蕎麦
RICE VINEGAR
お酢
KAISEKI
懐石
YAYOI KUSAMA
TABAIMO
HISASHI TENMYOUYA
TAKU OBATA
NEBUTA MATSURI
SANJA MATSURI
MENBURYU
AWA ODORI
KARATEDO
空手
KENDO
剣道
KYUDO
弓道
SADO
茶道
SAMURAI AVATAR
侍アバター
KATANA-KAJI
刀鍛冶
KACCHU-SHI
甲冑師
FOOD MODEL CRAFTSMAN
食品サンプル職人
SHOGI
SHOGI
GAME CENTER
GAME CENTER
FAMILY COMPUTER / NES
Family Computer / NES
GAME CREATOR
GAME CREATOR