Pick a show, then a region
Start with a show you love and find its spots on the map. Spots are filed by region like train lines (the Kanto line, the Kansai line and so on), and each has a code like KT 04, so you can plan a route. Neighboring stops on a line usually pair well in a day.
Read the guide before you go
Every guide has a "Before you go" section with the rules that apply there: residential streets, active schools, photo areas, opening hours. Events and timetables change often, so check the official sources listed at the bottom of each guide before you travel.
Getting around
- Trains first. Almost every spot here is reachable by rail and bus. A rechargeable IC card (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA and others), or the version in your phone's wallet, covers most local trains and buses.
- Rail passes aren't automatic wins. The nationwide Japan Rail Pass got much more expensive in October 2023. Price out your actual journeys before buying one; regional passes are often better value.
- Rural spots need timetables. Buses to places like Lake Motosu, Yuwaku Onsen or the Hakkoda Ropeway run infrequently. Check the last bus back before you set out.
- Driving? Only where trains really don't reach, and always park legally.
When to go
- Weekday mornings are the calmest time almost everywhere.
- Festival days are spectacular and crowded. Washinomiya's Yasaka Festival (fourth Sunday of July), Oarai's Ankou Festival (November) and Omi Jingu's karuta events (January and July) are worth planning around, in either direction.
- Weather matters in the mountains and up north. Ropeways stop in high wind, and roads freeze in winter.
Getting the shot
- Save screenshots on your phone to match angles, but shoot from public ground.
- Leave the tripod at home. Many spots ban them, and you'll block the path.
- Fewer people, better photos. Arrive early, shoot quickly, step aside.
Stamps, goshuin and collab goods
- Your passport. Tap "Stamp it" on a guide when you visit, and the stamp lands on your passport. Stamps stay in your browser.
- Stamp rallies. Rail companies and towns often run rallies tied to an anime. We round up current ones in the news.
- Goshuin are handwritten seals from shrines and temples, collected in a special book. Some shrines offer anime-themed versions. Ask politely, and remember it's a religious item.
Before you leave home
- Read the Pilgrim's Code.
- Learn a few phrases: sumimasen (excuse me), arigatou gozaimasu (thank you), shashin wo totte mo ii desu ka? (may I take a photo?).
- Pack a small bag for your trash.