Franchises
Franchises
Pick a franchise. We show you the real places in Japan, what is on while you are there, and a route that connects them.
PokémonポケモンThe largest media franchise on earth, and Tokyo is its home base.The largest media franchise on earth, and Tokyo is its home base.13PlacesNintendo任天堂One official store in Tokyo, and everything in it is exclusive.One official store in Tokyo, and everything in it is exclusive.4PlacesStudio GhibliスタジオジブリThe moss forest, the port town, the bathhouse and the hill road — all real, all reachable.The moss forest, the port town, the bathhouse and the hill road — all real, all reachable.8PlacesDemon Slayer鬼滅の刃Asakusa, a mountain named in the official fanbook, and a ryokan you can sleep in.Asakusa, a mountain named in the official fanbook, and a ryokan you can sleep in.7PlacesDragon BallドラゴンボールA fictional world, so no locations — but the world's first official store opened in 2025.A fictional world, so no locations — but the world's first official store opened in 2025.4PlacesBEYBLADE XベイブレードXJapan gets the releases first, and roughly half the price.Japan gets the releases first, and roughly half the price.5PlacesNARUTONARUTO -ナルト-Two permanent official villages, the author's home town, and the real ninja province.Two permanent official villages, the author's home town, and the real ninja province.5PlacesONE PIECEONE PIECETen life-size bronze statues across Kumamoto, placed to help the region rebuild.Ten life-size bronze statues across Kumamoto, placed to help the region rebuild.13PlacesGundamガンダムTwo life-size Gundam statues you can stand under for free.Two life-size Gundam statues you can stand under for free.4PlacesSLAM DUNKスラムダンクOne railway crossing in Kamakura, and fans queue to photograph it every day.One railway crossing in Kamakura, and fans queue to photograph it every day.3PlacesYour Name (Kimi no Na wa)君の名は。A staircase in Yotsuya that people fly to Japan to stand on.A staircase in Yotsuya that people fly to Japan to stand on.4PlacesSailor Moon美少女戦士セーラームーンThe shrine, the shopping street and the park are all real, and all in Azabu-Juban.The shrine, the shopping street and the park are all real, and all in Azabu-Juban.4PlacesWeathering With You天気の子The rooftop shrine is real and in Ginza. The derelict building it sat on is gone.The rooftop shrine is real and in Ginza. The derelict building it sat on is gone.2PlacesKingdomキングダムA Saga seawall with all 77 volumes printed along it, until 30 September 2026.A Saga seawall with all 77 volumes printed along it, until 30 September 2026.3Places3EventsSuzumeすずめの戸締まりA film about places that are gone, and some of its locations are gone too.A film about places that are gone, and some of its locations are gone too.3PlacesA Silent Voice (Koe no Katachi)聲の形Ogaki drew the whole film, and the city built an official location guide for it.Ogaki drew the whole film, and the city built an official location guide for it.3PlacesLove Live!ラブライブ!Kanda Myojin in Akihabara, and an entire seaside town in Shizuoka.Kanda Myojin in Akihabara, and an entire seaside town in Shizuoka.3PlacesGirls und Panzerガールズ&パンツァーA whole town that rebuilt itself around one anime, and never stopped.A whole town that rebuilt itself around one anime, and never stopped.3PlacesYuri!!! on ICEユーリ!!! on ICEHasetsu is Karatsu, and the tourist office still hands out the official map.Hasetsu is Karatsu, and the tourist office still hands out the official map.3PlacesSound! Euphonium響け!ユーフォニアムUji, drawn so precisely that you navigate the town by the show.Uji, drawn so precisely that you navigate the town by the show.3PlacesAttack on Titan進撃の巨人A 94-metre dam wall standing in for Wall Maria, with the three children below it.A 94-metre dam wall standing in for Wall Maria, with the three children below it.2PlacesAnohana: The Flower We Saw That Dayあの日見た花の名前を僕達はまだ知らないThe bridge from the opening is a 15-minute walk from Chichibu station.The bridge from the opening is a 15-minute walk from Chichibu station.2PlacesGolden KamuyゴールデンカムイMeiji-era Hokkaido, and the buildings from the story are still standing.Meiji-era Hokkaido, and the buildings from the story are still standing.2PlacesHaikyu!!ハイキュー!!Sendai, and an honest warning: the arena from the series is closed until 2027.Sendai, and an honest warning: the arena from the series is closed until 2027.1PlacesSteins;Gateシュタインズ・ゲートAkihabara, drawn street by street — but the building on the cover was rebuilt.Akihabara, drawn street by street — but the building on the cover was rebuilt.2PlacesK-On!けいおん!The school building is real, it is free, and the music room is set up as it is drawn.The school building is real, it is free, and the music room is set up as it is drawn.1PlacesHigurashi: When They Cryひぐらしのなく頃にHinamizawa is Shirakawa-go — a World Heritage village where people still live.Hinamizawa is Shirakawa-go — a World Heritage village where people still live.2PlacesLucky Starらき☆すたThe shrine that invented modern anime pilgrimage, and the town never stopped.The shrine that invented modern anime pilgrimage, and the town never stopped.1PlacesLaid-Back Camp (Yuru Camp)ゆるキャン△The campsite from episode one, on the lake with the Mount Fuji from the banknote.The campsite from episode one, on the lake with the Mount Fuji from the banknote.2PlacesBungo Stray Dogs文豪ストレイドッグスYokohama, and almost every location is on one walk along the waterfront.Yokohama, and almost every location is on one walk along the waterfront.3PlacesThe Garden of Words言の葉の庭One garden, one gazebo, 46 minutes of film. The most concentrated pilgrimage in Tokyo.One garden, one gazebo, 46 minutes of film. The most concentrated pilgrimage in Tokyo.1PlacesEvangelionエヴァンゲリオンHakone is the city the series is set in, and it is a real hot spring town.Hakone is the city the series is set in, and it is a real hot spring town.3PlacesCrayon Shin-chanクレヨンしんちゃんKasukabe is the actual town, and the city hall has the statues.Kasukabe is the actual town, and the city hall has the statues.2PlacesRascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai青春ブタ野郎はバニーガール先輩の夢を見ないEnoshima and Shichirigahama, on a train line you ride for the view anyway.Enoshima and Shichirigahama, on a train line you ride for the view anyway.2PlacesFree! Iwatobi Swim ClubFree!A fishing town in Tottori that has kept the collaboration running for over a decade.A fishing town in Tottori that has kept the collaboration running for over a decade.2PlacesHyouka氷菓Takayama, drawn building by building, in a town people already travel to.Takayama, drawn building by building, in a town people already travel to.2PlacesChihayafuruちはやふるOmi Jingu, where the actual national karuta championships are held every January.Omi Jingu, where the actual national karuta championships are held every January.1PlacesSummer WarsサマーウォーズUeda in Nagano, where the castle gate is the gate of the family house.Ueda in Nagano, where the castle gate is the gate of the family house.2PlacesWolf Childrenおおかみこどもの雨と雪The house is real, it is free to enter, and it is furnished as it is in the film.The house is real, it is free to enter, and it is furnished as it is in the film.1PlacesInitial D頭文字DMount Haruna is Akina. A public road, a real lake, and a hard rule about how to drive it.Mount Haruna is Akina. A public road, a real lake, and a hard rule about how to drive it.1PlacesThe Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱Nishinomiya, and the school that is being renamed out of existence.Nishinomiya, and the school that is being renamed out of existence.2PlacesGeGeGe no Kitaroゲゲゲの鬼太郎178 bronze yokai along one 800-metre street, free, lit until 22:00.178 bronze yokai along one 800-metre street, free, lit until 22:00.4PlacesDetective Conan名探偵コナンAn entire town in Tottori renamed itself around the series.An entire town in Tottori renamed itself around the series.3PlacesCaptain Tsubasaキャプテン翼Nine bronze statues across two neighbourhoods in east Tokyo, and a station wrapped in the manga.Nine bronze statues across two neighbourhoods in east Tokyo, and a station wrapped in the manga.2PlacesOsamu Tezuka (Astro Boy)手塚治虫（鉄腕アトム）The museum in the town he grew up in, 25 minutes from Osaka.The museum in the town he grew up in, 25 minutes from Osaka.2PlacesChibi Maruko-chanちびまる子ちゃんSet in 1970s Shimizu, and Shimizu built the 1970s back.Set in 1970s Shimizu, and Shimizu built the 1970s back.1PlacesAnpanmanアンパンマンThe author's home valley in Kochi, and the museum he designed himself.The author's home valley in Kochi, and the museum he designed himself.2PlacesSazae-sanサザエさんThe longest-running animated series in the world, and its museum is in the suburb it is set in.The longest-running animated series in the world, and its museum is in the suburb it is set in.1PlacesLupin the Thirdルパン三世The author's home town on the far east coast of Hokkaido, and it is free.The author's home town on the far east coast of Hokkaido, and it is free.2PlacesFist of the North Star北斗の拳A bronze bust inside the Shinkansen gates at Saku, and seven manhole covers laid out as the Big Dipper.A bronze bust inside the Shinkansen gates at Saku, and seven manhole covers laid out as the Big Dipper.1PlacesTeasing Master Takagi-sanからかい上手の高木さんShodoshima, where the town hands out the location map at the ferry terminal.Shodoshima, where the town hands out the location map at the ferry terminal.2PlacesHanasaku Iroha花咲くいろはA festival invented for the anime, now held for real every October since 2011.A festival invented for the anime, now held for real every October since 2011.2PlacesTamako MarketたまこまーけっとA working Kyoto shopping arcade that helped make the show and never stopped.A working Kyoto shopping arcade that helped make the show and never stopped.2PlacesDoraemonドラえもんThe museum is advance-ticket only, and it sells out.The museum is advance-ticket only, and it sells out.2PlacesEncouragement of ClimbヤマノススメA 197-metre mountain 50 minutes from Ikebukuro, and the reason a lot of people started hiking.A 197-metre mountain 50 minutes from Ikebukuro, and the reason a lot of people started hiking.2PlacesSummer Time RenderingサマータイムレンダAn uninhabited island of overgrown Meiji gun batteries, 20 minutes by ferry.An uninhabited island of overgrown Meiji gun batteries, 20 minutes by ferry.2PlacesTamayuraたまゆらA preserved Edo merchant town on the Inland Sea, and a series about photographing it.A preserved Edo merchant town on the Inland Sea, and a series about photographing it.2PlacesTsuki ga Kirei月がきれいKawagoe, drawn street by street — and it is a major sightseeing town anyway.Kawagoe, drawn street by street — and it is a major sightseeing town anyway.2Places5 Centimeters per Second秒速5センチメートルThe station at the end of the first chapter, in rural Tochigi. Now unstaffed.The station at the end of the first chapter, in rural Tochigi. Now unstaffed.1PlacesZombie Land SagaゾンビランドサガA comedy about how little anyone knows about Saga, made with Saga prefecture's cooperation.A comedy about how little anyone knows about Saga, made with Saga prefecture's cooperation.2PlacesA Place Further Than the Universe宇宙よりも遠い場所Tatebayashi in Gunma, and a story that ends in Antarctica.Tatebayashi in Gunma, and a story that ends in Antarctica.2PlacesKochikameこちら葛飾区亀有公園前派出所Fifteen bronze statues around one station in east Tokyo, all free.Fifteen bronze statues around one station in east Tokyo, all free.1PlacesCity HunterシティーハンターShinjuku itself, drawn as itself, for a series enormous in France and Italy.Shinjuku itself, drawn as itself, for a series enormous in France and Italy.1PlacesKids on the Slope坂道のアポロンSasebo in Nagasaki — the slope, the church and the school are all real.Sasebo in Nagasaki — the slope, the church and the school are all real.2PlacesSanrio / Hello Kittyサンリオ／ハローキティTwo theme parks: one indoor near Tokyo, one outdoor in Kyushu.Two theme parks: one indoor near Tokyo, one outdoor in Kyushu.2PlacesDigimon AdventureデジモンアドベンチャーOdaiba, drawn as itself in 1999, and the reason a generation knows the word.Odaiba, drawn as itself in 1999, and the reason a generation knows the word.2PlacesChiikawaちいかわThe character that took over Japanese merchandise shelves, with a permanent store under Tokyo Station.The character that took over Japanese merchandise shelves, with a permanent store under Tokyo Station.1PlacesJujutsu Kaisen呪術廻戦The Shibuya Incident is set in the real Shibuya, and you can walk all of it.The Shibuya Incident is set in the real Shibuya, and you can walk all of it.4PlacesMy Hero Academia僕のヒーローアカデミアNo real-world locations exist. Here is what to do instead.No real-world locations exist. Here is what to do instead.1Places