Self-proclaimed otaku who just loveanimewill likely have Japan in their must-visit locations should they go abroad, especially with the country’s wide range of attractions and locations dedicated specifically toanimeand manga. The thing is, with all these potential places scattered across the country, the prospective visitor may find it difficult to choose just which anime-related places to visit.
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Thankfully, certain landmarks and attractions in Japan tend to be massive, eventful, and iconic enough to make an otaku’s Japan trip worth the while. Aside from being able to purchase exclusive souvenirs and take awesome photos, certain anime attractions provide unforgettable experiences to both first-timers and regulars who just love visiting them.
10Washinomiya Shrine
While there are many real-life locations that feature anime, none havereached the popularity ofLucky Starand itsWashinomiya Shrine. Unlike other anime, the Washinomiya Shrine is a great way to introduce tourists to Japan’s rich otaku culture and religion. Some say it’s the oldest shrine in Kanto, at around 1900 to 2000 years of age.
Fans who want to partake in Washinomiya Shrine’s rich anime culture should probably wait around summer, as July 31st is usually dedicated to the Summer Festival where formal festivities are also celebrated alongside theLucky Staranime. Moreover, there’s even a dedicatedLucky Starshrine in the area, featuring a lot of vintage and modernLucky Starmerchandise.
9Pokemon Cafe
Fans ofPokemonwho want to make their Japan visit worthwhile may as well transform one of their meals into aPokemon-themed one, andPokemon Cafeis the right place to do just that. Located on the fifth floor of the Takashimaya Building, thePokemonCafe is a cafe-restaurant that offers Japanese disheswith aPokemonaesthetic. There’s also a Pokemon Center next door ready to fill Poke-fans with tons of unique merchandise.
Although much “tamer” than other anime attractions compared to what it has to offer, Pokemon Cafe is a great starter for any anime-themed tour in Japan. Not to mention, fans who didn’t quite get the merch they wanted from the Pokemon Center can visit more Centers in Ikebukuro and Asakusa.
8Gundam Factory Yokohama
If there’s any landmark an otaku should visit in Japan, it’s theGundam Factory Yokohama, home of an actual movingGundamreplica. Officially opened in 2020, Gundam Factory Yokohama is most popular for its life-sized model of an RX-78F00Gundamthat can move its limbs. For mecha fans, this is a live-action dream come true, particularly for those whoimagine these Gundams fightingother robots in real life.
The entire Gundam Factory itself is home to various attractions that will attract more science-inclined otaku. After checking out the Gundam in the Gundam-Dock, they can learn more about its inner mechanisms in the Academy and even attend workshops and lectures in the Conference Room. Fans who want souvenirs can head over to the Gundam-Lab and the Gundam Base Yokohama Satellite to purchase various goodies.
7Ghibli Museum
Fans of anyStudio Ghiblifilm will find themselves transported to a real-life interpretation of Hayao Miyazaki’s mindscape via theGhibli Museum. As the name suggests, the entire building is jam-packedwith Ghibli iconography- from the aesthetic down to design materials and artwork pieces.
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The interior itself is maze-like, encouraging visitors to interact with its many elements by having small doors and spiral staircases. Various characters and concepts fromStudio Ghibliappear in the museum, as well as reconstructed workspaces of Ghibli animators themselves. Booking tickets is a must, given they sell out pretty fast. However, it’s worth it knowing that there’s actually an exclusive short film that only the Museum plays to visitors.
6Doraemon Museum
Fans whofondly remember the cute time-traveling catDoraemoncan finally visit him along with Nobita and his pals at theDoraemon Museum, officially known as the Fujiko F. Fujio Museum. Essentially an art museum, the Doraemon Museum contains a lot of art from the works of Fujio, which aside from Doraemon, would include Kaibutsukun, 21-emon, and other series.
A lot of the interactive parts of the museum are fit for small children, and they’re still a delight to look at. There are rooms specifically for special activities and reading manga, as well as some life-sized statues of Doraemon and friends available for picture taking. Like the Ghibli Museum, there’s also an exclusive short film that only the Doraemon Museum showcases.
5Sanrio Puroland
Fans of otaku culture visiting Japan can experiencecuteness to the maximumby visiting Hello Kitty and her friends atSanrio Puroland. As the name suggests, this entire theme park is home to all thingsSanrio, all packed into one building. Aside from the typical souvenir shop and the various dining spaces for Sanrio-themed food, Sanrio Puroland is perfect especially for younger anime fans of the family.
Various locations around Sanrio Puroland are also extremely aesthetic, complete with castle-esque, fairytale, and adventurous aesthetics. There are also some activities and attractions for Sanrio fans, such as a boat ride to see more statues and aesthetic displays, exclusive stage performances, multiple theaters, and even games centered around popular Sanrio characters.
4Kyoto International Manga Museum
Manga enthusiasts shouldn’t miss the opportunity to visit the best place to learn all about its history and impact, all of which are best seen at theKyoto International Manga Museum. The three floors and basement of the Museum are packed with shelves upon shelves of manga, with a small section dedicated to translated manga and foreign works. Fans who want to know ’s rich historyshould visit the Museum, especially since its collection of manga details the known beginnings of manga and its growth.
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Fans with kids will also find themselves entertained with the Museum’s special library dedicated for children, as well as kamishibai performances. This storytelling artform combines huge illustrations with narrations, perfect for entertaining younger audiences.
3Suginami Animation Museum
Whereas Kyoto International Manga Museum fits manga enthusiasts, anime fans shouldn’t miss the chance to visit theSuginami Animation Museum. Being near the Tokyo Polytechnic University it has a school-like exterior. Moreover, while the museum is essentially just a single floor, it does house relevant relics and information regarding the pivotal beginnings of anime and a lot ofhit animegoing as far back as 1917.
As such, the museum displays boast recreations of vintage clips from Showa-era animations, as well as life-sized figures of iconic characters such as Rei Ayanami fromNeon Genesis Evangelion.Audio guides exist all around the museum, giving fans a chance to listen to information regarding various parts of anime history in English, French, Korean, or even Chinese. Moreover, there are a lot of interactive displays in the Museum as well, such as voice animation booths and even drawing actual anime and having them animated into a film.
2Yoshihiro Yonezawa Memorial Library Of Manga And Subcultures
TheYoshihiro Yonezawa Memorial Library of Manga and Subculturesis a facility in Meiji University that acts as the first of multiple planned areas for its Meiji University Manga Library. This is named after Yoshihiro Yonezawa, a renowned manga author and critic as well as the co-founder and president of Comiket.
1Conan Town
Why settle for a single anime attraction when there’s an entire town dedicated to one? Fans ofDetective Conanwould already know they’re going in the right direction once they board the train loaded withDetective Conanart in the JR San-in line. Popularly known asConan Town, the entirety of Hokuei was transformed into some form of livingDetective Conanmuseum, particularly because it’s the hometown of themystery seriesauthor Gosho Aoyama.
However, the town isn’t just decorated withDetective Conanart, it has a lot of attractions as well. For instance, the Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport has life-sized figures of charactersas well as art and games. There’s also Conan Street which has around 12 bronze statues ofConancharacters, and even the Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory which is a museum dedicated to showing his work in manga.
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