Walking the Path of a Beloved Character, Breathing the Air of a Favorite Scene

This is the dream that brings anime fans from around the world to Japan. Visiting the real-life locations that inspired their favorite series—a practice known as seichi junrei, or “anime pilgrimage”—has grown into more than just a passing trend. It is now a significant and sustainable contributor to both tourism and regional economies.

Many towns and cities, once little-known as tourist destinations, have welcomed tens of thousands of visitors annually thanks to their connection with anime. Fans are not just consuming content—they are living it, bringing their passion directly into local streets, shops, and communities.

The question is no longer whether anime influences the economy—it’s just how deeply this form of storytelling is reshaping real-world travel and commerce.

An Era Where Background Art Becomes the Destination

The global success of Your Name (2016) brought a surge of international visitors to real-life locations like Hida City in Gifu and Shinano Town in Nagano. Similarly, places like Kuki City in Saitama, known from Lucky Star, Takayama from Hyouka, and the outdoor regions of Yamanashi and Shizuoka featured in Laid-Back Camp have become major fan destinations.

What ties these locations together is the vivid, real-world scenery that breathes life into the stories themselves. For fans, the journey is not just about sightseeing—it’s about reliving the narrative. With map in hand, they walk the same paths as the characters they love. In this way, travel has shifted from “searching for tourist spots” to “following the story.” The background is no longer just art—it’s the purpose of the journey.

A Lasting, Expansive, and Deep Economic Impact

Anime pilgrimage doesn’t just spark a short-term surge in visitors upon a show’s airing or film release—it also attracts dedicated repeat travelers. Many fans return multiple times, across seasons and times of day, to fully recreate the scenes they’ve seen on screen with remarkable attention to detail.

This devotion generates a ripple effect throughout the local economy—benefiting accommodations, restaurants, transportation, and souvenir shops. According to Japan’s Tourism Agency, one town featured in a popular anime reported an estimated annual economic impact of around 500 million yen.

When local governments collaborate with anime producers to host official events and exhibitions, the impact becomes even more sustainable. In many regions, this model has proven successful not only in boosting tourism, but also in addressing population decline and generating employment—an inspiring example of how pop culture can fuel community revitalization.

What Overseas Fans Seek: Immersion and Connection

For inbound anime pilgrims, the goal isn’t just to take a commemorative photo. The true appeal lies in experiencing the story firsthand—eating the same dish as a beloved character at a local diner, writing a wish on an ema at the same shrine, or capturing a landscape from the exact camera angle seen in the series. This sense of unity with the narrative is deeply valued as a uniquely Japanese cultural experience.

More recently, many travelers also look forward to connecting with local communities. Tourist centers offering foreign language support and cultural exchange events with local high school students are especially appreciated. These interactions showcase anime as a universal language, bridging cultures and creating meaningful, cross-border dialogue.

From Featured Locations to Shared Lives — Growing Together with the Story

While the growing number of anime pilgrims has at times led to concerns over etiquette and overcrowding, the most successful destinations are those where mutual respect and collaboration flourish between fans and local residents.

In Takayama, for example, locals formed the “Hyouka Support Team” to voluntarily guide visitors and share insights about the anime’s connection to the town. Shops featured in the series have recreated menus seen on screen, creating interactive, fan-centered experiences that boost satisfaction and encourage return visits.

Such initiatives are transforming communities from mere “locations that appear in anime” into “places that grow alongside the anime.” These are living partnerships—where stories and towns evolve together.

Conclusion — Anime as a New Kind of Travel Motivation

Journeys to anime settings are no longer just about sightseeing—they have become acts of connecting to a place through its story. For both the traveler and the local community, these experiences carry a sense of special meaning.

Anime pilgrimage is not a fleeting trend. It is the gateway to a cultural cycle that weaves together narratives, places, and people. When a story (the “software”) meets a real-world location (the “hardware”), what emerges is not simple consumption—but empathy and a bond that invites travelers to return again and again.

In the future, what drives tourism in Japan may not be maps, but stories.
And many of those stories have already quietly begun their journey—from within the world of anime.