Best Anime Pilgrimage Spots in the Kanto Region

Kanto: A Treasure Trove of Anime Locations

The Kanto region is home to a remarkable concentration of anime studios, which means pilgrimage spots are plentiful. The excellent public transit in the Tokyo metropolitan area makes it easy to visit multiple locations in a single day trip.

In this article, we highlight the most popular spots organized by area.

Top Spots in Tokyo

Shinjuku Area

Shinjuku serves as the backdrop for countless anime titles, most famously "Your Name."

• Shinjuku Gyoen -- The primary setting of "The Garden of Words." The garden on a rainy day looks exactly like a scene from the film
• Suga Shrine Stairs -- Famous from the final scene of "Your Name."
• Kabukicho -- One of Japan's most iconic entertainment districts, featured in numerous anime

Akihabara Area

Akihabara is a mecca of anime culture in its own right, and it also happens to be the main setting of "STEINS;GATE." Spots that appear in the series -- including the Radio Kaikan building and various maid cafes -- are scattered throughout the neighborhood.

Nerima and Suginami Wards

This area, where many anime studios are located, is packed with must-visit spots for fans. Notable locations include Kanda Myojin Shrine from "Love Live!" and sites connected to "K-ON!"

Top Spots in Kanagawa Prefecture

Kamakura and Enoshima Area

The Kamakura-Enoshima area is one of the most beloved anime pilgrimage destinations in Kanagawa.

• Kamakura-Koko-Mae Railroad Crossing -- The iconic spot from the "Slam Dunk" opening animation. Hugely popular with international tourists as well
• Enoshima -- The setting of "Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai"
• Shichirigahama -- A quintessential Shonan beach that has appeared in many anime and TV dramas

Hakone Area

Hakone, the model for the fortress city "Tokyo-3" in "Neon Genesis Evangelion," is a popular destination where you can combine anime pilgrimages with hot spring bathing.

Top Spots in Saitama Prefecture

Chichibu Area

Chichibu is famous as the setting of "Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day." You can visit locations where scenes from the show come to life, including the old Chichibu Bridge and Jorin-ji Temple.

Hanno Area

Hanno, the setting of "Encouragement of Climb" (Yama no Susume), is a unique destination where you can combine hiking with anime pilgrimages. The view from Mt. Tenran is worth seeing even if you are not a fan of the series.

Planning Your Pilgrimage Route

To efficiently visit anime locations across the Kanto region, try the AnimeTrips AI trip planner. It combines spots from multiple titles and automatically generates an optimized route.

For example, you could create a plan that covers both "Slam Dunk" and "Bunny Girl Senpai" locations across the Kamakura-Enoshima area in a single day -- the kind of experience only AnimeTrips makes possible.

Wrapping Up

The Kanto region is ideal for a first-time anime pilgrimage, thanks to its easy access and sheer abundance of locations. Start by browsing the anime list to find titles that interest you, and begin putting your travel plan together!