Top 10 Anime Locations in Japan Every Fan Must Visit Once

Anime tourism has become a major part of Japanese pop culture, with fans visiting the country to see the real-life locations connected to their favorite anime. These sites are no longer just ordinary tourist attractions; they have become part of anime history in their own right.

Some locations inspired entire fictional worlds, while others were depicted in anime with striking accuracy. Here is a list of ten anime-related places in Japan that every fan should visit.

10 Hakone Inspired Evangelion‘s Tokyo-3

Hakone is one of the locations that became well known because of its appearance in Evangelion. Its natural scenery was incorporated into the anime’s fictional city of Tokyo-3.

In Neon Genesis Evangelion, the geography of Hakone has been used by Hideaki Anno in order to create the right mood around NERV headquarters. The calm scenery around Lake Ashi also complements the reflective atmosphere present throughout much of Shinji Ikari’s story.

9 Ikebukuro Feels Like Durarara!!

Ikebukuro is immediately recognizable to fans of Durarara!!. Numerous spots around Sunshine City and the surrounding train station area are frequently featured in the series’ storylines involving main characters such as Izaya Orihara, Shizuo Heiwajima, and the Dollars gang.

Compared to the colorful anime atmosphere of Akihabara, Ikebukuro has a rather chaotic environment. Walking around its streets after sunset really makes you feel as if you’ve stepped into the world of Durarara!!.

8 Slam Dunk‘s Famous Railway Crossing Exists

The railway crossing near Kamakurakokomae Station gained recognition thanks to Slam Dunk. People who watched the anime decades ago still visit the spot to recreate Hanamichi Sakuragi’s scene with the sea in the background.

The railway crossing’s popularity was boosted further by The First Slam Dunk movie, as it allowed many new fans to discover this wonderful sports anime. The beach setting perfectly represents the nostalgia of youth associated with the story.

7 Shirakawa-go Inspired Higurashi‘s Village

Shirakawa-go is widely regarded as the primary inspiration for Hinamizawa in Higurashi no Naku Koro ni. Its secluded location and old-fashioned buildings mirror the eerie atmosphere depicted in the early episodes of the show, when Keiichi Maebara first arrives there.

What makes the location fascinating is the contrast between fiction and reality. While the village becomes increasingly frightening in the anime as events unfold, Shirakawa-go is, in reality, an extremely pleasant place, especially during winter.

6 Numazu Became Love Live!‘s Real-Life Home

Numazu has been tightly associated with Love Live! Sunshine!! since the series prominently features the city throughout Aqours’ journey.

Apart from that, the local community actively supported the franchise. Artwork of characters from the series could be seen everywhere – from shops and restaurants to even trains.

5 Hida-Furukawa Matches Your Name Perfectly

Hida-Furukawa Station gained worldwide fame because Your Name portrayed the entire place in great detail. As Taki and Mitsuha searched for one another, the serene rural setting fit the mood of the film perfectly.

Unlike other anime destinations, Hida-Furukawa has earned worldwide recognition for its serenity. Exploring this beautiful town is an emotional experience for fans since the place captures the essence of Shinkai’s movie.

4 Demon Slayer’s Infinity Castle Was Inspired by Ookawaso Ryokan

Architecture-wise, there is a strong belief that the Infinity Castle featured in Demon Slayer was inspired by Ookawaso Ryokan, located in Fukushima Prefecture. It features a large atrium and an interior that is built using wood and looks similar to the shifting castle.

After the Infinity Castle was released, interest in the location grew immensely. While the inn cannot change form like Muzan Kibutsuji’s castle, it definitely gives fans that kind of feeling.

— Visit Japan (@Visit_Japan) September 12, 2025

3 Dogo Onsen Inspired Spirited Away

Dogo Onsen is widely believed to be among the inspirations for the bathhouse seen in Spirited Away. Its wooden structure and nighttime glow are very similar to the spirit world Chihiro travels to.

What makes Dogo Onsen unique is its sense of timelessness. Visiting Dogo Onsen gives you the impression that you’ve traveled back in time to old Japan, something that goes hand-in-hand with many themes from Spirited Away.

The Oldest Onsen
Dogo Onsen located in Shikoku Island is the oldest Onsen (hot spring) in all of Japan with a history of more than 3,000 years. It is said that Dogo Onsen is the inspiration for the famous bathhouse in the movie Spirited Away. pic.twitter.com/DFC1E4pMAY

— Fragments of Japan (@fragmentsofjap1) December 14, 2021

2 Your Name‘s Staircase Is Real

The stairs in Suga Shrine became one of the most recognizable locations in Japanese anime due to the powerful ending in Your Name. The scene where the main characters reunite made the stairs a pilgrimage site for anime fans.

The uniqueness of the location lies in its simplicity. Although it is just a common set of stairs, the film made it a unique location for fans.

1 Akihabara Is Every Anime Fan’s Dream

No place represents anime culture better than Akihabara. Although it has appeared in many shows and movies, Steins;Gate made locations like Radio Kaikan especially iconic through Okabe Rintaro’s time-travel journey.

Akihabara ranks first because it offers far more than a single anime reference. With arcades, figurine shops, themed restaurants, and huge anime advertisements, Akihabara seems to be the heart of anime culture.

Other Notable Anime Locations in Japan

In addition, several other anime-related locations across Japan have attracted huge crowds of tourists in recent years. A prime example is Shibuya, due to the popularity of the Shibuya arc from Jujutsu Kaisen. Places like Shibuya Crossing and Shibuya Station instantly feel familiar to anime fans because of how precisely MAPPA portrayed the district in Season 2.

Another area that has received quite a bit of attention from fans is Nerima in Tokyo, due to scenes featuring Takemichi Hanagaki and the Tokyo Manji Gang in Tokyo Revengers. Chainsaw Man fans also regularly visit several locations across Tokyo. All in all, these anime locations have become much more than sightseeing spots because they allow fans to feel closer to the stories they love.

Here is a quick overview of all the anime locations in Japan we have discussed above –

Anime LocationAssociated AnimeAnime Rating (IMDb)Where to Watch

Akihabara	Multiple anime series	NA	NA
Suga Shrine Stairs	Your Name	8.4/10	HBO Max
Dogo Onsen	Spirited Away	8.6/10	HBO Max
Ookawaso Ryokan	Demon Slayer	8.6/10	Crunchyroll
Hida-Furukawa	Your Name	8.4/10	HBO Max
Numazu	Love Live! Sunshine!!	7.0/10	Crunchyroll
Shirakawa-go	Higurashi When They Cry	6.9/10	Prime Video
Kamakurakokomae Crossing	Slam Dunk	8.7/10	Prime Video
Ikebukuro	Durarara!!	7.8/10	Hulu
Hakone	Neon Genesis Evangelion	8.5/10	Prime Video
Shibuya Crossing and Shibuya Station	Jujutsu Kaisen	8.5/10	Crunchyroll

Now the big question – if you could visit only one anime location in Japan, which one would you choose? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.