Self-proclaimed otaku who just love anime will 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 to anime and 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.
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.
10 Washinomiya Shrine
- Location: 1 Chome-6-1 Washinomiya, Kuki, Saitama 340-0217, Japan
- Getting There: Fans can easily go to Washinomiya Shrine by dropping off in Washinomiya Station via the Tobu Isesaki Line. Alternatively, those with access to cars can access the Shrine via the Kuki interchange once they reach Tohoku Expressway.
While there are many real-life locations that feature anime, none have reached the popularity of Lucky Star and its Washinomiya 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 the Lucky Star anime. Moreover, there’s even a dedicated Lucky Star shrine in the area, featuring a lot of vintage and modern Lucky Star merchandise.
9 Pokemon Cafe
- Location: 2-1-2 Nihombashi Takashimaya SC East Bldg. 5F, Nihonbashi, Chuo 103-0027 Tokyo Prefecture
- Getting There: Poke-fans interested in visiting Pokemon Cafe should go to the Takashimaya East Building, located in Nihonbashi. Its closest station is Nihombashi, with its B4 Exit being the exit closest to the cafe.
Fans of Pokemon who want to make their Japan visit worthwhile may as well transform one of their meals into a Pokemon-themed one, and Pokemon Cafe is the right place to do just that. Located on the fifth floor of the Takashimaya Building, the Pokemon Cafe is a cafe-restaurant that offers Japanese dishes with a Pokemon aesthetic. 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.
8 Gundam Factory Yokohama
- Location: Japan, 231-0023 Kanagawa, Yokohama, Naka Ward, Yamashitacho
- Getting There: Gundam Factory Yokohama faces the water and Yamashita Park, making it placed on Yamashita Pier. The closest train station would be the Motomachi-Chukagai, via the Minatomirai Line.
If there’s any landmark an otaku should visit in Japan, it's the Gundam Factory Yokohama, home of an actual moving Gundam replica. Officially opened in 2020, Gundam Factory Yokohama is most popular for its life-sized model of an RX-78F00 Gundam that can move its limbs. For mecha fans, this is a live-action dream come true, particularly for those who imagine these Gundams fighting other 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.
7 Ghibli Museum
- Location: 1-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo 181-0013, Japan
- Getting There: Visitors need to purchase reservation tickets in advance. To get there, visitors should get to JR Shinjuku Station and take the JR Chuo Line and stop at Mitaka Station. The Museum should be around a 15-minute walk from the south exit of JR Mitaka Station.
Fans of any Studio Ghibli film will find themselves transported to a real-life interpretation of Hayao Miyazaki’s mindscape via the Ghibli Museum. As the name suggests, the entire building is jam-packed with Ghibli iconography - from the aesthetic down to design materials and artwork pieces.
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 from Studio Ghibli appear 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.
6 Doraemon Museum
- Location: 2 Chome-8-1 Nagao, Tama Ward, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 214-0023, Japan
- Getting There: Doraemon fans should purchase tickets in advance for their visit. Fans visiting the Doraemon Museum would access it easiest via the Noborito Station, which is along the Odakyu Odawara and the JR Nambu Lines. They can ride a shuttle bus that takes them to the museum. Likewise, visitors can also exit from either the Mukogaoka Yuen Station (Odakyu Odawara Line) or via the Shukugawa Station (JR Nambu Line).
Fans who fondly remember the cute time-traveling cat Doraemon can finally visit him along with Nobita and his pals at the Doraemon 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.
5 Sanrio Puroland
- Location: Japan, 206-8588 Tokyo, Tama, Ochiai, 1 Chome−３１
- Getting There: Sanrio fans can easily access Sanrio Puroland via taking the Keio Line at Shinjuku Station and then stopping at Tama-Center Station. The attraction is simply a five-minute walk away from there!
Fans of otaku culture visiting Japan can experience cuteness to the maximum by visiting Hello Kitty and her friends at Sanrio Puroland. As the name suggests, this entire theme park is home to all things Sanrio, 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.
4 Kyoto International Manga Museum
- Location: 452 Kinbukicho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-0846, Japan
- Getting There: Otaku can easily visit the Kyoto International Museum via subway. Once fans reach Kyoto Station, they should take the Karasuma line to Karasuma-Oike Station, and the museum should be two minutes away on foot.
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 the Kyoto 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 more about manga’s rich history should visit the Museum, especially since its collection of manga details the known beginnings of manga and its growth.
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.
3 Suginami Animation Museum
- Location: Japan, 167-0043 Tokyo, Suginami City, Kamiogi, 3 Chome−29−5
- Getting There: Otaku can easily reach Suginami Animation Museum once they reach Ogikubo Station. From there, they can take the North Exit and get on a bus to Ogikubo Police Station. Alternatively, visitors can alight at Nishiogikubo Station and take a 15-minute walk to the Museum.
Whereas Kyoto International Manga Museum fits manga enthusiasts, anime fans shouldn’t miss the chance to visit the Suginami 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 of hit anime going 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 from Neon 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.
2 Yoshihiro Yonezawa Memorial Library Of Manga And Subcultures
- Location: 1-7-1 Kanda-Sarugakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- Getting There: Fans of manga can go to the Yoshihiro Yonezawa Memorial Library of Manga and Subculture through the Surugadai Campus of Meiji University. They can access the University on foot via the Ochanomizu Station (JR Chuo/Sobu and Subway Marunouchi Line), the Shin-Ochanomizu Station (Subway Chiyoda Line), and Jimbocho Station (Subway Mita, Shinjuku, and Hanzomon Lines).
The Yoshihiro Yonezawa Memorial Library of Manga and Subcultures is 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.
The Memorial Library is dedicated to featuring much of his collections, which he is known to almost completely fill his homes with. These include doujinshi, newsletters related to anime and manga circles, as well as his personal manga collection. The core collection consists of over 140,000 items, fit into 4,137 boxes.
1 Conan Town
- Location: Hokuei, Tohaku District, Tottori Prefecture, Japan
- Getting There: Conan fans can get to Conan Town fairly easily by taking a train to Kurayoshi and then heading to Yonago via the JR San-in Line. They should alight at Yura Station, also known as Conan Station.
Why settle for a single anime attraction when there’s an entire town dedicated to one? Fans of Detective Conan would already know they’re going in the right direction once they board the train loaded with Detective Conan art in the JR San-in line. Popularly known as Conan Town, the entirety of Hokuei was transformed into some form of living Detective Conan museum, particularly because it’s the hometown of the mystery series author Gosho Aoyama.
However, the town isn’t just decorated with Detective Conan art, it has a lot of attractions as well. For instance, the Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport has life-sized figures of characters as well as art and games. There’s also Conan Street which has around 12 bronze statues of Conan characters, and even the Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory which is a museum dedicated to showing his work in manga.