CATDOLL: Where is the best anime pilgrimage site? The prototype of "Anohana" is undoubtedly the best

Those who like Japanese anime must be familiar with "pilgrimage", which means to go to the prototype of the animation and "worship" in person. Recently, Japanese media announced the "most popular pilgrimage stage in 2015", and the first place was...

According to a report by Japanese TV station BS, the list of the most popular "pilgrimage sites" for comic fans in 2015 has been announced. Among them, Chichibu (located in Saitama Prefecture), the prototype of "Anohana", topped the list, followed by Oarai (located in Ibaraki Prefecture), the prototype of "Girls und Panzer", and Hanno (located in Saitama Prefecture), the prototype of "Go to the Mountains".

Nippon TV announces the most popular anime "holy places" in 2015

Although several years have passed since the animation was completed, the influence of "Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day" is still huge. According to surveys, many fans have gone to Chichibu more than once to find the "footsteps" of Menma Jinta, and some infatuated fans come here regularly every year to "worship". Similarly, for other "pilgrimage" fans, the "holy places" that attract them also have their own charms. In addition to the rich cultural landscape, the leisurely and plain lifestyle of the animation prototype makes comic fans fascinated, and living here in person is like a dream.

Now, let’s take a look at which “holy places” are honored to be on the list——

11th place: Shibuya, the prototype of "CHAOS;CHILD" (located in Tokyo)

The prototype of the work is "Revived Shibuya", and the tone of the story is thrilling and terrifying. Many of Shibuya's iconic buildings appear in the work, and the residents living here must be familiar with them. On the big stage of Shibuya, the protagonists' decryption journey officially begins around various turbulent and strange events...

A new commotion unfolds in Shibuya, a city full of tall buildings

10th place: Meiji Village, the prototype museum of "Meiji Tokyo Renka" (located in Aichi)

"Meiji Tokyo Renka" is a female-oriented game that was adapted into an animated film. In the plot, the heroine can develop various love stories with famous historical figures in the early Meiji period, and the prototype of the "Museum Meiji Village" is the birthplace of the love.

Local architecture combining Japanese and Western styles

9. Nerima, the prototype of "Your Lie in April" (located in Tokyo)

In addition to the tear-jerking plot, Nerima, the prototype of "Your Lie in April", also attracted attention. Although this district in Tokyo is small in size, many of its scenes are very romantic, making it the perfect place to perform campus youth stories.

The original scenery is plain and simple, suitable for various youth dramas

8. Kawagoe (located in Saitama), the prototype of Kamisama Kiss

One of the highlights of Kamisama Kiss is the daily life of Nanami and Tomoe at the shrine. This kind of Japanese-style environment is very common in Kawagoe. According to the photos of fans who have visited the holy land, there are also many torii gates in the local shrines.

The shrine in the animation perfectly reproduces the local appearance of Kawagoe

7. Chichibu, the prototype of "The Heart Calls Out" (located in Saitama)

The production team of "Anohana" released the animated film "The Heart Calls Out Loud" last year, and the prototype was also set in Chichibu City, Saitama. Unlike "Hana", this time the production team focused on the high school campus and selected "Chichibu High School" as the main location for the protagonists' activities. By comparing the animation and the real scene, it can be found that the restoration is indeed very high.

Chichibu High School is also the prototype location for the movie version.

6th place: "Wake Up, Girls!" prototype Miyagi (located in Miyagi)

The main characters of the idol animation "Wake Up, Girls!" are all from Miyagi Prefecture, and they sing hard to become the shining stars on the stage. After the animation was broadcast, Miyagi Prefecture also held a grand "tour" event, carefully arranging routes and places to visit for fans who went to the local "pilgrimage". At the same time, the voice actors in the play also spared no effort to promote Miyagi during the tour across Japan.

This vibrant place is the starting point for the dreams of young idol girls.

Fifth place: Chiba, the prototype of "My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected" (located in Chiba)

When talking about "My Teen Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected", one cannot help but think of Chiba, the prototype location. Various landmark buildings in Chiba appear many times in the work, making many viewers yearn for this city. Similar to "Wake Up, Girls!", the Chiba local tourism bureau also cooperated with "Oregairu" in various ways, attracting fans from all over the world to gather here by selling commemorative peripherals and opening pain trains.

Chiba City and "Oregairu" jointly held a pilgrimage to the holy land

Fourth place: Takayama, the prototype of "Hyouka" (located in Gifu)

The high school life in "Hyouka" is full of rosy atmosphere (although Houtarou doesn't like it), and such scenes can be seen everywhere in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, where the prototype is located. Although there are no handsome boys and girls in the animation, the local plain and leisurely customs still attract many fans to come.

Takayama City has a unique charm after the snow

Third place: Hanno, the prototype of "Heading to the Mountain" (located in Saitama)

The lolita girls in "To the Mountain" are certainly cute, but do you know where the mountain they climbed is? That's right, it's Hanno in Saitama Prefecture. There are many mountains in the area, and it is an important gathering place for mountaineering enthusiasts. Coupled with the promotion of the animation, more and more anime fans are now leaving their homes to experience the charm of mountaineering in nature. Should this be considered a good thing?

A poster for the collaboration between Hanno Tourism Bureau and "Towards the Mountain"

Second place: Oarai, the prototype of Girls und Panzer (located in Ibaraki)

Although the local area has little to do with "Girls und Panzer", thousands of tourists still come to Oarai Town in Ibaraki Prefecture, the prototype of "Girls und Panzer", for a "pilgrimage" every year. As a result, the main income here is also thanks to tourism. In December last year, the Oarai Town government received a total of 160 million yen in donations. The enthusiasm of fans is really amazing...

"Girls und Panzer" themed event in Oarai Town

First place: Chichibu, the prototype of "Anohana" (located in Saitama)

The first place went to Chichibu City in Saitama Prefecture, which was mentioned at the beginning of the article. This originally not very famous place became a hit due to the broadcast of "Hana". In order to welcome the influx of fans, the local area also restored the "secret base" of the "Super Peace Busters" in the drama, and posted posters and billboards related to "Hana" in the streets and alleys.

Do you remember the classic bridge in "Anohana"?

Chichibu’s local “Secret Base of Super Peaceful Busters”

With the broadcast of "The Heart Calls Out Loud", Chichibu has once again become a hot topic among pilgrimage fans. Will this place welcome more tourists in the future? Let's wait and see.