Japan’s allure is undeniably multifaceted: technological marvels, inspiring efficiency, breathtaking natural sceneries, captivating music, exquisite cuisine, and more. But perhaps one of the most iconic gateways to Japanese culture for many is anime. Enjoyed globally, this beloved art form offers a glimpse into the Japanese way of life, offering unique depictions of the country’s distinctive heritage, landscapes, and localities. 

 

Japanese anime often draws inspiration from real-world locations in Japan. From the local streets to especially unique places, these locations become the settings where the stories occur. If you’re eager to visit these spots, read on as we explore 5 locations with stunning similarities between your favorite anime and their real-life counterparts.

 

1. Ookawaso in Ashinomaki Onsen: Get looped in the Infinity Castle in “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” 

 

Photo Credit: ©︎OOKAWASO

 

The Infinity Castle is prominently featured in “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba,” a residence of the main antagonist, Muzan Kibutsuji. It is famous for its numerous staircases that seem to go on and on, effectively making the abode an infinite labyrinth. This fictional castle resembles Ookawaso, a ryokan or Japanese inn in the Ashinomaki Onsen area in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. Although not as big as what you can see in the anime, the traditional staircases here seem to bring to life the unending flights of steps in Infinity Castle.   

 

In the middle of these stairs, you can find a stage where each day, from 4PM to 6PM, a musician plays the traditional Japanese shamisen. This is reminiscent of the biwa, also a Japanese stringed instrument, played by the recurring antagonist Nakime in Demon Slayer. 

 

This onsen also boasts other relaxing activities you can try like dipping in hot springs and saunas while enjoying the beautiful overlooking view of the valley. You can also attend and experience the mochi-pounding event, where you can grab a bite of the freshly made mochi on the spot when the pounding is done.

 

 

2. Lake Suwa: Snap photos at the picturesque lake in the animated film ‘Your Name’

 

Photo Credit : Nagano Tourism Organization

 

The animated film "Your Name" (2016) introduces us to the fictional town of Itomori, forever altered by the comet Tiamat’s impact 1,200 years ago. Lake Itomori, formed by this event, is visually inspired by the real-world beauty of Lake Suwa in Nagano Prefecture. Although the town of Itomori is a composite of various real-life locations in Japan, the film’s writer and director, Makoto Shinkai, a native of Nagano Prefecture, was drawn to Lake Suwa’s picturesque quality.

 

Lake Suwa, the largest lake in the prefecture, is a cinematic gem also known for its fascinating phenomenon, “Omiwatari” or “The God’s Crossing”. Although now a rare occurrence due to climate change, during winter, large fissures of considerable lengths break out on the lake’s frozen surface, due to pressure changes. While science explains this natural occurrence, Shinto lore adds a mystical touch, attributing the cracks to the movements of gods traveling from shrine to shrine within Suwa Taisha, the Shinto shrine complex by the lake. 

 

Lake Suwa is a popular destination among travelers, not the least of whom are the fans of “Your Name.” Apart from the area’s natural beauty, attractions include activities like cycling and kayaking, overlooking hotels, souvenir shops, and restaurants offering Nagano specialties and other cuisines. Tourists can also pay a visit to the local Shinto shrines, a lakeside park, a strawberry farm, the glass museum Suwa Garasu-no-Sato Glass, and the floating Takeshima Castle. It’s also popular during summer for its Suwa Fireworks Festival where thousands gather to witness the spectacular fireworks show.

 

 

3. Dogo Onsen Honkan: Experience dipping in the iconic bathhouse said to be one of the inspirations for “Spirited Away”

 

 

The iconic Studio Ghibli film "Spirited Away" (2001), another one of Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpieces, has the main protagonist, Chihiro, and her parents unknowingly stepping into the domain of spirits. While finding a way to escape, she takes on work in the realm’s traditional bathhouse, where much of the film is set. The bathhouse, with its enchanting traditional Japanese architecture, is said to have been primarily inspired by Dogo Onsen Honkan in Dogo Onsen. The frontage of the film’s bathhouse, in particular, resembles the real-life onsen located in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture.

 

Dogo Onsen Honkan was established in 1894 and is one of the three public bathhouses at the Dogo Onsen complex. It was also hailed as a National Important Cultural Property in 1994 for being one of the oldest bathhouses in Japan and is mentioned in the “Man'yōshū” (8th Century), the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry. Its network of wooden staircases, hallways, and rooms, along with its traditional exterior, gives it a rustic feel. 

 

The water in the bathhouse is derived from 18 source springs and is said to be mildly alkaline, making it ideal for the general public. The hot spring area is home to other attractions for visitors, including shrines and temples, a shopping arcade, a park, and a museum preserving the memory of Meiji-period (1868-1912) haiku writer and poet Masaoka Shiki, a Matsuyama native.

 

 

4. Oyama Dam: The inspiration behind ‘Wall Maria’ in “Attack on Titan”

 

Photo Credit: ©︎Hajime Isayama / Kodansha

 

The fall of Wall Maria is a consequential event in the beloved manga and anime Shingeki no Kyojin, also known as "Attack on Titan", as it signals the first time the Titans broke into humanity’s last fortress in 100 years. This has become such a pivotal occurrence in the plot that it has been memorialized by a set of statues at the Oyama Dam in Hita City, Oita Prefecture, the place where Hajime Isayama, the creator of the globally popular series, was born and raised.

 

The life-sized sculptures illustrate protagonist Eren and his friends, Mikasa and Armin, gazing up in shock at the 94-meter-high dam representing Wall Maria, one of the three protective barriers against the Titans. The sculptures, built through crowdfunding efforts, were unveiled in November 2020 in a ceremony attended by Isayama himself.

 

 

Photo Credit: ©︎Hajime Isayama / Kodansha

 

Other must-see attractions you can explore in the city include the bronze statue of another well-loved character, Levi Ackerman, located in front of JR Hita Station, the Attack on Titan in HITA Museum, dedicated to the manga and Isayama’s artistry, and the Attack on Hita Cafe at Patria Hita, Hita Civic Cultural Center. You can also see numerous character panels from the anime installed across the city.

 

 

5. Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine in Yakushima Island: Get enchanted by the forest in “Princess Mononoke”

 

 

The Studio Ghibli animated film "Princess Mononoke", Japan’s highest-grossing film in 1997, features a woodland as its primary setting. The magical mossy forest, one might think, could only have been born of imagination given its otherworldly mystique. In reality, however, it was inspired by a living, breathing ancient forest on Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture. 

 

Along with the team’s lead artists, Hayao Miyazaki, the acclaimed filmmaker, animator, and manga artist who wrote and directed ‘Princess Mononoke’, visited the Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine and the “moss-covered forest” (kokemusu-mori) several times in 1995 to draw inspiration for how they would recreate nature for the film. The result is the mystical realm that fans of the film know today.

 

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine, though primeval, is also a natural park with well-maintained hiking trails, some of which have been there since the Edo period (1603-1867). While some trails take five to nine hours to complete, the shortest takes approximately an hour or less. The most popular is the “Taikoiwa Rock Course”, which requires about four to five hours of hiking time. It is also a great place to enjoy the stunning scenery of the forests of Yakushima Island, where you can also find Yakushima’s largest cedar tree called “Jomon Sugi”, and the surrounding massive granite rocks.

 

 

Be ready to be transported to the magical world of your favorite anime when you visit these places!

 

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