Welcome to this week’s review of notable instances of transit, place and culture as rendered in anime currently broadcast in Japan and simulcast internationally via the web. For a detailed outline of the approach, please refer to the explanation in the inaugural issue. Links to streaming sources are included when available, though not all may have current episode available at the time this column is published.

Special Note: The review will be off next week while I’m in Tokyo. I have been collecting Hanamonogatari pilgrimage activity and plan to put it all together with screenshots once it’s available outside Japan. It will go out with issue 105 on September 7 if I have time, the following week otherwise.

Blue Spring Ride

(アオハライド Aoharaido)
Watch: Crunchyroll

Episode 7

We pickup at the end of the previous episode, with Futaba and Kō at Aoharaido Station, modeled on a yet undetermined station on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line (東急田園都市線).

Arrival at their home stop, modeled on Ichigao Station (市が尾駅) in Aoba Ward, Yokohama.

This is the first time the shops built into the station are depicted with any level of detail.

Futaba stops at a pharmacy on her walk home from the station.

In a flashback, Futaba and middle school classmates walk home from school.

Tokyo ESP

(東京ESP)
Watch: Funimation

Episode 6

Though location choice appeared rather random in earlier episodes, recently Tokyo ESP has settled into a cluster pattern, where the locations within an episode generally come from one area of the city. This episode includes a group in and around Kagurazaka (神楽坂).

Rinka and her father spar at Shirogane Park (白銀公園).

It’s difficult to make out in the night scenes, but this is Akagi Jinja (赤城神社). It appears later with daylighting. The interesting thing about this particular shrine is that, while it had been in Kagurazaka since the 16th century, it was relocated in 2010 and rebuilt in very modern style according to a design by architect Kengo Kuma, and now includes a condo and cafe. More details here and here.

Rinka’s night jog runs past Iidabashi Station (飯田橋駅) and up into Kagurazaka.

Akagi Jinja

Shonen Hollywood -Holly Stage for 49-

(少年ハリウッド -HOLLY STAGE FOR 49-)
Watch: Funimation • Crunchyroll • Hulu

Episode 7

Harajuku (原宿)

Takeshita-dōri (竹下通り)

Omotesandō (表参道)

Jingūbashi (神宮橋)

Harajuku Station (原宿駅)

Ending Credits 3

Harajuku

Harajuku Station

RAIL WARS!

Watch: Crunchyroll

Episode 7

Usui Pass (碓氷峠 Usui-tōge). The Shinetsu Main Line (信越本線) traveled through the pass, famous for its 66.7% gradient, until 1997.

Usui Pass No.3 Bridge, “Meganebashi” (めがね橋)

JNR Class DD51 diesel-hydraulic locomotive (DD51形ディーゼル機関車)

Yunokami-Onsen Station (湯野上温泉駅)

The Abt variant of a rack-and-pinion railway system

JNR Class EF63 electric locomotive (国鉄EF63形電気機関車)

The training simulator uses a JNR ED42 Class electric locomotive (国鉄ED42形電気機関車).

Karuizawa Station (軽井沢駅)

Karuizawa Shaw Memorial Church (軽井沢ショー記念礼拝堂)

Terror in Resonance

(残響のテロル Zankyō no Teroru)
Watch: Funimation • Hulu

Fan Pilgrimage Update

@tianlangxing updated a previous pilgrimage to include scenes from Shirahige Jinja in Katsushika Ward, Nagatachō in Chiyoda Ward; Ogikubo Station and Nakano-sakaue Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line (preceding all Tokyo); and Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, from Episode 3 and Episode 5.

@lidges made a pilgrimage to Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture for Episode 4.

GLASSLIP

(グラスリップ Gurasurippu)
Watch: Crunchyroll

Fan Pilgrimage Update

@ye_bi_su made a pilgrimage to Mikuni, Sakai, Fukui Prefecture for Episode 6 and Episode 7.

@kbt_tigers1985 made a pilgrimage to Mikuni for Episode 5 through Episode 7.

Free! – Eternal Summer

Watch: Crunchyroll • Funimation • Hulu

Fan Pilgrimage Update

@yacchamfree made a pilgrimage to Iwami, Tottori Prefecture for Episode 8.

HaNaYaMaTa

(ハナヤマタ)
Watch: Crunchyroll

Fan Pilgrimage Update

@aqcuaria made a pilgrimage to Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture for Episode 3.

Encouragement of Climb Second Season

(ヤマノススメ セカンドシーズン Yama no Susume Sekando Shīzun)
Watch: Crunchyroll

Fan Pilgrimage Update

@hauyashi made a pilgrimage to Hannō, Saitama Prefecture for Episode 2 and Episode 5.

 

Special Items

@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Koganei, Musashino and Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo for Jinsei.

@kou1mori made a pilgrimage to Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture for Love Live.

@cairn_07 made a pilgrimage to Hino and Tama, Tokyo Metropolis for Isshūkan Friends.

@fureshima made a pilgrimage to Hannō, Saitama Prefecture for Saikin, Imōto no Yōsu ga Chotto Okashiin Da Ga.

@cairn_07 made a pilgrimage to several locations in Aomori Prefecture for Clannad.

@Roan_Inish made a pilgrimage to Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture for Hachimitsu to Kurōbā.