Welcome to this week’s review of notable instances of public transit use and urban design, as well as discussion of place identity and culture, through anime currently broadcast or screening in Japan and simulcast internationally via the web. This review also documents seichijunrei (聖地巡礼 sacred site pilgrimage) and butaitanbou (舞台探訪 scene hunting)—on this website referred to collectively as anime pilgrimage—which are forms of place-based engagement induced by the use of real locations in show settings.
Media and General Interest
Karatsu Yūri!!! on Ice cafe
Yomiuri Shimbun (article) and Saga Shimbun (article) publishes stories about a Yūri!!! on Ice themed anime cafe recently opened in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture.
Sakura Quest
(サクラクエスト Sakura Kuesuto)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@anime_pq made a pilgrimage (post 1, post 2) to Nanto, Toyama Prefecture and Yuwaku, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture for Episode 1 through Episode 9.
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage (updated post) to Nanto through Episode 9.
Episode 10
Jōhana Station (城端駅)
Jōhana Sakura Line (城端さくら線)
The Eccentric Family 2
(有頂天家族2 Uchōten Kazoku 2)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@ye_bi_su made a pilgrimage to Kyoto for Episode 9.
Tanuki supervisors at Shimogamo Jinja.
Episode 10
Chōhō-ji (頂法寺), commonly referred to as Rokkaku-dō (六角堂)
Shimogamo Jinja (下鴨神社)
Seto-ōhashi (瀬戸大橋)
Utazu (宇多津), Kagawa Prefecture
Along the Lake Biwa Canal (琵琶湖疎水) in Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture
Shimogamo Jinja
Demachi-bashi (出町橋)
Gion Shōtengai (祇園商店街)
Kikusui (菊水)
Shijō-ōhashi (四条大橋)
Tōkasaikan (東華菜館)
Minami-Komatsushima Station (南小松島駅) in Komatsushima, Tokushima Prefecture
Kinchō Jinja (金長神社)
Tōkasaikan
Tsuki ga Kirei
(月がきれい)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@touyoko_com made pilgrimages to Kyoto for Episode 4; and Ōmiya Station for Episode 9.
@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Inokashira Park in Mitaka; and Ōi Futō Chūō Kaihin Park spanning Shingawa/Ōta wards (all Tokyo Metropolis) for Episode 9.
Animate Kawagoe invites Tsuki ga Kirei watchers to visit the city during Kawagoe Matsuri.
Episode 9
Taishō Roman Yume-dōri (大正浪漫夢通り)
Kanetsuki-dori (鐘つき通り). On the right side of the frame is the bottom half of the Bell of Time (時の鐘 Toki no Kane), one of Kawagoe’s famous landmarks.
The athletic stadium is one of the facilities in Ōi Futō Chūō Kaihin Park (大井ふ頭中央海浜公園), which spans Shinagawa Ward and Ōta Ward, Tokyo Metropolis. The facilities are collectively referred to as the Sports Forest (スポーツの森).
Keikyū Bus Chūō-kōen stop (京急バス中央公園停留所)
Ōmiya Station (大宮駅)
Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Flat
(冴えない彼女の育てかた♭[フラット] Saenai Hiroin no Sodatekata Furatto)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage to Nishiogikita, Suginami Ward; Takada, Toshima Ward; and Nishitōkyō (all Tokyo Metropolis) for Episode 9.
@ssslocation made a pilgrimage (updated gallery) to Takada for Episode 9.
Episode 9
Nishiogikita (西荻北), Suginami Ward, Tokyo Metropolis
Kanda River (神田川)
Akebono-bashi (曙橋)—the small one on the Kanda River in Takada, Toshima Ward near the Omokagebashi tram stop, not the large Gaien-higashi-dōri overpass in Shinjuku Ward
Komeda Kissaten, Hōya shop (コメダ珈琲店保谷店) in Fujimachi, Nishitōkyō, Tokyo Metropolis
Cafe used as third place
Kadokawa headquarters building (角川本社ビル) in Fujimi, Chiyoda Ward
Future Season Pilgrimage
@habusan made a pilgrimage to Hannō, Saitama Prefecture for the PV to the Yama no Susume Omoide no Present OVA.
Other Current Season Pilgrimage
@keihi49 made pilgrimages to Mizukawa, Shizuoka Prefecture for Alice to Zōroku Episode 1; Harajuku, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo Metropolis and Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture for Episode 7.
@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Tachikawa, Tokyo Metropolis for Re:Creators Episode 10.
@anime_pq made pilgrimages to Akihabara, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Re:Creators Episode 8; and Shinjuku Ward (all Tokyo Metropolis) for Episode 9.
@kimchi_fuji made a pilgrimage to Tachikawa, Tokyo Metropolis for Frame Arms Girl Episode 11.
Past Season Pilgrimage
@Surwill compiled a Street View tour of locations in Nerima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Suki ni Naru Sono Shunkan o: Kokuhaku Jikkō Iinkai (The Moment You Fall in Love).
@optiange made a multi-stop pilgrimage (post 1, post 2, post 3, post 4) to Uji, Kyoto Prefecture; Ōgaki, Yōrō and Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture; Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture for Hibike! Euphonium 2 and Koe no Katachi.
@mi_kawana (post) and @yomikatajiyu (post 1, post 2) made pilgrimages to Tokyo for Kimi no Na wa.
@paffue made a pilgrimage to Sapporo, Hokkaidō Prefecture for Sora no Method.
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage to Aoshima, Miyazaki Prefecture for Hanasaku Iroha.
