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 holy land pilgrimage) and butaitanbou (舞台探訪 scene hunting), which are pop culture tourism and place-based engagement induced by the use of real locations in show settings.

Media and General Interest

MyNavi News published an article about a collaboration event for Sora Yorimo Tōi Basho to be held at the National Institute of Polar Research in Tachikawa on 2018 March 31.

Anime Tourism 88 is organizing a collaboration event (official page) for Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha de Aru in Kan’onji, Kagawa Prefecture from 2018 March 10 to 29.

Yuwaku Onsen Inn Shūhōkaku Closing

Shūhōkaku (秀峰閣), the model for onsen ryokan Fukuya in Hanasaku Iroha, closed for business on 2018 March 18. Fans organized a final offline group meeting, staying at Shūhōkaku over the final evening and holding a small ceremony to express gratitude. Shūhōkaku has been a popular lodging choice for anime pilgrims since the 2011 broadcast, and was the venue of a past Butaitanbou Community summit.

@Roan_Inish (post), @donko824 (post) and @matsuryu_koutya (post) published reports including extensive photography from the final days.

2018年3月17～18日、「花咲くいろは」に登場した金沢・湯涌温泉の秀峰閣が最終営業日を迎えました。運良くその場に立ち会わせていただきましたが、最後まで手を抜かない最高のおもてなしをいただきました。これまで花いろファンを迎え、そして聖地を盛り上げて下さりありがとうございました！ #hanairo pic.twitter.com/c6m7Zsxqm8

— 天狼星 (@tianlangxing) March 18, 2018

秀峰閣で宴会料理なう pic.twitter.com/UOz0MZXThX

— あさがお (@asagao_0405) March 17, 2018

賑やかな夕べの料理。 #秀峰閣 pic.twitter.com/aScZvPk3Um

— 染犬（そめ） (@someinu) March 17, 2018

湯涌温泉秀峰閣、最後の朝を向かえました。 pic.twitter.com/iPEOAvKlBs

— 吉田　匡 (@yoshi_data) March 18, 2018

ありがとう！秀峰閣！！ pic.twitter.com/FzLwnvmOfv

— 染犬（そめ） (@someinu) March 18, 2018

A Place Further Than the Universe

(宇宙よりも遠い場所 Sora Yorimo Tōi Basho)

Fan Pilgrimage Update

@LeeShouki made a pilgrimage to Fremantle, Australia for Episode 7:

宇宙よりも遠い場所 ep7 舞台探訪 #yorimoi #よりもい #オーストラリア #フリーマントル #パース #australia #fremantle #perth pic.twitter.com/zcte1C96SI

— Zach (李 昭輝) @ 🏠 (@LeeShouki) March 9, 2018

Episode 11

East Ongul Island, Antarctica

Shōwa Kichi (昭和基地)

Geodetic survey markers are used to measure the latitude, longitude and elevation of fixed points on Earth, and track how they change over time.

March comes in like a lion

(3月のライオン Sangatsu no Raion)

Episode 41

From the noren down, the confectioner is modeled on Kotobuki-dō in Nihonbashi-Ningyōchō (日本橋人形町), Chūō Ward, Tokyo Metropolis. We see it more often and from more angles in this episode than in most.

Torii belonging to Sumiyoshi Jinja (住吉神社) in Tsukuda (佃), Chūō Ward

Sumida River Terrace (隅田川テラス), Tsukuda section

Other Current Season Pilgrimage

@kbt_tigers1985 updated a previous pilgrimage to Shōdoshima, Kagawa Prefecture for Karakai Jōzu no Takagi-san.

@fureshima2223 made a pilgrimage to Yamanashi City, Yamanashi Prefecture for Yuru Camp Episode 4 and Episode 5.

@fragments_sue made a pilgrimage to Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture for Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens Episode 7 and Episode 8.

@Surwill made a pilgrimage to Sugoi Niboshi Ramen Nagi Shinjuku Golden Gai head shop in Kabukichō, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for for Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san.

Past Season Pilgrimage

@yamagishi made a pilgrimage to Gobō, Mihama and Wakayama City (all Wakayama Prefecture) for Eiga Chūnibyō demo Koi ga Shitai! -Take on Me-. The locations are allusions to the setting of earlier work Air.

@11922911Rinngo made a pilgrimage to Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture for Tsuki ga Kirei.

@11922911Rinngo made a pilgrimage to the Tenkaippin head shop in Ichijōji Tsukidachō, Kyoto for Yahari Ore no Seishun Rabukome wa Machigatteiru.

@yomikatajiyu made a pilgrimage to Okinawa for Ano Natsu de Matteru.

I wonder if it’s still considered seichijunrei if it’s the director making the pilgrimage. In any event, Kishi Seiji enjoys making periodic visits to Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, the setting of Tsuki ga Kirei:

本日、川越熊野神社の縁日に顔を出す。
毎度お邪魔しております。熊野神社、一部リニューアル。
久しぶりに川越の街中もブラブラ。時の鐘近くに新しくできるスタバなどを見つつ、ちょっと聖地巡礼。
やっぱりいい街だ(￣▽￣)#月がきれい pic.twitter.com/qOxXiuY1sE

— 監督 岸誠二(チームティルドーン所属) (@kishiseiji) March 18, 2018