About AnimeTrails
AnimeTrails is a fan-made travel guide to real places in Japan that appear in, or are tied to, anime. It puts the spots on one map and turns them into day-by-day itineraries with trains, buses and places to stay, so visitors from abroad can plan a trip without reading Japanese sites.
- Day-by-day routes
- 23
- Real places
- 88
- Anime
- 40
What we promise
- Every place has an official source. Each route and place lists the official pages its facts were checked against, with the date of the check.
- Nothing we cannot verify. A fare, walking time or opening hour that is not in a source is not published. Fan reports are labeled as such.
- Kept current. Source links are checked weekly, and pages whose sources change or disappear are flagged or removed.
- AI is disclosed. We use AI to help draft pages and a program to check them against sources. Details are in our editorial policy.
- Mistakes get fixed. Tell us through the contact page and we will correct the page and update its date.
Read the full editorial policy. Pages carry the byline AnimeTrails Editorial.
Why we run this site
Most information about anime locations is written in Japanese, scattered across tourism, municipal and operator pages, and often out of date. AnimeTrails exists to gather it in English, in one place, tied to the official source for each fact, so that a visitor can plan a trip and arrive at a place that is actually open. We earn a small commission when readers book through partner links, which pays for running the site (see Affiliate links below). It does not decide what we cover.
How often we update, and how pages are checked
- Daily: an automated routine picks at most one new place or route a day. Candidates come from gaps in our coverage, search queries we do not yet answer and public Wikidata records; the facts themselves are collected only from the official site of the place or series (and pages on the same domain), together with the source URL of each fact.
- Before publishing: a checking program compares the draft with those collected sources. It rejects any fare, time, distance or year that does not appear in a source, any source link that does not open or says the place has closed, any claim of an official tie-up, and any photo without a named author, license and source. Drafts that fail are held back and not published.
- Photos: only photos of the real place from Wikimedia Commons, with the author and license shown. The photo must carry the name of the place it illustrates.
- Human oversight: pages are published automatically after passing the checks above, without a manual read-through of each page beforehand. The checks are mechanical and can miss errors, so the operator also reads samples of published pages against their sources by hand, corrects what turns up, and can take any page down at any time.
- Weekly: source links on existing pages are re-checked, and pages whose sources have changed or say a place has closed are flagged for correction. Ended exhibitions and closed places are taken off the site.
- After publishing: the live page is opened and checked, and the change is rolled back automatically if something is broken.
How these pages are written
We draft routes and place pages with the help of AI, working only from facts we have collected from official tourism, municipal and operator pages. Those pages are listed under Sources on every route and every place. Before anything is published, a checking program compares the draft against those sources: any figure — a fare, a walking time, an opening hour — that does not appear in a source is rejected, and so is the whole page if the sources no longer open. The check is mechanical and cannot catch every wrong sentence, which is why we also read samples by hand. The operator can take any page down at any time.
We never write first-hand reviews and never claim to have visited a place ourselves. Where something is reported by fans rather than by an official source, we say so. Times, fares and opening hours change, so please confirm them on the official page before you travel.
Where the information comes from
Facts such as locations, opening hours and events are collected from official announcements: local governments, tourism boards, the operators of each place, and the official sites of each series. Every spot page lists the sources it was checked against. We check these links regularly, but exhibitions end and hours change — please confirm on the official page before you go. If something is out of date, let us know.
AnimeTrails is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any anime studio, publisher or rights holder. We do not use artwork or official logos. Series names are used only to identify the places.
Please visit with good manners
- Many spots sit among ordinary streets, shrines and homes where people live and work. Keep your voice down and do not block roads or entrances.
- Do not enter private property, school grounds or closed areas. Follow any signs about photography.
- At shrines and temples, follow local etiquette. Ema (votive plaques) are prayers — leave them as they are.
- Take your trash home, and do not leave stickers, graffiti or goods behind.
- Buy from local shops and stay locally when you can. That is what keeps these towns welcoming to fans.
Affiliate links
Some pages contain affiliate links (marked “Partner link”). If you book through one of them we get a commission, at no extra cost to you. Links without that mark earn us nothing. Links to partners such as hotel and activity booking sites are marked as sponsored. Commissions do not decide which spots we list or how we describe them.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some anime pages link to a series on Prime Video; those links are marked “Partner link”. The “Read & collect” buttons on anime pages are Amazon.com searches and are all partner links. Other streaming services are listed as plain links, in the order that helps readers most.
How we count visits
We run our own open-source analytics on our own server: no cookies and nothing that identifies you. Separately, the site may show ads served by Google AdSense; Google sets and reads its own cookies for that under its own policy, and we receive no personal data from it. See our Privacy Policy.
Independence
AnimeTrails is an independent, fan-run project, published under the byline AnimeTrails Editorial. You should be able to check every claim against the sources listed on the page, whoever wrote it.
Contact
Corrections, questions and requests from rights holders (see Contact): contact@animetrails.com
See also our Privacy Policy.
Photo credits
Every photo on this site shows the real place, never anime artwork, and comes from Wikimedia Commons under the license shown. Each page also lists the photos it uses at the bottom.
All photo creditsShow
- Sendai-subway-N17-Tomizawa-station-building-20160727-140810: LERK, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- イオンモール仙台上杉前の道路: Raspico, CC0, source
- Waki-yagura of Sendai Castle 20220910b: 掬茶, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Odawara Castle Keep Tower seen from the east: Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Daruma-Ryōri-ten20260226: 武田信徳, CC BY 4.0, source
- Oyama Dam: 河川一等兵, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- View of Oyama in Hita city(3318756986): gtknj, CC BY 2.0, source
- Kumamoto Prefectural office 2022-6-4: Noukei314, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Aso 20220909110036 (52643698962): inunami, CC BY 2.0, source
- Aso Station 01: Σ64, CC BY 3.0, source
- 3rd torii of Kamado Shrine: そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- View of Tenshu of Karatsu Castle from Jonaibashi Bridge: そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Takachiho Gorge by boat: Max Smith, Public domain, source
- Dogo Onsen 2017-04-05 (34325087542): Wei-Te Wong from Taipei City, Taiwan, Republic of China, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- 道の駅滝宮付近の綾川: jsqwfthbfs, Public domain, source
- Yura Station: Flow in edgewise, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- 鳥取空港国際線ターミナル（国際会館）外観: T.Fujiba, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Awaji land park Hyogopref forest zone: Mti, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Osamu Tezuka Museum: MASA, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- KeihanUji st: アルトクール, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Uji-Bridge: 京都東, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- 大吉山展望: オクノサンライズ, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- AgataJinja-M1277: Fg2, Public domain, source
- ジブリパーク青春の丘: Sanoth24, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Hida-Furukawa Station 20150123-2: そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Hida City Library 20150123-1: そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Keta wakamiya: Opqr, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- 本栖湖（もとすこ） Lake Motosu 04: Ozawajun, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Numazu Station South 20220413: Oki2 yui, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- 淡島ホテル: Awashima Hotel, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Mount Fuji and Awashima Island (36597945924): Kanesue, CC BY 2.0, source
- Nagahama Castle (2nd Kuruwa) and Mount Fuji: Alpsdake, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- 沼津港大型展望水門（びゅうお） から眺める - panoramio: funk bass, CC BY 3.0, source
- Hakone-Yumoto-Station-Front-entrance: Kansai-good, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Ikaho Onsen Ishidan 02: Abasaa, Public domain, source
- Ghibli Museum 06: Olivier Lejade from France, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- 藤子・F・不二雄ミュージアム - panoramio (2): 珈琲牛乳, CC BY 3.0, source
- よみうりランド - panoramio: くろふね, CC BY 3.0, source
- Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo; December 2017: Mark D, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- 麻布十番商店街 - panoramio: kcomiida, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Shin-Yotsugi Bridge and Yotsugi Bridge 20160827 (29831363026): Ray Swi-hymn from Sijhih-Taipei, Taiwan, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Kanda-Myojin grand hall: Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Sunshine 60 1 Ikebukuro Tokyo 16 November 2003: Morio, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Seibu-Chichibu Station ac (4): Asturio Cantabrio, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Chichibu Shrine - 秩父神社 - panoramio: Carbonium, CC BY 3.0, source
- Jorin-ji (Chichibu, Saitama) 03: Higa4, CC0, source
- Anohana chichibubashi: I_LOVE_WIKI, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Kashima rinkai tetsudo Oarai station: Miyuki Meinaka, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Oarai Isosaki Shrine 01: Σ64, CC BY 3.0, source
- Oarai Marine Tower - Feb 10, 2013: taka_jp, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- 大洗リゾートアウトレット - panoramio: CyberOyaji, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- New Enoshima Aquarium: Abasaa, Public domain, source
- Enoshima Bridge (13897774382): Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France, CC BY 2.0, source
- Fujisawa as seen from Enoshima Island 130809 7: DXR, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Sunny December 2023, Katase Nishihama beach, seen from Enoshima Aquarium: Syced, CC0, source
- 130713 Abashiri Prison Museum Abashiri Hokkaido Japan08n: 663highland, CC BY 2.5, source
- 130706 Toei Kyoto Studio Park Kyoto Japan07n: 663highland, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Nidec Kyoto Tower 2024-08: Mr.ちゅらさん, CC0, source
- Kyoto and Karasuma Street (MA 59): Marc Antomattei, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Hakata Station 20180306: そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Canal City Hakata at dusk 20170929: そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Tenjin Nishi-dori Street 20150604: そらみみ (Soramimi), CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Seaside Momochi Seaside Park Fukuoka Tower and Marizon at sunset Sawara-ku Fukuoka 20240116: Hirho, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- DAIMARU Shinsaibashi Store Main Building: Tokumeigakarinoaoshima, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Osaka, Umeda station (29053936726): Dime Gontar from Kiev, Ukraine, CC BY 2.0, source
- Kobe-subway-S09-K10-Shinnagata-station-entrance-2-20231001-100033: LERK, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Kobe Harborland Winter 2017-12 2: Mr.ちゅらさん, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- New CHITOSE Airport terminal: MIKI Yoshihito, CC BY 2.0, source
- Daimaru JR Sapporo station: Sengoku40, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Otaru Canal 20140817: Suicasmo, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Takehara Station: Kzaral, CC BY 2.0, source
- Takehara Historic District: Vickerman625, Public domain, source
- Takehara Fumeikaku 2013-08: At by At, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Onomichi Channel and Mukaishima Island from Senkoji Park 3: そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- 広島駅南北自由通路 2018年1月: Inaji pc, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- 131109 Yuwaku Onsen Kanazawa Ishikawa pref Japan08s3: 663highland, CC BY 2.5, source
- Kanazawa Forus and Hotel Kanazawa in front of Kanazawa Station: そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Wing Wing Takaoka 20190429: 掬茶, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Takaoka Art Museum 1-1: 柑橘類, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- 2001年02月20日おとぎの森公園 - panoramio: daizukan, CC BY 3.0, source
- Michinoeki Himi ac: Asturio Cantabrio, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- JRW Sakaiminato-STA Rotary: MaedaAkihiko, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Mizuki Shigeru Road -01: Aimaimyi, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Mizuki Shigeru Museum 20260815 1: Totti, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Washinomiya Shrine 7412 sandō: Peter Schlömer, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Waki-yagura of Sendai Castle 20220910b: 掬茶, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Odawara Castle Keep Tower seen from the east: Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Aso Green Caldera (53000372949): Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, source
- Tokyo Tower as seen from Mori Tower: Daniel L. Lu (user:dllu), CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Inokashira park pond 2024: ARandomName123, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Mount Fuji Japan with Snow, Lakes and Surrounding Mountains: Kpravin2, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Setogawa Canal, White Walled Storehouse ac (1): Asturio Cantabrio, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Tottori Sand Dunes-1: 江戸村のとくぞう, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Abashiri Drift ice01: 221.20 (talk), Public domain, source
- 平等院 - panoramio (5): Mamusi Taka, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- 旧万世橋駅 - panoramio: くろふね, CC BY 3.0, source
- 羊山公園芝桜の丘から武甲山: Koda6029, CC0, source
- Sunrise - Oarai,Ibaraki1: t.kunikuni, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Awa Island and Mount Fuji from Uchiura Bay: Alpsdake, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Enoshima, Japan (15662062438): wellflat ., CC BY 2.0, source
- Kyoto International Manga Museum exterior: Kento Ikeda, CC BY 2.0, source
- Nakasu02: STA3816, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Dotonbori Osaka Japan01-r: Oilstreet, CC BY 2.5, source
- City nightscape of Sapporo from Mt. Moiwa 20260703b: 掬茶, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Landscape view of Onomichi city and Onomichi Channel at night. Hiroshima Prefecture. Japan: Mstyslav Chernov/Unframe/unframe.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Tsuzumimon Gate in front of Kanazawa Station at dusk 20150120: そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- JRW Sakaiminato-STA Rotary: MaedaAkihiko, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo; December 2017: Mark D, CC BY-SA 2.0, source