Japan’s Anime Trail Lures Travellers

Perth, June 25: For a growing wave of travellers, the trip to Japan no longer ends at Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. It winds instead toward wisteria-draped flower parks, misty island forests and quiet onsen towns — places made famous not by guidebooks, but by anime.
These journeys have a name: anime pilgrimages. Fans seek out the real-world locations that inspired their favourite animated series, from neon-lit city crossings to sleepy rural shrines, walking the same streets their on-screen heroes once did.
It is fast becoming more than a niche pursuit. According to Precedence Research, the global anime market is expected to be worth around A$72.5 billion (US$48.3 billion) by 2030. Driving much of that growth is Gen Z, a generation that blends cultural consumption with travel, turning filming locations and anime-themed events into genuine bucket-list stops.
The real upside, for Japan at least, is dispersal. Anime travel pulls visitors well beyond the well-trodden Golden Route and into smaller towns and lesser-known prefectures — spreading both the crowds and the tourism spend.
“Anime locations are now a measurable driver of inbound tourism, not just a subculture,” Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) Sydney Office Executive Director Naoki Kitazawa said. “We couldn’t be more pleased, especially as stats show that many destinations on anime pilgrimages are to some of Japan’s smaller towns and lesser-known prefectures.”
Much of this momentum is shepherded by the Anime Tourism Association, a Japanese body established in 2016 to promote travel and cultural exchange through anime destinations. Each year it curates the ’88 Anime Pilgrimage’ list, linking real locations to notable series. The number nods to Japan’s traditional Shikoku pilgrimage of 88 temples — a symbol of a complete spiritual and cultural journey.
With Japan home to so many of the world’s anime creators and studios, the industry has become a cornerstone of the country’s cultural soft power. Here are ten locations worth building a trip around.

Ten must-visit anime locations

Ashikaga Flower Park, Tochigi — The park’s cascading wisteria inspired the ethereal flower scenes in Demon Slayer, and in full bloom it is a spectacle in its own right.

Suga Shrine Steps, Shinjuku, Tokyo — The quiet staircase where the wistful final meeting of Your Name unfolds, now a quiet place of pilgrimage for fans of the film.

One Piece Statue Tour, Kumamoto — Life-sized bronze statues celebrating creator Eiichiro Oda are scattered across the prefecture, rewarding fans who travel between them.

Ghibli Park, Aichi — The beloved worlds of Studio Ghibli brought to life, from forest spirits to flying castles.

Dogo Onsen, Ehime — One of Japan’s oldest hot springs, said to have inspired the bathhouse in Spirited Away.

Yakushima, Kagoshima — An island of ancient, moss-draped forests that echo the mystical setting of Princess Mononoke.

Hita City, Oita — Home to Attack on Titan-inspired sites and character statues, honouring a series born in the region.

Poké Lids, nationwide — Pokémon-themed manhole covers dotted across Japan, each one uniquely designed and worth hunting down.

Ashinomaki Onsen, Fukushima — A traditional ryokan whose multi-layered lobby inspired the Infinity Castle in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.

World Cosplay Summit 2026, Aichi — The world’s largest annual cosplay festival, where fans celebrate Japanese pop culture and compete for the title of World Cosplay Champion.

Whether you go for the wisteria, the onsen or the chance to stand where your favourite scene was set, anime pilgrimages offer a different way to see Japan — one that leads, fittingly, off the beaten track.