Note: As stated in previous reports, I’m basically clearing my backlog of writing reports for old pilgrimages. This visit happened way before the pandemic. I would say that there are two types of anime pilgrimage destinations. There are those that are otherwise rather ordinary, but where an anime being set there adds new meaning to … Continue reading Discovering atmospheric Takayama, the setting of Hyouka
Note: As stated in previous reports, I'm basically clearing my backlog of writing reports for old pilgrimages. This visit happened way before the pandemic. Kyoto Animation is one of the most beloved anime studios in general, and among scene hunters and anime pilgrims, they have a favorable reputation for featuring a lot of real, existing … Continue reading A visit to Haruhi Suzumiya’s hometown, Nishinomiya
Part 3 of 3 in my Numazu series. This final part recounts my return to Numazu in June 2019 and has a bit less focus on anime comparisons and more on the various Sunshine-associated shops. Notable new locations featured are the Awashima Hotel on a lunch tour and the Izu-Mito Sea Paradise itself. There’s also a bit more on central Numazu and Uchiura, including a closer look at the school. This visit was different in that I was traveling together with others from the European Love Liver community. Continue reading
Part 2 of 3 in my Numazu series. This second part recounts my most comprehensive Numazu visit, when I stayed there for two full days in September 2018 and got to know the city better. It includes detailed pilgrimages in Uchiura west of the Izu-Mito Sea Paradise tunnel (school, Bentenjima Shrine, etc.) and in Numazu Harbor as well as more of central Numazu. Some shops associated with Love Live! Sunshine!! but not featured in the anime are also highlighted. Continue reading
Part 1 of 3 in my Numazu series. This first part recounts my visit to Numazu in March 2018, where I participated in the “Escape from the Solitary Island’s Aquarium: Take Back the Lost Treasure!” game on the island of Awashima. Additionally, I visited locations seen in the anime on Awashima, and briefly those in central Numazu and in Uchiura east of the Izu-Mito Sea Paradise tunnel (Mito Beach etc.). Continue reading
The greatest anime series ever produced, K-On, is set in a town somewhere in Japan that we never learn the name of. Based on the show, it seems to be a relatively small, peaceful town. Like so many other Japanese students, the light music club's girls take the Shinkansen bullet train on a school trip … Continue reading Cycling around Kyoto for K-On scenery
(This report includes snapshot-like descriptions of story events to help connect locations to anime scenes, but no major spoilers.) I love Clannad. It would thus be natural for me to want to visit the Japanese city it's set in. While the original 2004 visual novel doesn't really provide townscape views, Kyoto Animation's anime adaptation located … Continue reading Visiting Clannad locations in Hamura, Mizuho… and Setagaya
Living in Kyoto for a year from 2017 to 2018, I had the privilege of being just a short train ride away from neighboring Uji City, setting of the Hibike! Euphonium anime, and actually of the original novels as well. I visited the city thrice during the year, my itinerary slightly different each time. To give this report some travel flavor, I shall detail each visit separately, focusing on the new things and on what changed since the last visit. Continue reading
Ovelosphere 