What Is Anime Pilgrimage (Seichi Junrei)?
Anime pilgrimage — seichi junrei (聖地巡礼) in Japanese — is the practice of visiting the real-world places that inspired the backgrounds and settings of an anime, manga or game. The phrase literally means "pilgrimage to a sacred place," borrowing a religious term and applying it, with a wink, to the locations fans hold dear.
Many anime are set in real, recognisable parts of Japan. Studios often photograph actual streets, stations, shrines and shorelines and recreate them faithfully as backgrounds. For fans, standing on the exact staircase or train platform from a favourite scene is a way to feel closer to a story — and to see a side of Japan that ordinary tourism rarely reaches.
Where did it come from?
Fans have visited filming and setting locations for decades, but the modern boom is often traced to the late 2000s, when a handful of popular series sent fans flocking to specific towns. Local residents and businesses, initially surprised, frequently embraced the visitors — and some regions now actively welcome anime tourism as a way to support their local economy. Today it is a recognised form of "contents tourism" studied by researchers and promoted by some local governments.
Why fans love it
- Connection. Seeing a location in person turns a screen memory into a real experience.
- Discovery. Pilgrimages lead you to suburbs, small towns and coastlines most visitors never see.
- Community. You'll often find pilgrimage notebooks, fan art and messages left by other visitors at popular spots.
What a pilgrimage actually looks like
A trip can be as simple as a single afternoon — visiting one famous staircase or railway crossing — or as ambitious as a multi-day route across several prefectures. Fans typically compare scenes from the show with the real location, take photos from the same angle, and (at shrines) may leave an ema, a small wooden wishing plaque.
Because many locations are everyday places rather than tourist attractions, a little preparation goes a long way. You'll want reliable maps and data, a sensible way to get around, and an understanding of local etiquette so that your visit is welcome.
Start planning
New to this? These guides will get you ready: