All across Japan, there are many locations known as settings for popular anime. Why not visit a place where you can experience the atmosphere of your favorite story’s world for yourself?
*When visiting, please be considerate of local residents and other visitors, taking care not to disturb them.
This series, based on the manga of the same name, follows a young girl who, together with her coach, strives to become a figure-skating medalist. Season 1 of the TV anime aired in 2025, and Season 2 has been airing since January 2026. Set in Aichi Prefecture, the hometown of manga artist Tsurumaikada and a major figure-skating hub that has produced Olympic medalists including Asada Mao and Uno Shoma. The main character Yuitsuka Inori belongs to Lux Higashiyama FSC, whose home rink, Osu Skate Link, is a real skating rink in Nagoya. The competition venue, Howa Minato Sports & Culture, also exists in the city. In addition, the series features many scenes based on real locations around Nagoya, including Osu Kannon Temple and Uramonzen Park.
The theatrical anime film “Look Back,” which portrays two girls’ passion for manga, left a powerful impression on many creators. Nikaho City in Akita Prefecture, associated with the original author Fujimoto Tatsuki, who is also known for “Chainsaw Man,” has been drawing attention as one of the model locations used in the film’s production. Through depictions of everyday scenes, such as a bookstore, a convenience store, and an overpass, the film brings the characters’ lives and the world of the story closer to home. A live-action film by director Kore-eda Hirokazu, who won the Palme d’Or at the 71st Cannes Film Festival, is also scheduled for release in 2026.
The TV anime “Skip and Loafer,” which aired in 2023, is a school-life comedy that follows a high school girl who moves from the countryside to enroll at a prestigious school in Tokyo, and the friendships she forms along the way. The heroine’s hometown is modeled on Suzu City in Ishikawa Prefecture, located at the tip of the Noto Peninsula. Scenery inspired by real locations appears throughout the series, including Kinoura Marine Park, the former Takojima Station, Takakurahiko Shrine, and Hachigasaki Beach. Suzu City was one of the areas severely affected by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, and some places may no longer look as they did in the series. Even so, support for recovery has been spreading through the series—for example, through a limited-time initiative in which reading the original manga helped generate donations (*), as well as through visits to these “real-life locations,” which can also help support the local community.
Reconstruction is still ongoing, and some facilities have already reopened. Before visiting, please check the latest updates on Suzu City’s official website and other reliable sources.
* Limited-time initiative from December 23, 2024, to January 22, 2025.
