Anime & Manga Pilgrimage Shrines
Japan's tradition of seichi junrei (聖地巡礼) — sacred site pilgrimage — was reinvented by anime fans visiting real locations that inspired their favorite series. These are the shrines featured in or connected to popular anime, manga, and games.
What is Seichi Junrei?
Seichi junrei (聖地巡礼, literally "sacred site pilgrimage") has a dual meaning in modern Japan. Traditionally, it referred to pilgrimages to real religious sites. In contemporary usage, it refers to anime and manga fans visiting the real-world locations that appear in or inspired their favorite works.
The phenomenon was pioneered by fans of Lucky Star (2007), who began visiting Washinomiya Shrine in Saitama after it appeared in the series. Today it is a significant driver of domestic tourism, with some shrines seeing visitor numbers increase tenfold after featuring in a hit series.