Watching anime before your trip to Japan does something remarkable — it makes the country feel familiar the moment you arrive. The train announcements, the convenience stores, the school uniforms, the shrine festivals — you’ll recognize them all. Here are 10 anime that will genuinely enrich your Japan travel experience.
- Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi)
If you watch only one anime before visiting Japan, make it this one. Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece is full of Japanese folklore, spiritual imagery, and the concept of omotenashi (wholehearted hospitality). You’ll see echoes of it in every onsen town and old shinto shrine.
Relevant for: Kyoto, Hakone, any traditional inn (ryokan)
- Your Name (Kimi no Na wa)
Makoto Shinkai’s stunning film is practically a travel advertisement for Japan. The Tokyo scenes are so accurate you can walk the exact routes. The rural Gifu prefecture setting is equally beautiful in real life.
Relevant for: Shinjuku, Yotsuya, rural Japan
- Midnight Diner (Shinya Shokudo)
Not technically anime (it’s live-action) but based on a manga, this quiet Netflix series follows the late-night customers of a small Tokyo diner. It captures the soul of Japanese izakaya culture better than any travel guide.
Relevant for: Tokyo izakayas, late-night food culture
- Natsume’s Book of Friends (Natsume Yuujinchou)
Set in rural Kumamoto, this gentle series shows a side of Japan that most tourists miss — quiet countryside, local festivals, and the deep connection between people and nature. It’ll make you want to leave Tokyo.
Relevant for: Rural Japan, Kyushu
- Yuri!!! on Ice
The ice skating drama features stunning scenes in Hasetsu (based on Karatsu, Saga Prefecture) and a memorable sequence in a Fukuoka ramen shop. It sparked a major tourism boom in the region.
Relevant for: Kyushu, ramen culture
- A Silent Voice (Koe no Katachi)
Set in Ogaki, Gifu Prefecture, this emotional film features one of the most beautiful shrine scenes in anime. The real-life location, Ogaki Castle and the surrounding town, is now a popular pilgrimage destination.
Relevant for: Gifu, central Japan
- Jiro Dreams of Sushi (documentary)
Technically a documentary, not anime, but essential watching for anyone who wants to understand Japan’s relationship with food, craftsmanship, and perfection. Watch it before eating at any serious Japanese restaurant.
Relevant for: Tokyo’s food scene
- Laid-Back Camp (Yuru Camp)
This cozy series about girls camping near Mount Fuji has inspired thousands of tourists to visit the Fuji Five Lakes region. The campsites shown in the series are real and accessible.
Relevant for: Mount Fuji area, Yamanashi
- Samurai Champloo
Set in Edo-period Japan, this stylish series is a great introduction to Japanese history, street food culture, and the aesthetic of old Tokyo (then called Edo). You’ll appreciate Asakusa and Nikko much more after watching it.
Relevant for: Asakusa, Nikko, historical Japan
- My Neighbor Totoro (Tonari no Totoro)
The Satsuki and Mei’s house in the film was recreated at the Ghibli Museum, and the rural setting is based on the Tokorozawa area in Saitama. It captures the magic of Japanese countryside summers perfectly.
Relevant for: Rural Saitama, Ghibli Museum
Tip: Most of these are available on Netflix Japan or Crunchyroll. Watch them before you go, and Japan will feel like a place you’ve already been — in your heart.
