Hida Takayama (Your Name Pilgrimage)

A successful anime pilgrimage case as the setting of 'Girls und Panzer.' Character panels line shopping streets, making it a model case of anime tourism revitalizing regional economies.

The setting of anime 'Anohana.' Chichibu's nature and townscape attract fans as one of the earliest successful anime pilgrimage cases.

An ancient pilgrimage network registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under 'Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.' The trails linking the three Kumano grand shrines share a sister-road partnership with Spain's Camino de Santiago.

A roughly 1,200km pilgrimage circuit visiting 88 sacred temples associated with the monk Kukai (Kobo Daishi) on Shikoku island. The white-robed pilgrims are an iconic sight, with the full walking circuit taking 30 to 60 days. International pilgrims have been increasing in recent years.

The headquarters of Shingon esoteric Buddhism, founded by Kobo Daishi (Kukai). A religious city with 117 temples, it offers unique experiences including temple lodging, vegetarian cuisine, and the atmospheric path to Okunoin cemetery. Registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.

A modern pilgrimage culture of visiting real locations featured in anime and manga. Sites like Hida from 'Your Name' and Kamakura from 'Slam Dunk' have become new tourism resources boosting local economies. This phenomenon is closely linked to the Cool Japan strategy.