Osaka, known as "Japan's Kitchen" and "The City Where You Eat Till You Drop" (a place where you spend so much on food that you run out of living expenses), is a tourist destination famous for its gourmet food, even within Japan.
It's also the second-largest central city after Tokyo, concentrating about 7% of Japan's population and about 10% of the foreign population living in Japan.
As Osaka is popular both as a tourist destination and as a place to live, it has become the setting for many anime and manga. In this article, we'll introduce 8 Osaka manga spots and anime locations that have become pilgrimage sites for fans.
Osaka Has Many "Sacred Sites" Featured in Anime and Manga
Anime and manga often use real-life landscapes, buildings, and spots as motifs. Such places that look exactly like those in anime and manga are called "sacred sites," and Japanese anime and manga fans often visit these "sacred sites."
Osaka, one of Japan's major cities and a tourist destination, has many "sacred sites."
We'll introduce about 8 of these Osaka manga spots, so please visit the sacred sites of manga or anime you know. It's very enjoyable to see the world of the story spread out before your eyes.
8 Sacred Sites Recommended for "Otaku"!
Bakemonogatari
Source: BS11
Bakemonogatari is a fantasy anime/manga full of gags and parodies.
The theme of the story is apparitions (mysterious beings or powers that are not scientific). In Bakemonogatari, high school student Koyomi Araragi solves one incident after another related to apparitions.
Around Tenjinbashi
Tenjinbashi appears in episode 14 of Bakemonogatari. The night view of Tenjinbashi seen from Tenmabashi Hachikenyahama features a large river, high-rise buildings lining the riverbank, and a bridge shining with light over the river.
The night view of Tenjinbashi is one of the popular spots in the real world, so you can enjoy it even if you go with someone who hasn't seen Bakemonogatari.
Also, the sword-tip fountain in Nakanoshima Park, right next to the bridge, releases 11 tons of water every 30 minutes. Please be sure to see the beautiful combination of this water arch and the bridge.
Kuroko's Basketball
Source: JUMP Official website
Kuroko's Basketball is a youth manga depicting the struggles of high school students dedicated to basketball.
The five strongest players called the "Generation of Miracles" in middle school go on to different high schools and continue playing basketball. Tetsuya Kuroko, who was called the "Phantom Sixth Man" and had comparable skills to the five, challenges the Generation of Miracles along with his American returnee classmate Taiga Kagami and reliable teammates.
Osaka City Central Gymnasium
Source: Official website
The Osaka City Central Gymnasium is the model for the gymnasium that became the venue for the Interhigh tournament in episode 22 of Kuroko's Basketball. This match is a popular battle between Touou with Aomine and Kaijou with Kise, featuring many impressive scenes and lines, including Kise's first victory against Aomine in a one-on-one.
While the interior of the Osaka City Central Gymnasium may not be exactly the same, the exterior looks identical. Especially when viewed from the front, the trapezoidal structure with a wide base and the brown stone wall look as if they've jumped out of the story world.
Conan
Source: Official website
Detective Conan is the most famous mystery manga in Japan.
High school detective Shinichi Kudou is forced to take a drug that turns him into an elementary school student. Disguising himself as Conan Edogawa, he solves cases using Professor Agasa's inventions while trying not to reveal his true identity.
Nakanoshima Library
Source: Official website
Nakanoshima Library appears in Season 3, Episode 118 of Detective Conan, "The Naniwa Serial Murder Case," where Conan and Heiji visit as part of their investigation. In the story, Conan and Heiji use a microfilm machine, which was popular as a recording medium for newspapers at the time of serialization, to research old newspapers.
Now, nearly 30 years after the serialization, Nakanoshima Library has been renovated, so little of the interior from that time remains. Therefore, it's recommended to mainly enjoy the exterior, which retains much of its appearance from that time, when making a pilgrimage to this Osaka manga spot.
Free!
Source: FASHION PRESS
Free! is a story of youth and bonds depicting a high school boys' swimming club.
The four main characters who attended the same swimming school in elementary school go their separate ways after graduating. When they become high school students, they resume their interaction through swimming, with new friends joining them.
It depicts the youth of high school students who face themselves, their friends, and swimming earnestly, albeit awkwardly.
Kindai University
Source: Official website
While Free! is set in Tottori Prefecture, Samezuka Academy, where Rin and others belong, is modeled after Kindai University's Higashi-osaka Campus. Especially when the cultural festival was held at Samezuka Academy, it appeared as the main spot.
Inside Kindai University, there are landscapes from Free! everywhere. The west gate is particularly recommended, where you can enjoy scenery that's exactly the same except for the school name on the sign. Other spots will jump out at you just by walking around, so please try to find them.
The Ryuou's Work is Never Done!
Source: Hulu
The Ryuo's Work is Never Done! is a work themed around "shogi" (Japanese chess).
The protagonist is Yaichi Kuzuryu, who won a shogi title at the young age of 16. He continues to hone his shogi skills while interacting with various people, including Ai Hinatsuru, an elementary school girl with a rare talent for shogi.
In Front of Tsutenkaku
The area in front of Tsutenkaku appears several times in The Ryuo's Work is Never Done!, including in the music video. Particularly memorable is the scene in episode 4 where Ai Yashajin, who newly becomes Yaichi's disciple, trains at the shogi dojo in Shinsekai (the area right in front of Tsutenkaku).
Unfortunately, the Shinsekai shogi dojo has closed in the real world, but it has been renovated as a kushikatsu restaurant called "Oushou Club." The space still has remnants of its time as a shogi dojo in many places, so please visit this Osaka manga spot.
Saki
Source: BANDAI CHANNEL
Saki is set in a fictional world where the competitive population of mahjong has exceeded 100 million people.
Teru, the estranged sister of the protagonist Saki, is the champion of the national high school mahjong tournament for two consecutive years. Thinking she can meet her sister if she reaches the national tournament, Saki aims for the national tournament with her friends from the Kiyosumi High School mahjong club.
Senriyama First Fountain
Source: Official website
The Senriyama First Fountain appears in the opening of Saki and in the flashback scene of the Senriyama Girls in episode 5. In the flashback scene, the scene where Rei and Ryuuka embrace in front of the fountain is particularly impressive.
The charm of the Senriyama First Fountain is its high degree of reproduction. Not only is the bronze statue standing in the center of the fountain identical down to the details, but even the stone monument and sign board built behind the fountain match.
It's also recommended to take a photo in the same pose as Rei and Ryuuka in front of the fountain.
CLANNAD
Source: Playstation Store
CLANNAD is a work known as a "tearjerker anime," themed around friendship, romance, family love, and bonds.
The protagonist, Tomoya Okazaki, who was isolated due to his inability to handle interpersonal relationships, meets the heroine Nagisa Furukawa, opens his heart to her, and gradually changes.
Around Senriyama Station and Kansai University
Source: Univlife
The area from Senriyama Station to Kansai University is modeled after the town where Tomoya and Nagisa live, so the entire town is a sacred site.
It's recommended to walk from Senriyama Station towards Kansai University while visiting the sacred sites. Among them, the apartment where Tomoya and Nagisa lived is a must-see spot. Although it has been rebuilt and the details are different, it still retains the atmosphere of the anime.
Around this apartment, you can also enjoy scenery that's the same as in the ED and DVD jackets, so please try to find them.
Kemurikusa
Source: d Anime Store
Kemurikusa is a work that became popular for its unique worldview.
Set in a city full of ruins wrapped in red mist, it's a story about three surviving sisters out of six who cooperate to survive while being exposed to various dangers.
Around Umeda Station
While the always crowded Umeda Station might not seem to match the image of the desolate world of Kemurikusa, it actually appears several times.
The most famous scene is in episode 6, where they move by train inside the station. Although it's quite worn out now, the sign saying "Hankyu Umeda Station," the positions of the pillars and coin lockers match perfectly.
Umeda Station is a very large station, so it might be hard to find, but you should aim for "Hankyu Umeda Station." It's very exhilarating when you find scenery that matches the anime from the vast station interior.
Two Popular Manga Set in Osaka That Gained Popularity in Japan
The King of Minami
Source: booklive
The protagonist of The King of Minami is Ginzirou Manda, an underground money lender who lends money privately at an exorbitant interest rate of 10% per day.
At first, Manda seems like a villain, but as you read on, you'll find yourself unable to hate him before you know it. I found myself cheering for him before I realized it. Manda has a mysterious charm that attracts people. Please read The King of Minami and enjoy the deep daily life of the underworld.
The main setting of The King of Minami is around Namba in Osaka. There are many sacred sites around there. It's also interesting to read The King of Minami after sightseeing, as you'll encounter many familiar scenes and atmospheres.
The Fable
Source: yanmaga
The protagonist of *The Fable* is a genius hitman called "Fable," who can kill any enemy within six seconds. However, one day, he receives an order from his boss: "Spend one year living as an ordinary person without killing anyone."
He starts living a normal life in Osaka, and while enjoying the peacefulness of being a regular person, he repeatedly gets caught up in troubles from the underworld. The story focuses on how Fable skillfully handles these situations without killing anyone.
Set in Osaka, this work, like *Minami no Teiō*, turns many spots in the city into sacred places for fans. Whether you choose to read it before or after visiting these locations, it's a story worth checking out when you have the time.
Anime and Manga Fans Must Visit "Nipponbashi Ota Road"!
Source: otent
Nipponbashi Ota Road is known as "the largest pop culture hotspot in western Japan." This area is packed with specialty stores for anime, figurines, maid cafés, and more—it's a place where no amount of time or money will ever be enough for otaku.
It's especially recommended for those who want to purchase anime or manga merchandise, as you're sure to spot items you want wherever you look.
Among all the stores, my top recommendation is "Animate Café." Here, you can enjoy food and interiors themed around popular anime and games.
Be sure to visit when your favorite anime or game is collaborating with the café. Don’t forget to check it out!