Anime Tourism in Japan Soars, Boosting Local Economies

Visits to Japanese locations featured in anime and manga are providing a meaningful boost to local economies, with a new report indicating that 8.1% of foreign tourists in 2024, roughly 3 million people, engaged in what’s known as “anime tourism.” This surge is prompting more regions to capitalize on Japan’s cultural influence.

The Rise of “Seichi Junrei”

The phenomenon, known as “seichi junrei” or “holy pilgrimage,” has become a popular activity for anime and manga fans. They travel to locations that either inspired or served as real-world settings for their favorite works. This trend gained momentum following the success of the 2016 anime film, “your name.”

Did You Know? The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) provides resources to help tourists plan their trips,including data on local customs,culture,and transportation [1, 3].

Economic Impact of Anime Tourism

The Meiji Yasuda Research Institute reports that purchases of anime and manga-related goods by foreign tourists reached an estimated 54.3 billion yen ($372 million) in 2024, marking a 53% increase since 2016. This influx of spending is a welcome boost to local economies.

Japan’s anime industry continues to thrive, with global consumer spending exceeding 3 trillion yen in 2023. Animated films have also dominated domestic box office revenues in recent years.

Popular Anime Tourism Destinations

one notable destination is the Homangu Kamado Shrine in Fukuoka Prefecture, which is associated with the popular “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” series. Fukuoka Prefecture ranked fifth in the nation for foreign tourist numbers,according to Takafumi Fujita,an economist at Meiji Yasuda Research.

The main shrine of Homangu Kamado Shrine in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture. (Kyodo)

Addressing the Digital Trade Deficit

The growing global popularity of Japanese entertainment content, including anime, games, and movies, has the potential to offset Japan’s significant digital trade deficit. While Japan recorded a record 6.8 trillion yen digital trade deficit in 2024 due to reliance on foreign tech, exports of entertainment content, which totaled 4.7 trillion yen in 2022, could help balance the scales if the industry maintains its growth trajectory.

Challenges of Overtourism

While anime tourism offers numerous benefits, it also presents challenges. Fujita notes that local governments must address overtourism issues that impact the lives of residents near popular locations. This includes developing multilingual support systems and training local tourism volunteers to accommodate the increasing number of visitors.

Pro Tip: Consider visiting popular anime tourism spots during the off-season or weekdays to avoid large crowds.

Japan Tourism Statistics

to accommodate the growing influx of tourists, local authorities are encouraged to develop systems to offer multilingual support and train local tourism volunteers.

What are some of your favorite anime tourism destinations in Japan? How can local communities better manage the impact of increased tourism?