Otaku Tour: Anime, Manga, Ninja & Samurai - Cherry Blossoms 2022 - 3/30

The Sensoji Temple located in Asakusa is one of the most popular Buddhist temples to visit. The temple was built and completed in the year 645 and is Tokyo’s oldest temple. The surrounding area offers shopping for souvenirs and food. The Sanja Festival is one of Tokyo’s biggest festivals and is held every May at Asakusa Temple.

The Samurai Kembu Experience has locations in Tokyo and Kyoto, and teaches an art that is part martial art, part stage performance. Kembu is a kind of performance art that uses the katana (or samurai sword), and Japanese fan, often set to traditional poems that were written by samurai. The lessons include a costume rental and teach the basics of how to handle a katana, consisting of proper martial posture and simple slashing techniques. Guests also learn to handle a Japanese fan, which includes proper bowing form and introduction to samurai poetry. The lessons include time to take pictures in cool samurai poses.

One Piece Tokyo Tower is a popular amusement park found inside Tokyo Tower. The park is made up of themed areas connected to the characters from One Piece, with kid-friendly experiences like “Luffy’s Endless Adventure”, “Zoro’s Soul of Edge”, “Nami’s Casino House”, and “Brook’s Horror House”. Re- created sections of the Pirate Ship “Thousand Sunny” may be explored on a Chopper-guided walkthrough. A theater presents a live-action stage show starring Luffy and the other Straw Hat Pirates, with a new adventure exclusive to the park and a story that changes depending on season. Tokyo One Piece Tower also includes restaurants and stores selling official One- Piece merchandise.

Ninja Restaurant Akasaka is a ninja-themed dining establishment in Tokyo. The entrance is a deceptively small door near Tokyu Plaza Akasaka, so visitors feel from the beginning like they have accessed a secret hideout. Enter a labyrinthian dining area fitted to the elegant simplicity of the Edo period, with décor of stone and lacquered wood accented by charming natural features like waterfalls and the sounds of crickets chirping. Food presentation is an equal part of the show, and culinary masters of various cuisines, including Japanese, Italian, French, and Chinese artfully craft and plate each dish. They even add trick effects like fire and smoke to make the dining experience that much more ninja.

The Ghibli Museum is a thorough exhibit showcasing films and art by Studio Ghibli, one of Japan’s largest animation studios. It is renowned as a must see site for all Miyazaki Hayao fans, the creator of celebrated films such as Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro, and many more.

Manga School Nakano International is a school in Tokyo that specializes in teaching international English-speaking students how to draw Japanese manga. The 2-hour lessons accommodate students of all skill levels, and even children are welcome to give it a try. The classes teach beginners how to make characters with the cute expressions that make anime so popular. The head teacher at the school is Nao Yazawa, a professional manga artist known for manga “Wedding Peach”. While the school is friendly to first- timers, it’s also a good opportunity for an amateur artist to get some practical pointers from a local manga artist.

The Pokémon Center opened in the Shibuya district of Tokyo in 2019, the 5th in a series of Tokyo stores officially licensed by Nintendo to sell Pokémon-themed merchandise. Unlike previous Pokémon Centers, the Shibuya Pokémon Center aims for a more modern, cool atmosphere to its store to fit the Shibuya area’s stylish aesthetic. Instead of the common Pikachu as its mascot Pokémon, the store has chosen Mewtwo to represent the store’s image, even suspending a life- size statue of the legendary psychic-type in a sleek water tank out in front of the shop. Pokémon merchandise of all kinds are available for purchase – apparel, accessories, and plush toys, including next- generation Pokémon from its latest titles.

One of Tokyo’s most beloved, albeit unofficial landmarks, the Hachiko statue tells the tale of an especially faithful Akita dog named Hachiko. This dog famously went to Shibuya station every day to await the return of his master, a professor at Tokyo University. Hachiko continued to wait, even 10 years following the professor’s untimely passing. The story has since passed into legend, commemorated with the statue near Shibuya station. The statue has become a popular meeting place for local residents, conveniently located just outside one of the station’s main exits, now known as the Hachiko exit.

The Shibuya Crossing is a street intersection located near Shibuya Station’s Hachiko exit in Tokyo. The crossing has five major crosswalks covering the immense diamond intersection. The crossing is comparable to New York’s Times Square in terms of foot traffic, having almost 3,000 people crossing at its peak periods. The Shibuya Crossing is also known as the Scramble Crossing, since every crossing light turns green at the same time, leading to a leisurely rush of human traffic. The crosswalk becomes party central for the city on New Year’s Eve. The adjacent Starbucks, offering prime viewing of the crosswalk action from its windows, is one of Japan’s most popular.

The Shining Moon Tokyo is a combination restaurant and theater in the Azabujuban ward of Tokyo. The theater features daily performances involving characters from the acclaimed magical girl anime “Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon”. Opening in 2019, the Shining Moon gives fans of the classic anime an entertaining dance and song spectacle, with a live- action Sailor Moon herself at center stage, backed up by her friends the Sailor Guardians. The restaurant offers a menu of cutesy food and drinks on dishware that shares the theme, and the store sells an assortment of related Sailor Moon Show apparel and accessories.

The Unicorn Gundam stands at nearly 20 meters tall beside the DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba. It is arguably the biggest show piece in the entertainment district, with gleaming white armor in an iconic fighting pose that captivates visiting travelers. The statue was formerly of the classic RX-78-2 Gundam design, but it was replaced in 2017 with the newer Unicorn Gundam model. The biggest difference between the Unicorn Gundam and its predecessor is that this newer model can be seen transforming between Unicorn and Destroyer modes four times per day. This newer Gundam also features light-up paneling, so even at night it appears ready to spring into action.

Akihabara is a special district of Tokyo, well known in Japan as the nation’s cultural heart of anime, manga, and gamer-geek fandom. The famed Electric Town is marked by eye-popping storefront signs lining the streets surrounding Akihabara Station. These stores sell various merchandise appealing to the anime fan collector, such as detailed figurines, assorted apparel, accessories, artwork, toys, games, CDs, DVDs, and other amusements. Tucked between these shops are a vast assortment of themed cafes – not only anime/game refreshment spots like Gundam Café and Square-Enix Cafe, but also maid cafes, cat cafes, even owl cafes.

Lake Ashinoko along with Mount Fuji in the background is the proud symbol of Hakone. One of the best views with the lake and Mount Fuji could be seen from one of the many sightseeing boats. There are a few boat cruises available, but the main two are ran by Hakone Sightseeing Boats and Izuhakone Sightseeing Boats. The best time to come is during the cherry blossom season and when the autumn colors are at its peak.

The Hakone Yumoto Evangelion Shop is located in Hakone, in Kanagawa Prefecture. This region of Japan is known for beautiful landscape and onsen hot springs, and recognizable by fans of Neon Genesis Evangelion as the real-life setting of Tokyo-3. The shop has a traditional Japanese look to it, with Japan- style decoration connected to the anime, including a statue of Rei in a stylish kimono. The appeal of the shop is not only in the setting and design; Hakone Yumoto EVA Shop sells a wide range of Evangelion merchandise featuring Rei, Asuka, Shinji, and other characters from the anime. Specialty items include hand-crafted tableware, figurines, and apparel. The shop also sells NERV-stamped baked goods, sweets, and drinks.

Mt. Fuji is a widely-known symbol of Japan. At 3,773 meters, Mount Fuji is Japan’s tallest mountain. “Station (gome)” is the unit representing one tenth of the length from the trail entrance to the top.The fifth station Mt. Fuji is the fifth point from the base at the height of 2,305 meter. Being the end of the Fuji Subaru Line toll road and the highest point that general cars can reach. From the observatory you can see below Komitake Shrine, an ancient place for prayer that has been visited by worshippers and disciplinant, and Yamanaka-ko, the largest lake among the five Fuji lakes.

Matsumoto is home to one of Japan’s four National Treasure Castles, the Matsumoto Castle. This castle is one of the most beautiful, and complete original castles in all of Japan compared to the other four National Treasure Castles. During the spring season, Matsumoto Castel is a very popular location to view the cherry blossoms.

Your Name was an award-winning Japanese anime drama film made in 2016 which tells the story of two high schoolers – a boy from Tokyo and a girl from a small country town – who suddenly swap bodies. The film was a big success, both in Japan and abroad, for its gorgeous animation and emotionally engaging narrative. The refreshing country settings from the film come to life in the small town of Hida Furukawa. The old-fashioned storehouses, romantic canals full of koi fish, and a series of small temples give visitors the feeling of having stepped into the film. Small shops also sell locally made souvenirs.

Kumihimo, or “gathered threads” is a form of braiding that is native to Japan. The history of the handicraft goes all the way back to samurai times, when it was used by the noble warrior class for decorative fastenings on metal armor and horse barding. Now the technique is mainly used as a fancy addition to elegant kimono outfits. The basics of the technique are easy to learn and can be a good cultural experience for visiting travelers to small country towns like Hida Furukawa. Kumihimo also gained recognition among anime fans when it made an appearance in the anime drama Your Name.

Every morning in Takayama there are two morning markets set up for tourist to visit. Both markets are well within walking distance from Takayama station. In front of the Takayama Jinya is the Jinya-Mae Market and along the Miyagawa River in the old town section is the Miyagawa Market. Guests can enjoy shopping for goods such as small crafts, foods, snacks and flowers.

The city of Seki, Gifu, is home to the Seki Traditional Swordsmith Museum. Seki has been a place that has long been associated with exceptional Japanese katanas and other blades, and although the city’s industry has updated its production to quality kitchen knives, this museum preserves the fine craftsmanship and smithing techniques that the city is known for. The museum exhibits numerous samurai swords in excellent condition from as far back as the Kamakura period – over 700 years ago. A locally distinct smithing style is demonstrated at the museum once a month, marked by a special ceremony where men dressed in white strike steel with large hammers.

Morikoro Park is a park in Nagakute, Aichi, which was the site of the 2005 World Expo. Morikoro also gives its name to the mascots of the Expo, represented as a pair of fluffy forest creatures. The Expo focused on nature preservation, with ecological impact, sustainability, and natural wonder as primary themes. Some of the structures from the fair can still be visited, and the most popular is undoubtedly a reconstruction of Satsuki and Mei’s House from the Studio Ghibli film My Neighbor Totoro, built in the middle of the Expo’s Forest Experience Zone. The house was built in the old-fashioned style of the Showa Period, and artificially aged.

Iga Ninja Museum showcases the history and artifacts of ninja in the Iga area. The museum can be found in Mie prefecture near the Iga Ueno Castle. It was first established in 1964 and the current honorary director of the facility is Jinichi Kawakami, the proclaimed 21st head of Iga-ryu ninjutsu. Iga Ninja Museum is comprised of two exhibitions, ninja residence, and stage. All the areas combined provide a comprehensive understanding of the ninja culture in Iga.

In the museum’s collection you can see ninjutsu (art of stealth) tools that were used and learn about their use. There are also ancient Ninjutsu writings that have been scientifically analyzed. The 400 ninja tools that are on display show the types of weapons used during the time when ninjas were active. At the stage area of the museum there are ninja shows that demonstrate the use of real weapons. They showcase actual ninja skills, but the show is only in Japanese. Also part of the Iga Ninja Museum is a residence that Iga ninjas once used. Even though it looks normal from the outside, the inside vastly differs. There are revolving walls, hidden compartments, and trap doors that the Iga ninja utilize when there were intruders present.

Located north of Nara Park is one of Japan’s most historic and famous temple called the Todai-Ji Temple. This temple is listed as one of Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The temple’s main hall named Daibutsuden, is the largest wooden building in the world. It is home to one of Japan’s largest bronze statues of Buddha siting at fifteen meters tall.

Located in central Nara is Nara Park, it is one of the most famous and popular parks in Japan. The park is famous and popular because it is home to over one thousand deer. The deer roam freely throughout the park and visitors are able to get up close and feed the deer as well. This park is conveniently located near most of Nara’s main tourist destinations, which include Todai-Ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Kofuku-Ji Temple, and the Nara National Museum.

The Fushimi Inari-Taisha Grand Shrine is located in southern Kyoto and is one of the most famous and visited shrines in Kyoto. This shrine is only five minutes away from Kyoto Station by train, and features over a thousand vermillion colored torii gates that brings many tourist to this shrine every year.

Located only 20 minutes away by bus from Kyoto Station, is the Gion Geisha District. The Gion Geisha District is one of the most famous and popular destinations for tourist visiting Kyoto. This area is filled with restaurants, teahouses, shops, and other attractions to entertain guests. The machiya merchant houses along with river and the occasional geisha walking around, brings visitors from everywhere to experience everything that this area has to offer.

The famous Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) Temple is located in northern Kyoto and is most known for the building covered in gold leaf. This famous building is the number one most popular destination for tourist visiting Kyoto. The Golden Pavilion sits overlooking a large pond and various small attractions and shops are available for visitors.

Arashiyama is located on the western outskirts of Kyoto and is a well-known destination for both the cherry blossoms and fall colors seasons. North of the famous Togetsukyo Bridge is Sagano, and together they make this place a nice little getaway from temples and shrines to enjoy nature. Popular destinations include the Togetsukyo Bridge and the Bamboo Forest of Arashiyama.

One of the most popular and well-known spots for visitors is the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. A nice walking path takes visitors through the groves of bamboos. The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is also one of the most famous and photographed places in all of Kyoto and brings many visitors every year during the autumn color season.

The Kiyomizu-Dera Temple is located only 15 minutes away by bus from Kyoto Station to the eastern side of Kyoto. This temple is one of the most popular temples in Kyoto and is listed as one of Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The temple features a large wooden terrace that offers a fantastic view of the cherry blossoms in the spring and autumn colors during the fall season with the city of Kyoto in the background.

The Kyoto Samurai and Ninja Museum is located in Kyoto, Japan – also known as Japan’s cultural heartland. The city of shrines and temples is the perfect setting for the museum, which features enough eye-catching samurai armors and weapons to fascinate every visitor. In addition to the exhibits, the museum also offers a demonstration in use of the samurai sword, as well as optional lessons that include a chance to wear samurai armor and learn to smoothly draw and sheathe a katana. There is a separate ninja experience for the chance to dress and fight like a ninja, with lessons in their secret stealth techniques.

Located in the center of the city of Osaka lies Osaka Castle Park which holds the city’s most popular attraction, Osaka Castle. This castle was originally built in the 16th century, but has been destroyed and rebuilt many times before. Visitors will have to go through Osaka Castle Park to reach the castle, which including walking through impressive gates, and walking up on stone stairs. This area is also one of the most popular cherry blossom season location in the city.

Tsutenkaku Tower is one of Osaka’s premier landmarks, located in the Shinsekai district of Osaka. At 103 meters tall, Tsutenkaku (literally, The Tower Reaching Heaven), is the perfect place for a grand view of Osaka city. The original tower was burned down in the 1940s and the remaining steel was used during World War 2, and later the people of Osaka rebuilt the tower as a symbol of Japan’s reconstruction. On the observation deck is enshrined a wooden statue of Billiken, an American good luck charm doll that became a “god of happiness and good fortune”, attracting thousands over the years to make a wish near the doll. The tower is also splendid to see at night, resplendent in neon lighting.

Nipponbashi Den Den Town is a special shopping district of Osaka city known for catering to various anime, gaming, and otaku interests – Osaka’s answer to Tokyo’s Akihabara. The name of the town comes from its many low-price electronics shops, although popular anime/gamer merchandise outlets such as Super Potato and Animate also have shops there. There are also excellent hobby stores, especially for those who enjoy making models. Many visitors prefer Den Den Town to Akihabara as it is often less crowded and, on the whole, easier to navigate. Like Akihabara, they also include some excellent themed cafes – especially maid cafes – for visitors to immerse themselves in cuteness.

Dotonbori is a district of Osaka, popular among locals and visiting tourists as the best place to go for food. The street runs parallel to the Dotonbori Canals, and is lined with some of the city’s top eateries. The district is the perfect representation of the Osaka motto of “Kuidaore”, a proverb which means to “ruin oneself with extravagant food”. Visitors touring the district should be on the lookout for Kinryu Ramen – a notable restaurant chain known for a massive golden dragon on their storefront signage, as well as Kani Doraku – a crab seafood restaurant with a moving king crab billboard. The top landmark of the area, however, is the enormous Glico “Running Man” sign, which advertises the Glico candy brand.

The Hotel Mystays Premier Narita is conveniently located ten minutes from Narita Airport and 80 minutes by car from central Tokyo. Guests can relax in the tranquility of the hotel’s traditional Japanese garden or explore nearby places of historical beauty such as the Narita Shrine and Shinshoji Temple. The rooms are functional, well kept and convenient with essential facilities such as direct line telephones and cable TV. There is an excellent choice of sports and recreational activities including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts and a fitness club. Guests can be spoiled by the choice of dining options which include restaurants specializing in Western, Chinese and Japanese cuisine in locations with impressive views of the airport.

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro is located 3 minutes by foot from Ikebukuro Station, a massive terminal with eight different subway and JR lines. From the station, over 17 round trip buses depart to both Narita and Haneda International Airports each day, assuring convenience for guests arriving by or planning to make a transfer by air. When setting off from the hotel, guests can easily reach popular attractions such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre and Ikebukuro Café, a unique space where visitors can play with owls and other animals.

The 4-star Yatsugatake Royal Hotel offers comfort and convenience whether you're on business or holiday in Yamanashi. This hotel has everything you need for a comfortable stay. Designed and decorated to make guests feel right at home, each room comes with separate dining area, air conditioning, seating area. Enjoy the hotel's recreational facilities, including hot spring bath, indoor pool, spa, outdoor pool, before retiring to your room for a well-deserved rest. At an altitude of 1000 meters, this hotel has great views of the South Alps and Mount Fuji and it has its own observatory for star gazing.

Hotel Associa Takayama Resort soars on the Takayama highland at 640 meters above sea level.
You can experience living with nature and have an irreplaceable time. Every room of the hotel has magnificent views of the Northern Japanese Alps. Spa Wing-onsen or Hot Spring Baths features 'Ten'- no-yu or Sky bath (7th floor) and 'bou'-no-yu or Overlooking bath (5th floor). There are ten outdoor baths and two indoor baths which have fine hot spring water of the highlands. Here, you can enjoy a variety of warmth within the Hida Takayama highland hot springs.

Just 1,650 feet from Sakae Subway Station, Nagoya Tokyu Hotel features a fitness center with indoor pool, a sauna and 3 dining options. The spacious rooms include European-style furniture, a flat-screen satellite TV and a mini-bar. Private parking is possible on site at an additional charge. The Nagoya Tokyu’s air-conditioned rooms feature imported European fabrics. Guests can put on the bathrobe and slippers and unwind with a pay TV program. Each room has a tea maker, seating area and bathtub.

This 4-star Grand Prince Hotel Kyoto offers comfort and convenience whether you're on business or holiday in Kyoto. Designed with flair by noted architect Togo Murano, the Grand Prince Hotel Kyoto features spacious guest rooms, elegant banquet halls, multiple restaurants and a Sukiya-style teahouse at the Japanese garden on the property.

Located within the Kansai Airport's Aeroplaza a short walk from both passenger terminal and train station, the Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport combines superb convenience with world-class facilities and the famed hospitality of Nikko Hotels International. With its seafront setting and harmonious design, this is a hotel with the ambience of a resort-yet with direct access to Osaka and the entire Kansai region. The local area also offers a number of attractions, including Rinku Park, Rinku Premium Outlets and Nakami Shrine.

Located in the Umeda city centre, Hotel Elsereine Osaka features stylish accommodation and plenty fresh flowers. This completely non-smoking hotel offers 3 dining options, and comes with a concert hall with a grand piano and a meeting space. JR Osaka Train Station is a 10-minute walk, and the JR Kita-shinchi Train Station is a 5- minute walk away. Universal Studios Japan is a 25-minute train ride away, and Osaka Castle is a 30-minute train ride away from Osaka Hotel Elsereine. Umeda Station is a 10-minute walk away from the property.