Jenni Pearson

How Anime Is Influencing Japanese Tourism

Japan has always been one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia because of its ancient temples, breathtaking skyscrapers, and historic sites. But today, one of the highest drivers of tourism in the country is Japan’s pop culture. Polygon reports that Japanese animated movies like Kimi no Na wa (Your Name) brought fans to local destinations that wouldn’t have otherwise become tourist spots. Fans often flock to these real-life settings as pilgrims, following what the Japanese call seichijunrei, which literally translates to "holy land pilgrimage," though in this context it translates to "anime pilgrimage."