Seichi-junrei（聖地巡礼）is the Japanese word for pop-culture tourism, otherwise also referred to as location vacation. Pop-culture tourism is the act of visiting places that were used as the stage for films, anime, cartoons, manga, etc. While the word originally referred to religious pilgrimages, it is more common to hear it used in the tourism sense.

In Japan, Seichi-junrei is not only amongst the locals, it is also one of the top tourist activities. If you are interested in Japanese culture and anime, chances are you have heard about the recent hit anime movie, Your Name (Kimi no Na Wa). The scene pictured on the English promotional picture where the protagonists meet each other on a set of seemingly random stairways with red handrails is actually based on the stairways just located outside the Suga Shrine located in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district. Since the movie began playing in theatres, many people have visited this location to take photos, and relive the experience in real life!

Next time you travel to Japan, be sure to check out some of the locations that were used in your favorite animes, dramas, and movies!

Let’s remember the following useful sentences before going to Japan!

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●Hokkaido wa seichi-junrei toshite, ninki no aru supotto desu ne!
(北海道は聖地巡礼として、人気のあるスポットですね！)
> Hokkaido is a really popular spot for pop-culture tourism!

●Kimi no na wa no seichi-junrei supotto wa Shinjuku ni arimasuyo!
(君の名はの聖地巡礼スポットは新宿にありますよ！)
> There is pop-culture tourism destination for the movie Your Name in Shinjuku!

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Now all that’s left is to go out there and try using them in Japan!

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Hinamatsuri (ひな祭り) Fun! Japan Words vol.134