【Wasteful Days of High School Girls】Kuki City, Saitama Prefecture
What is “Wasteful Days of High School Girls”? The Appeal of the Work and Its Stage Background
“Wasteful Days of High School Girls” is a manga work by Bino that began serialization on “ComicWalker” in 2015, and is a daily school comedy. Set at the fictional “Sainotama Girls’ High School (nickname: Saijo)” located in Saitama Prefecture, the work is beloved by many fans as it depicts the daily lives of distinctive high school girls squandering their youth.
The greatest appeal of this work is the humor found in the everyday situations created by distinctive characters, starting with the protagonist Tanaka (nickname: Baka). The work was adapted into a television anime in 2019 and a television drama in 2020, further expanding the world of the work.
In the anime version, actual locations in Higashimurayama City, Tokyo and Tokorozawa City, Saitama are faithfully depicted as the stage, earning attention from fans as sacred ground pilgrimage spots where they can actually experience scenes from the work. In 2023, Higashimurayama City was recognized as one of “88 Japanese Anime Sacred Grounds Worth Visiting,” officially acknowledged as a sacred site.
Main Characters and Story Setting
The center of the story revolves around three students at Sainotama Girls’ High School: Tanaka (Baka), Kikuchi (Ota), and Sagimiya (Robo). Through their daily lives, various aspects of friendship, romance, and school life are depicted.
The model for “Sainotama Girls’ High School” that appears in the work is said to be Tokyo Metropolitan Higashimurayama Nishi High School, with the school building surroundings and commute routes faithfully recreated in the work. This allows sacred ground pilgrims to not merely sightsee, but to walk the same paths as the characters and see the same scenery, creating a special experience.
Major Sacred Ground Pilgrimage Spots in Higashimurayama City, Tokyo
Higashimurayama City is the primary stage for “Wasteful Days of High School Girls,” with many of the most frequently appearing locations in the work concentrated there. Important locations where the characters’ daily lives unfold are scattered mainly along the Seibu Tamagawa Line.
Seibu Tamagawa Line Yasaka Station｜An Iconic Spot of the Work
Yasaka Station is the most important sacred site, appearing in countless scenes including the opening and first episode of the work. The exterior of the station building, the ticket gate, the platform, the stairs and other locations depicted in the work actually exist as they are, and it is known for having a very high degree of correspondence between anime and reality.
Photography Points:
- The front exterior of the station building (appears in opening footage)
- Area around the ticket gate (character meeting scenes)
- The view from the platform (background of school commute scenes)
- The rotary in front of the station (scenes of leaving for and returning from school)
Access:
Get off at Seibu Tamagawa Line “Yasaka Station” immediately. From “Hagiyama Station” on the Seibu Shinjuku Line, transfer and it takes about 5 minutes.
Pilgrimage Points:
Yasaka Station is a small unmanned station, but for work fans it serves as the starting point for sacred ground pilgrimage. Daytime hours are recommended for photography as the station is crowded with commuters and students during morning and evening hours on weekdays. When photographing inside the station, be considerate of other users.
Higashimurayama Central Park｜A Place of Refuge for the Characters
Higashimurayama Central Park appears as an important location in the work where characters gather after school or have conversations. Characterized by spacious lawns and walking paths, it is frequently used as the background for daily scenes.
Photography Points:
- Benches near the park entrance (conversation scenes)
- Views of the lawn area (where characters sat)
- Trees along the walking paths (strolling scenes)
- Around the clock tower in the park
Access:
About a 10-minute walk from Seibu Tamagawa Line “Yasaka Station.”
Pilgrimage Points:
Since the park is vast, it may take time to find the same angle as scenes in the anime. It will be smoother if you check the scenes in the anime beforehand. The park has beautiful cherry blossoms in spring and autumn foliage in fall, offering different charms depending on the season.
Tamagawa Lake Bicycle and Pedestrian Path｜School Commute Scenery
The Tamagawa Lake Bicycle and Pedestrian Path appears numerous times in the work as the characters’ school commute route. The lush walking path is used as the background for casual conversation scenes and movement scenes, symbolizing the work’s serene atmosphere.
Photography Points:
- Road along the route from Yasaka Station to Higashimurayama Central Park
- Distinctive lined street trees
- Road signs and guidance boards (can be photographed at the same position as in the work)
Access:
A few minutes’ walk from Seibu Tamagawa Line “Yasaka Station.”
Pilgrimage Points:
As many bicycles and pedestrians use this road, care must be taken so that photography does not interfere with traffic. On holidays in particular, there are many families and cyclists, so weekdays allow for a more peaceful pilgrimage.
Kumegawa Central Street Shopping District・Yasaka Shopping District｜The Feeling of Community Life
The shopping district areas that appear in the work are depicted as places that support the characters’ daily lives. Real shops like FamilyMart and Jonathan’s, which appear in the work, actually exist in the shopping district, allowing visitors to experience authentic daily life.
Main Spots:
- FamilyMart Higashimurayama Yasaka Station Front Store (appears frequently in the work)
- Jonathan’s Higashimurayama Store (where characters ate)
- Shopping district street scenery (used as background)
Access:
Within a 5-10 minute walk from Seibu Tamagawa Line “Yasaka Station.”
Pilgrimage Points:
Since many shops are still in operation, refrain from photographing inside stores and limit photographing to the exterior only. The shop owners support the work, so it is important to conduct pilgrimages with proper manners.
Higashimurayama Nishi High School Area｜The Model for Saijo
The area surrounding Tokyo Metropolitan Higashimurayama Nishi High School, said to be the model for “Sainotama Girls’ High School” in the work, is also an important point for sacred ground pilgrimage. The school building exterior and surrounding scenery are reflected in the work.
Cautions:
The school is an educational facility and private property. Do not enter the school grounds or photograph from within the property. Limit yourself to confirming the exterior from public roads, and exercise maximum consideration so as not to disturb students and staff.
Locations Where Photography is Possible:
- Distant views of the school from public roads around it
- Roads used as school commute routes
Sacred Ground Pilgrimage Spots in Tokorozawa City, Saitama
Tokorozawa City is adjacent to Higashimurayama City and plays an important role as the stage for the work. In particular, “Tokorozawa Sakura Town” is becoming a new base for sacred ground pilgrimage as an information center for anime and manga culture.
Tokorozawa Sakura Town｜A Sacred Ground of Anime Culture
Tokorozawa Sakura Town is a complex cultural facility developed by KADOKAWA and also serves as a base for KADOKAWA, the publisher of “Wasteful Days of High School Girls.” Work-related merchandise and exhibits are sometimes held here, making it a must-visit spot during sacred ground pilgrimage.
Highlights of the Facility:
- Kadokawa Musashino Museum (anime and manga related exhibits)
- EJ Anime Hotel (anime collaboration rooms available)
- Da Vinci Store (carries work merchandise)
- Musashino Zarei Reiwa Shrine (commemorative pilgrimage for anime sacred ground pilgrimage)
Access:
About a 10-minute walk from “Higashitokoro Station” on the JR Musashino Line. About 20 minutes by bus from “Tokorozawa Station” on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line.
Pilgrimage Points:
At Tokorozawa Sakura Town, “Wasteful Days of High School Girls” related events and stamp rallies are held periodically. Checking the official website and SNS for the latest information before visiting will allow for a more fulfilling experience.
Other Spots in Tokorozawa City
Throughout Tokorozawa City, there are scattered locations that could appear as backgrounds in the work. Shopping facilities and areas around stations and other everyday scenes serve as stages.
Main Areas:
- Around Tokorozawa Station on the Seibu Shinjuku and Ikebukuro Lines
- Commercial facilities in front of Tokorozawa Station
- Residential areas in Tokorozawa City (used as backgrounds)
Efficient Sacred Ground Pilgrimage Routes and Model Courses
Since sacred ground pilgrimage sites for “Wasteful Days of High School Girls” are scattered between Higashimurayama City and Tokorozawa City, planning an efficient route is important. Here are model courses for visiting major spots in one day.
Half-Day Course (Centered on Higashimurayama City)
Required Time: Approximately 3-4 hours
- Arrival at Seibu Tamagawa Line “Yasaka Station” (10:00)
- Photography around Yasaka Station (30 minutes)
- Walk along the Tamagawa Lake Bicycle and Pedestrian Path (20 minutes)
- Photography at Higashimurayama Central Park and rest (40 minutes)
- Visit Kumegawa Central Street Shopping District・FamilyMart (30 minutes)
- Lunch at Jonathan’s (60 minutes)
- Walk around Higashimurayama Nishi High School area (20 minutes)
- Return from Yasaka Station (13:30)
One-Day Course (Higashimurayama City + Tokorozawa City)
Required Time: Approximately 7-8 hours
Morning (Higashimurayama City):
- Arrival at Seibu Tamagawa Line “Yasaka Station” (9:00)
- Photography around Yasaka Station (40 minutes)
- Walk along the Tamagawa Lake Bicycle and Pedestrian Path (30 minutes)
- Photography at Higashimurayama Central Park (50 minutes)
- Walk through shopping district area・FamilyMart visit (40 minutes)
- Lunch at Jonathan’s (60 minutes)
Afternoon (Tokorozawa City):
- Travel to Tokorozawa area via Seibu Line (30 minutes)
- Arrival at Tokorozawa Sakura Town (14:00)
- Visit Kadokawa Musashino Museum (90 minutes)
- Purchase merchandise at Da Vinci Store (30 minutes)
- Pilgrimage to Musashino Zarei Reiwa Shrine (20 minutes)
- Relax at Sakura Town café (40 minutes)
- Return (17:00)
Transportation and Access
Train:
Using Seibu Railway’s one-day pass “Seibu Railway One Day Free Ticket” allows unlimited travel on all Seibu lines economically. The fare is 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for children (varies by period).
Walking:
The main spots within Higashimurayama City are within walking distance from Yasaka Station, allowing for a healthy pilgrimage. Prepare comfortable walking shoes.
Bicycle:
Using a rental bicycle allows for more efficient pilgrimage over a wider area. There are bicycle rental services near Higashimurayama Station.
Preparation and Precautions for Sacred Ground Pilgrimage
To maximize enjoyment of sacred ground pilgrimage, advance preparation and proper conduct at the site are important.
Pre-Pilgrimage Checklist
Essential Items:
- Smartphone (for map app and work image confirmation)
- Mobile battery (battery consumption is heavy due to photography)
- Camera (for high-quality recording if desired)
- Work image data (for comparative photography)
- Drinks and light snacks
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Rain gear (in case of bad weather)
Recommended Items:
- Pilgrimage notebook (for visit records)
- Comic books or anime Blu-rays of the work (for on-site confirmation)
- Binoculars (for distant view confirmation)
Manners and Rules for Sacred Ground Pilgrimage
Basic Manners:
- No unauthorized entry onto private property
- Avoid approaching school facilities for photography
- Obtain permission from shops before photographing in commercial facilities
- Be quiet in residential areas
- Always take trash with you
- Follow traffic rules
- Respect the lives of local residents
Photography Notes:
- Be considerate of other users at stations and public facilities
- Photograph on roads from locations that don’t impede traffic
- Be mindful of privacy if people appear in photos
- Check surroundings before using a tripod
Stamp Rallies and Event Information
Higashimurayama City and Tokorozawa City periodically hold “Wasteful Days of High School Girls” related stamp rallies and events. Past events have included the following:
Major Past Events:
- Higashimurayama City × Tokorozawa Sakura Town Sacred Ground Pilgrimage Stamp Rally (November 2022)
- Stamp rally visiting Yasaka Station, Kumegawa Central Street Shopping District, and Higashimurayama Central Park
- Work exhibits and merchandise sales at Tokorozawa Sakura Town
The latest event information can be found on the Higashimurayama City official website, Tokorozawa Sakura Town official website, and KADOKAWA official website.
Gourmet Food to Enjoy Along With Sacred Ground Pilgrimage
Enjoying delicious local food during sacred ground pilgrimage is also a treat of the journey. Higashimurayama City and Tokorozawa City have many restaurants beloved by locals.
Recommended Gourmet in Higashimurayama City
Jonathan’s Higashimurayama Store:
A family restaurant that appears in the work. You can have a meal in the same space as the characters, a special experience.
Cafés and Restaurants Around Yasaka Station:
There are individually-run cafés and set meal restaurants loved by locals, places to take a relaxing break.
Higashimurayama Local Specialties:
- Higashimurayama Black Yakisoba (provided at multiple establishments in the city)
- Confectionery specialties from local Japanese sweets shops
Recommended Gourmet in Tokorozawa City
Dining Establishments Within Tokorozawa Sakura Town:
- Kadokawa Dining Hall (diverse menu)
- Sakura Town Café (anime collaboration menu available)
Around Tokorozawa Station:
- Restaurants near Tokorozawa Aviation Park
- Gourmet spots in front station commercial facilities
Accommodation Facilities Recommended for Sacred Ground Pilgrimage
For those who want to thoroughly enjoy sacred ground pilgrimage or who are visiting from far away, staying overnight is recommended. There are multiple hotels with convenient access in the Higashimurayama and Tokorozawa areas.
Hotels in the Higashimurayama・Tokorozawa Area
JR East Hotel Mets Kokubunji:
Good access to Higashimurayama via Seibu Line. Directly connected to JR Chuo Line Kokubunji Station for excellent convenience, and despite being a business hotel offers comfortable accommodation.
Tokorozawa Park Hotel:
Within walking distance of Tokorozawa Station. Also has good access to Tokorozawa Sakura Town, making it ideal as a base for sacred ground pilgrimage.
Business Hotels Around Higashimurayama:
- Business hotels around Kumegawa Station
- Various hotels around Tokorozawa Station
Points for Hotel Booking
Since accommodations become crowded during sacred ground pilgrimage season and event periods, early booking is recommended. Additionally, using an accommodation booking service that allows payment after stay can reduce the payment burden at the time of booking.
Checklist When Booking:
- Access to major Seibu Line stations
- Check-in and check-out times
- Whether breakfast is included
- Parking availability (if visiting by car)
How to Enjoy Sacred Ground Pilgrimage by Season
The sacred grounds of “Wasteful Days of High School Girls” also have the charm of enjoying scenery that changes with the four seasons.
Spring (March to May)
The cherry blossoms at Higashimurayama Central Park bloom magnificently, allowing visitors to more strongly feel the youthfulness of the work. The cherry blossom season (late March to early April) is especially recommended.
Summer (June to August)
You can conduct pilgrimage while recalling the image of characters in their summer uniforms. The Tamagawa Lake Bicycle and Pedestrian Path, lush with greenery, is particularly beautiful at this time, though heat stroke prevention is essential.
Fall (September to November)
A season with beautiful autumn foliage and pleasant weather, ideal for sacred ground pilgrimage. The autumn foliage at Higashimurayama Central Park is particularly worth seeing. Events such as stamp rallies are often held in fall.
Winter (December to February)
The clear air makes for ideal photography conditions. With relatively fewer visitors, you can conduct pilgrimage peacefully. Make sure to take proper cold weather precautions.
Recording and Sharing Sacred Ground Pilgrimage Memories
Recording memories of sacred ground pilgrimage and sharing them with other fans is also one of the enjoyments.
Sharing on Social Media
Sharing on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, etc. with hashtags such as “#WastefulDaysofHighSchoolGirls” or “#女子無駄聖地巡礼” (girls wasteful sacred ground pilgrimage) allows you to connect with fans who love the same work.
Notes When Posting:
- Be careful that personal information doesn’t appear in shots
- If other people’s faces are visible, apply mosaic processing
- Be cautious about sharing location information
Creating a Pilgrimage Notebook
Creating a pilgrimage notebook where you record the places you visited, photos you took, and your impressions increases the fun of looking back later. Record in whichever method—digital or analog—works best for you.
Trivia for Enjoying the Work More Deeply
Small Details That Appear in the Work
The work contains not just real locations, but cultural elements of Saitama Prefecture and the Tokyo Tama region scattered throughout. Understanding the regional characteristics deepens the way you can enjoy the work.
Character Range of Activities
The range of activities of the main characters is concentrated in an area with a radius of about 2km centered on Yasaka Station. This realistically reflects the actual daily activity range of high school students, heightening the work’s realism.
Regional Affection of Production Staff
The anime production staff actually visited the location multiple times for location hunting and were particular about faithfully recreating every detail. As a result, the work became something that locals could relate to as “scenery I recognize.”
Coexistence With Communities and the Future of Sacred Ground Pilgrimage
Higashimurayama City actively utilizes “Wasteful Days of High School Girls” as a tool for regional revitalization. The 2023 recognition as one of “88 Japanese Anime Sacred Grounds Worth Visiting” is a fine example of administration and work fans cooperating to invigorate the region.
Good Relations With Local Residents
For sacred ground pilgrimage to be accepted by communities, visitor manners are most important. By respecting local residents’ lives and acting with restraint, the sacred ground pilgrimage culture can develop sustainably.
Expectations for Future Development
Higashimurayama City has future collaborative projects with the work planned, and the emergence of new sacred ground pilgrimage content is anticipated. Check official websites and SNS for the latest information.
Conclusion: The Special Experience Gained From “Wasteful Days of High School Girls” Sacred Ground Pilgrimage
Sacred ground pilgrimage for “Wasteful Days of High School Girls” is not mere sightseeing, but a special experience where you enter the world of the work, see the same scenery as the characters, and feel the same air. The sacred sites scattered throughout Higashimurayama City in Tokyo and Tokorozawa City in Saitama are ordinary scenery, yet through the work take on special significance.
The sacred ground pilgrimage journey beginning at Yasaka Station continues through Higashimurayama Central Park, the Tamagawa Lake Bicycle and Pedestrian Path, and shopping district areas to Tokorozawa Sakura Town. At each location, you can re-experience the daily lives of characters like Baka, Ota, and Robo.
Through sacred ground pilgrimage, your love for the work deepens further, and connections are born with other fans who love the same work. Discovering regional charm, enjoying delicious local food, and savoring the scenery of each season—such multifaceted enjoyment is the appeal of “Wasteful Days of High School Girls” sacred ground pilgrimage.
While observing manners and treasuring coexistence with communities, create your own unique sacred ground pilgrimage story. It will surely become an unforgettable memory.
