Uma Musume Pretty Derby and Inageya Kodaira Kaita Store
“Uma Musume Pretty Derby” is a popular media mix content developed by Cygames. It depicts “Uma Musume,” humanized versions of racehorses, competing in races at Tracen Academy, and has expanded across anime, games, manga, and other media.
Among these, the “Inageya Kodaira Kaita Store,” which actually exists in Kodaira City, Tokyo, is known among fans as a sacred site pilgrimage spot as a real store that appears in the anime work. In the first season of the anime, it is depicted as the background of characters’ daily scenes, serving as a precious place where fans can realistically experience the world of the work.
What is Uma Musume Pretty Derby
“Uma Musume Pretty Derby” is a story about “Uma Musume,” humanized characters modeled after real racehorses, pursuing their dreams alongside trainers. The first season anime aired in 2018, the second season in 2021, and the third season in 2023. Additionally, the smartphone game app was released in 2021 and gained significant popularity.
The work’s characteristic is its careful depiction of the growth, friendship, and rivalry of Uma Musume while respecting the historical facts of actual racehorses. Unique world-building elements such as “Winning Live,” which occurs after races, also add to its appeal.
Basic Information about Inageya Kodaira Kaita Store
Store Overview
Store Name: Inageya Kodaira Kaita Store
Location: 316-1 Kaita-cho, Kodaira City, Tokyo
Business Hours: Usually 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM (subject to seasonal changes)
Parking: Available (free parking)
Access: About 15 minutes on foot from “Ichihashi Gakuen Station” on the Seibu Tamagawa Line
Inageya is a community-oriented supermarket chain centered in Tokyo and Saitama. The Kodaira Kaita Store is a locally rooted shop located in a residential area, characterized by a wide variety of products from daily necessities to groceries.
Store Features
The Kodaira Kaita Store has the exterior of a typical suburban supermarket, characterized by a spacious parking lot and bright interior. The store’s exterior is what appears in the anime, with the signage and building shape faithfully reproduced.
The area surrounding the store is a quiet residential neighborhood, where you can feel the everyday landscape of Kodaira City. This is a place where you can realize that the Uma Musume world exists within such daily life.
Appearance Scenes in the Anime Work
Appearance in Season 1
Inageya Kodaira Kaita Store appears in “Uma Musume Pretty Derby” Season 1 episodes as a background in characters’ daily scenes. By using real stores as backgrounds while depicting life at Tracen Academy, it adds realism and familiarity to the work.
Specifically, the store’s exterior is depicted as a background in scenes where characters shop or walk through the streets. The animation production team conducted on-location scouting at the actual site and carefully reproduced it.
High Reproduction Accuracy
The depiction in the anime boasts very high reproduction accuracy to the actual store exterior. Fine details such as signage design, building colors, and parking lot layout are carefully depicted, and fans who visit for sacred site pilgrimages are often moved by how closely the anime scenes match reality.
This careful depiction of real places is a characteristic of the Uma Musume series as a whole. By faithfully reproducing actual facilities, including racetracks, it enhances immersion in the work’s world.
Sacred Site Pilgrimage Points
Photography Spots
At Inageya Kodaira Kaita Store for sacred site pilgrimages, the following points are recommended as photo spots.
Store Front: Photographing the store front from the parking lot side will give you an angle closest to the anime scene. Try to capture the signage and entire building.
Full View from the Parking Lot: Photographing from a slightly distant position allows you to reproduce the background scenes from the anime.
Near the Store Entrance: Photographing up close allows you to capture building details.
Precautions When Photographing
When conducting sacred site pilgrimages, please keep the following points in mind.
Remember It’s an Operating Store: Inageya Kodaira Kaita Store is an actual operating store. Be considerate of shopping customers by not blocking aisles or staying in one location for extended periods.
Parking Lot Etiquette: Avoid using the parking lot solely for photography. If photographing, it’s courteous to also shop at the store.
Privacy Consideration: Be careful not to capture other shoppers, and if they are captured, perform appropriate processing before posting to SNS.
Noise Consideration: Since the store is located in a residential neighborhood, avoid speaking loudly or making noise in groups.
Best Time to Visit
The best times for sacred site pilgrimages are weekday mornings or early afternoons. These times tend to have fewer shopping customers, making photography easier.
Weekends, holidays, and evenings see more shopping customers, so minimize photography and be especially careful not to inconvenience store users.
For seasons, spring through early summer would be recommended to match the anime’s atmosphere. Choosing a clear day will allow you to capture bright, clear photos.
Detailed Access Methods
Access by Train
Nearest Station: “Ichihashi Gakuen Station” on the Seibu Tamagawa Line
Time Required: About 15 minutes on foot from the station
The route from Ichihashi Gakuen Station is as follows:
- Exit from the north exit of Ichihashi Gakuen Station
- Head north on the road in front of the station
- Cross Aome Street
- Pass through the residential area heading northwest
- You’ll see Inageya Kodaira Kaita Store near the Kaita-cho intersection
The walking route passes through residential areas, allowing you to enjoy a quiet environment. Along the way, you can see everyday landscapes of Kodaira City and sense the Uma Musume world.
Access by Bus
You can also use the Kodaira Community Bus “Niji Bus.” However, since the number of services is limited, it’s recommended to check the schedule in advance.
Access by Car
Parking: Free parking available on store premises
Capacity: Approximately 50 spaces
When accessing by car, enter the Kodaira city area from Aome Street and proceed following directional signs. It’s convenient to set “Inageya Kodaira Kaita Store” or the address “316-1 Kaita-cho, Kodaira City, Tokyo” in your car navigation.
The parking lot is for store customers, so when visiting for sacred site pilgrimages, be sure to shop inside the store.
Cycling and Walking Tours
While other Uma Musume sacred site pilgrimage spots are not scattered throughout Kodaira City, strolling around Ichihashi Gakuen Station and Kodaira City allows you to feel the atmosphere of Western Tokyo, which became the setting for the work.
Using a rental bicycle allows access from the station to the store in about 5 minutes, enabling efficient pilgrimage.
Nearby Attractions and Uma Musume Sacred Site Pilgrimages
Characteristics of Kodaira City
Kodaira City is located in the northern part of the Tama region of Tokyo. It is characterized by a green-rich environment and quiet residential neighborhoods, and has developed as a bedroom community with good access to the city center.
The Tamagawa Aqueduct flows through the city and is maintained as a walking trail. It is enjoyed by local residents as a spot to experience nature throughout the seasons.
Around Ichihashi Gakuen Station
Around Ichihashi Gakuen Station, the nearest station, there are various restaurants and cafes for students. It’s a suitable place to take a break before or after sacred site pilgrimages.
Ichihashi University’s Kodaira International Campus, which the station name comes from, is also nearby, where you can feel an academic atmosphere.
Uma Musume Sacred Site Pilgrimage Spots in the Kanto Region
After visiting Inageya Kodaira Kaita Store, it’s also recommended to tour other Uma Musume sacred sites in the Kanto region.
Fuchu Area: Tokyo Racecourse is located here, making it the place where you can most strongly feel the Uma Musume world. Visiting on actual race days deepens understanding of the work.
Tachikawa Area: The area around Tachikawa Station also has scenes from the anime, where you can enjoy an urban landscape. The area near the north exit of Tachikawa Station and along the railroad has been depicted in the work.
Kichijoji Area: Inokashira Park appears in the anime with impressive scenes in a nature-rich environment. You can enjoy sacred site pilgrimages while strolling through the park.
Other Sacred Site Pilgrimage Spots in Tokyo
Various places in Tokyo appear in the Uma Musume series.
Shinjuku Area: Shinjuku Alta in front and other busy urban landscapes are depicted.
Harajuku/Omotesando Area: Karaoke Kan 2nd Building and Omotesando Hills, central to youth culture, also appear in the work.
Shibuya Area: The famous landscape around Shibuya Scramble Crossing has been recreated in the anime.
Ohi Racecourse: As a racecourse in Tokyo, it’s an important place connecting the work’s world with reality.
Sacred Sites in Chiba Prefecture
Nakayama Racecourse: One of Japan’s most sacred horse racing venues, it serves as the setting for important race scenes in Uma Musume. Fine details including the central gate, main gate, paddock, and stands have been faithfully reproduced.
Funabashi Houten Station: As an access station to Nakayama Racecourse, it appears in the anime.
Narita Airport Terminal 2: It may appear in scenes of overseas expeditions.
Sacred Sites in the Kansai Region
Osaka Prefecture: Osaka’s iconic locations such as Hankyu Umeda BIGMAN are depicted.
Kyoto Prefecture: Kyoto Racecourse appears as a major racing venue in the Kansai region. Various spots including Yodo Station passages and areas in front of the racecourse are sacred sites. Traditional landscapes of Kyoto, such as areas near Sannenzaka, are also depicted in the work.
Shiga Prefecture: Historic places such as Mononoi no Mori Kamo Shrine are known as sacred sites.
Hyogo Prefecture: Hanshin Racecourse is an important sacred site appearing in many scenes including the entrance, paddock third floor, central entrance area, stand, and areas near the winner’s circle.
Tips for Enjoying Sacred Site Pilgrimages
Pre-Visit Preparation
Proper preparation is important to maximize the enjoyment of sacred site pilgrimages.
Check the relevant anime scene: Before visiting, re-watch the scene where Inageya Kodaira Kaita Store appears. Confirming the angle from which it’s depicted and the time of day makes on-site photography smoother.
Use map apps: Register your destination in your smartphone’s map app and check surrounding information in advance.
Camera preparation: Smartphone cameras are sufficient, but if you want higher quality photos, prepare a digital camera. Don’t forget spare batteries and memory cards.
Information Sharing on SNS
When sharing sacred site pilgrimage activities on SNS, you can connect with fellow fans by using these hashtags:
- #ウマ娘
- #ウマ娘聖地巡礼
- #いなげや小平回田店
- #聖地巡礼
However, when posting, don’t forget to consider the store and surrounding residents, and check that other shoppers aren’t captured.
Creating a Pilgrimage Notebook
Whether digital or analog, recording your pilgrimage in a notebook allows you to preserve memories in tangible form. Recording visit dates and times, weather, photographed pictures, and impressions creates something enjoyable to review later.
Setting Efficient Routes to Tour Multiple Sacred Sites
Since multiple Uma Musume sacred sites exist in Tokyo and the Kanto region, planning efficient routes allows you to visit multiple locations in a day.
For example, after visiting the Kodaira Kaita Store, touring the Tachikawa area or Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu is geographically efficient. Combining Seibu Line and Chuo Line allows smooth transfers.
Fan Manners and Etiquette for Uma Musume Fans
Consideration for Residents
Inageya Kodaira Kaita Store is located in a residential neighborhood where many people live. When enjoying sacred site pilgrimages, please pay special attention to the following:
Don’t make noise: Avoid speaking loudly or making noise in groups.
Don’t trespass on private property: Absolutely avoid entering private property without permission for photography.
Take trash with you: Don’t leave trash at the site; if you do, definitely take it with you.
Avoid nighttime visits: Visiting residential neighborhoods at night is inconsiderate to residents. Visit during business hours in daylight.
Consideration for the Store
Inageya Kodaira Kaita Store is, before being a sacred site pilgrimage spot, a supermarket where local people shop daily.
Don’t obstruct shoppers: Avoid standing still for long periods near entrances or in aisles.
Generally avoid photographing inside the store: The inside is private space with other shoppers’ privacy concerns. Keep photography to exterior shots.
Appropriate parking lot use: Even if photography is your main purpose, shopping at the store shows respect for it.
Be considerate to staff: When asking staff about sacred site pilgrimages, avoid busy times and keep questions brief.
Information Sharing in Fan Communities
In Uma Musume fan communities, sacred site pilgrimage information is actively shared. When sharing your experience, providing accurate information and noting that your visit was respectful of manners contributes to forming a healthy fan culture.
Uma Musume’s World and Real Places
Production Emphasizing Realism
A major characteristic of Uma Musume Pretty Derby is that it respects the history of actual racehorses and faithfully recreates real locations. From everyday places like Inageya Kodaira Kaita Store to specialized facilities like racetracks, everything is depicted based on careful location scouting and research.
This production approach brings deep realism to the work, allowing fans to experience the fictional world more deeply through sacred site pilgrimages.
Connection with Horse Racing Culture
The Uma Musume series also functions as an entry point to horse racing culture. Many fans become interested in horse racing through the work and visit actual racetracks.
By featuring both everyday places like Inageya Kodaira Kaita Store and special places like racetracks, the work conveys that Uma Musume’s lives are continuous with our daily lives.
Media Mix Development and Sacred Site Pilgrimages
The Uma Musume Project expands across diverse media including anime, games, manga, and music. Because the worlds depicted in each medium are connected to real places, fans can enjoy the work’s world from various angles.
Sacred site pilgrimages serve as an important element in this media mix expansion, allowing fans to actively participate in the work’s world.
The Appeal of Kodaira City
Green-Rich Residential City
Kodaira City is a residential city that maintains a green-rich environment despite being within Tokyo. A network of water and greenery, including the Tamagawa Aqueduct, runs throughout the city, allowing enjoyment of nature throughout the seasons.
Cultural and Educational Facilities
The city is also an academic town with multiple universities including Ichihashi University, Tsuda University, and Kaetsu University. It also has abundant cultural facilities such as Kodaira City Central Library, giving it a calm cultural atmosphere.
Good Accessibility
Multiple railroad lines including the Seibu Shinjuku Line, Seibu Tamagawa Line, Seibu Heiji Line, and JR Musashino Line run through the area, providing good access to the city center and surrounding regions. It’s valued as a city combining livability and convenience.
Checklist of Items to Bring on Visits
A checklist of items for enjoying sacred site pilgrimages comfortably.
Essential Items
- Smartphone: Needed for map apps, camera, and SNS posts
- Mobile battery: Important due to heavy battery consumption from photography and map checking
- Transit IC card: Convenient for train and bus travel
- Cash: For shopping at stores
- Beverages: Especially important for heat stroke prevention in summer
Convenient Items
- Camera: For higher quality photos
- Tripod or mini tripod: For self-timer photography and stable shooting
- Notebook and pen: To record pilgrimage experiences
- Towel: For wiping sweat or use in rain
- Folding umbrella: To handle weather changes
- Eco-bag: For shopping at stores
Pre-Visit Preparation
- Download relevant anime episodes to smartphone
- Create sacred site pilgrimage maps or save existing maps
- Research nearby restaurants and cafes
- Check weather forecast
Conclusion: Enjoying the Uma Musume World at Inageya Kodaira Kaita Store
“Inageya Kodaira Kaita Store,” which appears in “Uma Musume Pretty Derby,” is one of the important sacred sites that colors the work’s daily scenes. This store in a residential neighborhood in Kodaira City, Tokyo, is loved by many fans as a special place where the anime’s world and reality intersect.
When conducting sacred site pilgrimages, it’s important to always remember that the store is actually operating and that the surrounding area is a residential neighborhood, never forgetting to show consideration to residents and store customers. By being mindful of manners during visits, you can enjoy sacred site pilgrimage culture for a long time.
After visiting Inageya Kodaira Kaita Store, why not tour other Uma Musume sacred sites in the Kanto region? There are many sacred sites scattered throughout the city, including Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, the Tachikawa area, and Inokashira Park in Kichijoji. Extending further, there are numerous places nationwide where you can experience the Uma Musume world, such as Nakayama Racecourse in Chiba, Kyoto Racecourse in Kyoto, and Hanshin Racecourse in the Kansai region.
Uma Musume Pretty Derby is a work that carefully weaves in the history of actual racehorses and real locations. Through sacred site pilgrimages, you can deepen your understanding of the work while rediscovering the appeal of locations throughout Japan.
Confirm the latest information before visiting and be aware of weather and business hour changes. We hope you enjoy safe and fun sacred site pilgrimages.
