Tamayura Hiroshima Prefecture Sacred Site Pilgrimage Complete Guide | All Spots in Takehara, Kure, and Onomichi
What is “Tamayura”? The Appeal of the Work and Background of Sacred Site Pilgrimage
The anime “Tamayura” is a heartwarming work that depicts the daily life and growth of Kaede Sawatari (沢渡楓), a high school girl who loves photography, and her friends, with the city of Takehara in Hiroshima Prefecture as the main setting. It was produced as an OVA in 2010, with the first season “Tamayura ~hitotose~” broadcast on television in 2011 and the second season “Tamayura ~moagressive~” in 2013. Then, from 2015 to 2016, a four-part theatrical film series “Tamayura ~Graduation Photo~” was released as the conclusion, and the story reached an emotional ending.
The greatest characteristic of the work is that it faithfully recreates the actual townscape and scenery of Takehara City. The photographs that the protagonist Kaede takes with a Rolleiflex 35 film camera, a memento of her deceased father, sometimes capture light orbs called “tamayura.” This fantastical presentation, combined beautifully with the picturesque landscape of Takehara, referred to as the “Aki Little Kyoto” facing the Seto Inland Sea, captured the hearts of many fans.
Even now, nearly 10 years after the broadcast ended, domestic and international pilgrims continue to visit Takehara City. From 2018 to 2025, it has been selected for eight consecutive years in the “88 Japanese Anime Sacred Sites Worth Visiting,” and has received nationwide attention as a success story of anime tourism.
Reasons for Eight Consecutive Selections to “88 Japanese Anime Sacred Sites Worth Visiting”
Behind Takehara City’s consecutive selections to the Anime Sacred Sites 88, there are ongoing efforts by the community. The Takehara City Tourism Association has actively promoted anime tourism since the initial broadcast of the work, establishing an environment to welcome fans warmly through the distribution of pilgrimage maps, installation of signage, and organization of events.
In the shopping streets, music from “Tamayura” plays, and at cafes and shrines featured in the work, the atmosphere of that time is preserved. Local residents also enjoy interaction with fans and show cooperative attitudes toward regional revitalization through the work. This comprehensive approach by both government and private sectors is a key factor in maintaining the charm of a sacred site that does not fade even with the passage of time.
Additionally, Takehara City has a historic townscape preservation district dating back to the Edo period, possessing value not only as a setting for anime but also as a historical tourist destination. The multifaceted appeal that can be enjoyed by not only anime fans but also general tourists has led to continued selection.
Preparation for Sacred Site Pilgrimage and Tips for Touring
How to Obtain Pilgrimage Maps and Stickers
To make your sacred site pilgrimage more fulfilling, first obtain the “Tamayura Sacred Site Pilgrimage Map” at the Takehara City Tourism Association or Takehara Station Tourist Information Center. This map details the major spots that appeared in the work, allowing you to visit while comparing scenes from the anime with actual locations.
Many spots distribute and display visit commemoration stickers and stamps. Collecting these while touring provides a sense of accomplishment and leaves you with memorabilia. Especially at various shops in the shopping street, original merchandise and work-related products are sold, making souvenir shopping enjoyable as well.
Recommended Pilgrimage Styles
The sacred sites in central Takehara are concentrated within walking distance, and the main spots can be visited in about 2-3 hours of leisurely walking. If you want to enjoy photography while taking your time, it’s recommended to set aside a half day to a full day.
Using a rental bicycle, you can efficiently access sacred sites a short distance from the city center and spots in the outskirts. Rental bicycle services are available around Takehara Station, and electric bicycles can also be rented, allowing comfortable movement even on hilly terrain.
Touring with a camera like the main character Kaede is also a wonderful way to deepen immersion in the work. Many fans enjoy photography not with film cameras but with smartphones and digital cameras, capturing the same angles as the anime.
Things to Note and Etiquette When Visiting
Most sacred sites are places where people actually live and operating shops. When photographing, be considerate of those around you, and absolutely avoid unauthorized entry to private property. Especially in residential areas and shrines and temples, be mindful to observe quietly.
Patronizing local shops in shopping streets and restaurants whenever possible contributes to the local economy. Some cafes and tea shops that appeared in the work reproduce their menus from that time, so enjoying a meal or tea while touring is also recommended.
[Central Takehara City] Touring the Story’s Main Stage
Townscape Preservation District and Honmachi Street Shopping Street
The greatest attraction of Takehara City and the core setting of “Tamayura” is the “Takehara Townscape Preservation District.” Traditional townhouses built from the late Edo period to the early Showa period line the streets and have been designated as a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. This historic townscape is also called the “Aki Little Kyoto” and retains strong vestiges of the prosperous past when it served as a key point on Seto Inland Sea routes.
In the work, scenes of Kaede and her friends walking their usual school routes and their after-school strolls feature this beautiful townscape repeatedly. Townhouses with lattice doors, stone-paved alleyways, white-walled storehouses—everywhere you look is a photogenic landscape, and you can experience the emotion of seeing the scenery from the anime appear right before your eyes.
The Honmachi Street shopping street is an area where many shops that appeared in the work actually exist. As you walk through the shopping street, music from “Tamayura” plays, allowing you to explore while immersed in the work’s atmosphere. Work-related signs and posters are displayed at each shop, with a warm atmosphere that welcomes fans.
Akogare no Michi (Path of Longing)
“Akogare no Michi” is held every late October and is a fantastical event that illuminates the Takehara townscape preservation district with approximately 1,000 bamboo lanterns. This event was depicted in the work at important scenes and holds special meaning for fans.
From dusk to night, the soft light of the bamboo lanterns illuminates the stone-paved paths and old townscape, creating a fantastical beauty truly befitting the word “tamayura.” While the event period draws large numbers of visitors, the quiet beauty of the townscape preservation district can be enjoyed during other times as well.
Saiho-ji Temple and Fume-i-kaku
Located on a highland of the townscape preservation district, Saiho-ji Temple is a symbolic place that appears repeatedly in the work’s opening, ending, and important scenes. In particular, “Fume-i-kaku,” a stage-style building next to the main hall, offers a spectacular view overlooking Takehara’s townscape and the Seto Inland Sea.
Scenes where Kaede and her friends admire the sunset or have important conversations are largely depicted at Fume-i-kaku. When you actually visit, you can view Takehara’s beautiful scenery from the same perspective as the anime, deepening your understanding of the work. The path up the stairs also appears in the work, and each step truly gives you the feeling of sacred site pilgrimage.
The temple grounds have a quiet, peaceful atmosphere, perfect for slowly enjoying the scenery and immersing yourself in the work’s lingering impression. Visiting at dusk is especially recommended as you can recreate scenes from the anime.
Takehara Station and Station Front Shopping Street
JR Takehara Station is the place where Kaede arrives when she moves to Takehara from Tokyo, symbolizing the beginning of the story. While the station building is relatively small, the station front scenery that appeared in the anime remains as it was, making it a poignant place for fans of the work.
From the station to the townscape preservation district is approximately a 15-minute walk, with the route also appearing in the work. The station front shopping street has a tourist information center where you can obtain pilgrimage maps and pamphlets, making it an ideal starting point for pilgrimage.
Takehara Akogare Plaza (Former Kasai Residence)
“Takehara Akogare Plaza” within the townscape preservation district is a facility recreating the mansion of a wealthy merchant from the Edo period, an important spot that also appears in the work. The interior of the building can be viewed free of charge, and you can learn about the lifestyle of that era and Takehara’s history.
The views from the garden and sitting room are also beautiful, and you can spend a leisurely time while recalling scenes from the anime. Special exhibitions and workshops are sometimes held during events, allowing for an even more enriching experience depending on when you visit.
Shoren-ji Temple and Ebisu-do Shrine
Shoren-ji Temple in the center of the townscape preservation district is a temple that appears multiple times in the story. The atmosphere of the grounds and the appearance of the buildings are faithfully recreated in the anime, making it a must-see spot for fans.
The nearby Ebisu-do is a small shrine, but it appears at important scenes in the work. It is a place cherished by local people, and quiet prayer deepens your understanding of the work’s world.
Café “Horikawa”
An actual café that served as the model for the coffee shop in the work is located in the Honmachi Street shopping street. The interior atmosphere and exterior appearance are faithfully depicted in the anime, and you can actually enjoy meals and tea there.
With many local regulars, the warm atmosphere of an old-fashioned café permeates the place. The menu includes dishes made with local ingredients, allowing you to enjoy Takehara cuisine along with sacred site pilgrimage. It is recommended to confirm business hours and days off before visiting.
[Outskirts of Takehara City] Sacred Sites Worth Extending Your Visit
Bamboo Joy Highland (Currently Closed)
Bamboo Joy Highland, located on a highland on the outskirts of Takehara City, was featured as an important location in the work. It is currently closed, but the view from the observation platform remains spectacular, overlooking the islands of the Seto Inland Sea.
This is a place with deep emotional significance for fans, as Kaede and her friends took photographs there and had important conversations. While a car is necessary for access, it is worth visiting if you have time.
Matoba Beach
Located a short distance from the Takehara city center, Matoba Beach is where seaside scenes in the work were depicted. The calm waves of the Seto Inland Sea and white sandy beach are beautiful, and the beach is crowded with swimmers in summer.
It is an ideal place to take photographs like in the anime or spend time leisurely. The scenery at dusk is particularly beautiful, allowing you to spend quiet time while feeling the work’s atmosphere.
Takehara Port Area
Takehara Port is where boats departing for islands in the Seto Inland Sea embark and arrive, and the port scenery also appears in the work. Near the port, there is a fisheries cooperative direct sales shop where you can purchase fresh seafood.
The view of the Seto Inland Sea from the port is open and expansive, allowing you to enjoy the unique landscape with scattered islands. Ships to Osaki Shimojima depart from here as well, serving as a base when extending sacred site pilgrimage to a broader area.
[Kure City and Osaki Shimojima] The Story’s World Extends Further
Sacred Sites in Kure City
The setting of “Tamayura” extends beyond Takehara City to the neighboring Kure City. Kure is a port town with a history of thriving as a former Japanese Navy naval base, and currently has a Maritime Self-Defense Force base.
In the work, Kure City is featured as the location of Norie Okazaki’s family home, Kaede’s friend. The shopping street near Kure Station and port scenery are depicted in the anime, allowing you to experience the atmosphere of a Seto Inland Sea port town different from Takehara.
You can enjoy pilgrimage along with tourism at major Kure facilities such as the Yamato Museum (Kure City Maritime History Science Museum) and Tetsuno Kujirate-kan (Maritime Self-Defense Force Kure Material Museum).
Osaki Shimojima and Mitarai District
The Mitarai district on Osaki Shimojima, floating in the Seto Inland Sea, is one of the most important settings in “Tamayura.” This port town, which thrived as a Seto Inland Sea route anchorage from the Edo period to the early Showa period, has been designated as a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, like Takehara.
In the work, Kaede and her friends visit while engaged in photography club activities, and it becomes the setting for important scenes in the theatrical version. The unique scenery where the old townscape and port are in harmony possesses a quiet beauty as if time has stopped.
Access to the Mitarai district requires a ferry from Takehara Port or from a port in Kure City. Since the number of boats is limited, it is important to check the schedule in advance and plan with plenty of time. Rental cars or rental bicycles are convenient for movement within the island.
Onomichi City Sacred Sites
Onomichi City, located in the eastern part of Hiroshima Prefecture, is also one of the sacred sites featured in “Tamayura.” Onomichi is known as the town of slopes and cats, and the scenery of Senko-ji Temple and Onomichi Channel are depicted in the work.
Onomichi is approximately 30 minutes from Takehara by JR and can be visited as a day trip. You can enjoy Onomichi ramen and Onomichi okonomiyaki and other local cuisine, fully enjoying tourism along with sacred site pilgrimage.
There are many tourist spots unique to Onomichi, including shopping streets, Senko-ji Ropeway, and the Cat Alleyway, offering plenty of charm even for those not “Tamayura” fans.
Access Information and Transportation
Access to Takehara City
Train Access
- Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes from Hiroshima Station on JR Kure Line, get off at Takehara Station
- Approximately 25 minutes from Mihara Station on JR Kure Line, get off at Takehara Station
- The Kure Line has limited trains, so it is recommended to check the schedule in advance
Car Access
- Approximately 20 minutes from Kawachi IC on the Sanyo Expressway
- Approximately 30 minutes from Hiroshima Airport
- There are multiple parking lots around the townscape preservation district (paid and free)
Expressway Bus
- Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes from Hiroshima Bus Center to Takehara
- Direct bus from Hiroshima Airport to Takehara (approximately 30 minutes)
Transportation Within the City and Surrounding Area
Walking
Approximately 15-minute walk from Takehara Station to the townscape preservation district. The main spots within the preservation district are concentrated within walking distance.
Rental Bicycle
Rental bicycle services available around Takehara Station. Electric bicycles are also available, allowing comfortable movement even on hilly terrain. Rental rates are approximately 500 to 1,000 yen per day.
Local Bus
A community bus circulating through the city is available, though service is limited, requiring schedule confirmation.
Taxi
A taxi stand is available in front of Takehara Station. Convenient when moving to outskirts spots.
Rental Car
A rental car is convenient when wanting to efficiently tour broad sacred sites or extending to Osaki Shimojima. Rental car companies are available around Hiroshima Airport and Hiroshima Station.
Takehara Gourmet to Enjoy Along with Sacred Site Pilgrimage
Taketsuru Sake Brewery
Takehara City is also the birthplace of Masataka Taketsuru, founder of Nikka Whisky. Taketsuru Sake Brewery is a long-established sake brewery dating back to the Edo period, also known as the setting for NHK’s morning drama “Massan.”
You can tour the sake brewery and enjoy tasting, and purchase local sake and related products. Along with “Tamayura” sacred site pilgrimage, you can experience Takehara’s other charm, its sake culture.
Local Seafood Cuisine
Facing the Seto Inland Sea, Takehara offers cuisine made with fresh seafood. Oysters, octopus, conger eel, and other Seto Inland Sea delicacies served as set meals or rice bowls are exquisite.
Restaurants using local ingredients are scattered around the shopping street and port area, ideal for stopping by during pilgrimage. Especially winter oyster cuisine is popular as a local specialty.
Takehara Specialty “Bamboo Shoot Cuisine”
True to its name, Takehara is a bamboo-producing region, and fresh bamboo shoot cuisine can be enjoyed in spring. Bamboo shoot rice, fried bamboo shoots, stewed dishes, and more are offered in various preparations.
Cafes and Sweets
Throughout the townscape preservation district, there are stylish cafes and sweet shops in renovated traditional houses. You can enjoy cake and Japanese sweets made with local ingredients and carefully selected coffee while resting leisurely.
Beyond the café from the work, many newly opened shops can be found, with enough cafes to enjoy a full day of café-hopping.
Preserving Memories of Sacred Site Pilgrimage
Photography Tips
Like Kaede, the main character of “Tamayura,” touring sacred sites with a camera deepens immersion in the work. Photographing from the same angles as the anime allows you to recreate the experience of the work’s world.
The townscape preservation district has many historic buildings, with picturesque landscapes everywhere you look. Especially during quiet morning hours or at dusk, soft light beautifully illuminates the townscape, allowing impressive photographs.
When photographing, be considerate of locals’ lives and other tourists’ comfort, enjoying responsibly while respecting etiquette.
Souvenirs and Merchandise
At the tourist information center and shops in shopping streets throughout Takehara, you can purchase “Tamayura”-related original merchandise and local specialties. Stickers, postcards, and keychains are popular as pilgrimage memorabilia.
Local specialties include bamboo crafts, sake, processed seafood products, and Japanese sweets, appreciated as souvenirs. In particular, Taketsuru Sake Brewery sake is well-regarded as a representative Takehara product.
Event Information
Various events are held throughout the year in Takehara City. Particularly “Akogare no Michi” in late October is a special event for “Tamayura” fans, drawing fans from across the nation.
Additionally, summer festivals and autumn harvest festivals and other local traditional events are frequently held. Checking event information according to your visit time allows for more enriching sacred site pilgrimage.
Conclusion: A Journey That Leaves Lasting Memories Through “Tamayura” Sacred Site Pilgrimage
Takehara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, the sacred site of anime “Tamayura,” is a wonderful place where you can experience the work’s world. The beautiful townscape continuing from the Edo period, the warm local people, and the calm Seto Inland Sea scenery warmly welcome visitors.
Centered on the townscape preservation district of central Takehara, you can visit nearly all the sacred sites that appeared in the work by extending to Kure City, Osaki Shimojima, and Onomichi City. Each place has its own charm, deepening understanding of the work while experiencing the culture and history of the Seto Inland region.
Sacred site pilgrimage is not mere tourism but a special experience where the work and reality intersect. By walking the paths Kaede and her friends walked and viewing the same scenery, the work’s message and the characters’ feelings resonate more deeply in your heart.
By touring slowly with time, enjoying local cuisine, and cherishing interaction with people, “Tamayura” sacred site pilgrimage becomes a lifelong memory. Why not set out on a journey with camera in hand to find your own “tamayura”?
Takehara’s town will always welcome you warmly. Even more than 10 years after the work’s broadcast, it maintains unchanged beauty and warmth as a sacred site. Please spend special time that will remain in your heart at this cherished pilgrimage destination.
