“Yakumo” (If We’re Mugs Too) Series Complete Sacred Site Pilgrimage Guide to Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture
Tajimi City in Gifu Prefecture is the setting for “Yakunarau Magcup mo” (abbreviated as “Yakumo”), which depicts the youth of high school girls and Mino pottery. Since its anime adaptation in 2021, Tajimi City has been selected two years in a row for “88 Anime Sacred Sites Worth Visiting in Japan,” becoming a popular pilgrimage destination visited by fans from across the country. This article comprehensively introduces the major sacred sites featured in the work, offering a complete guide to enjoying Tajimi City, from efficient pilgrimage routes to local cuisine.
What is “Yakunarau Magcup mo”? The Work’s Appeal and Its Connection to Tajimi City
“Yakunarau Magcup mo” is a free comic based on Planet’s original work, set in Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture, with Mino pottery as its theme. The story depicts the protagonist Himeno Toyokawa moving to Tajimi, her father’s hometown, joining the pottery club, and growing through her encounters with the charm of Mino pottery alongside her friends.
Anime Adaptation and Recognition as a Sacred Site
The first season aired in April 2021 and the second season in October 2021, becoming a hot topic as the actual landscapes of Tajimi City were faithfully recreated. The work features numerous symbolic locations in the city, including Tajimi Station, Honmachi Oribe Street, and Tokei Yosui Plaza. The local Tajimi City government has also established the “Yakunarau Magcup mo Utilization Promotion Council” to prepare the infrastructure for accepting sacred site pilgrimages.
The Fusion of Mino Pottery Tradition and Modernity
Tajimi City is a major production area for Mino pottery, which has a history of over 1,300 years. Rather than being merely a tourism promotion, the work also plays an important role in passing traditional crafts to the next generation. Through anime, increasing numbers of fans have become interested in Mino pottery and have actually participated in pottery experiences, making a significant contribution to regional revitalization.
The Base for Sacred Site Pilgrimage: JR Tajimi Station and Surrounding Area
JR Tajimi Station serves as the starting point for sacred site pilgrimages. With convenient access—approximately 40 minutes from Nagoya Station on the Chuo Main Line—the station interior and surrounding areas feature numerous work-related displays.
Highlights Inside Tajimi Station
Upon arriving at the station, the first sight to catch your eye is a large banner and posters for “Yakumo.” Just past the ticket gate, there is a display space featuring character panels and recreations of scenes from the anime. The tourist information office inside the station distributes sacred site pilgrimage maps for free, so first-time visitors can start their pilgrimage with confidence.
Tajimi City PR Center and Toto Creative Hall
Located about a 3-minute walk from the north exit of Tajimi Station, the Toto Creative Hall is a facility that appears in important scenes in the work. On the first floor is the Tajimi City PR Center, where “Yakumo”-related merchandise is sold and Mino pottery is displayed. There are exclusive goods available only here, making it a must-visit spot for fans.
Inside the hall, you can learn about the history and production process of Mino pottery, deepening your understanding of the work. Themed exhibitions are held periodically, offering new discoveries with each visit.
Tajimi City Hall Kita Ward Office
The Tajimi City Hall Kita Ward Office, located near the Toto Creative Hall, is also a building that appears in the anime. Its exterior was used directly in the work, and fans can be seen enjoying photography while comparing scenes. The area around the city hall is an open plaza, making it an ideal location for recreating scenes from the work.
The Central Stage of the Work: Honmachi Oribe Street Pilgrimage
About a 10-minute walk from the south exit of Tajimi Station, Honmachi Oribe Street is the main setting for “Yakumo.” This atmospheric shopping street lined with Mino pottery shops, galleries, and cafes is where the world of the work is most vividly felt.
The History and Appeal of Oribe Street
Honmachi Oribe Street is named after Oribe Furuta, a tea master from the Momoyama period. Following the spirit of Oribe Furuta, who created Oribe ware—a type of Mino pottery—the street has been developed to fuse tradition and innovation. Along the stone-paved street, a unique landscape unfolds where modern architecture harmonizes with traditional storehouses.
Details of Sacred Spots
On Oribe Street, there are multiple stores that served as models for the pottery shops and cafes visited by Himeno and her friends. Each store displays “Yakumo” posters and panels, welcoming fans of the work. By actually purchasing Mino pottery or enjoying menu items from the work at cafes, you can immerse yourself more deeply in the world of the work.
Gallery and Workshop Tours
Around Oribe Street, there are galleries and workshops run by active potters. Some locations allow you to actually observe the pottery techniques depicted in the work, allowing you to experience the depth of Mino pottery. Pottery experience classes with advance booking are also offered, and creating your own original mug serves as a perfect souvenir of your sacred site pilgrimage.
Nagase Shopping Street and Tokei Yosui Plaza Area
Nagase Shopping Street, which extends south from Tajimi Station, and Tokei Yosui Plaza beyond it are also important sacred sites that frequently appear in the work.
Highlights of Nagase Shopping Street
Nagase Shopping Street is an arcade shopping street that runs from the south exit of Tajimi Station to Honmachi Oribe Street. Depicted in the work as a place the characters visit daily, it has a familiar atmosphere where you can feel the everyday life of local people. The street features a diverse range of stores, from long-established individual shops to new retailers, and is abundant in restaurants serving local cuisine.
“Yakumo” character panels and posters are displayed throughout the shopping street, and walking while checking each one against the sacred site pilgrimage map is another way to enjoy the experience.
Tokei Yosui Plaza: The Work’s Symbolic Place
Tokei Yosui Plaza is one of the most impressive sacred sites featured in “Yakumo.” It is a plaza that conveys the history of the Tokei Yosui waterway, constructed in the Edo period, with a walking path and rest areas maintained along the waterway. In the anime, it is used for scenes where Himeno and friends gather and talk, making it recognized by fans as “the sacred site among sacred sites.”
The plaza has explanatory panels about the work, allowing you to enjoy photography while comparing anime scenes with the actual landscape. Especially on sunny afternoons, the light enters the same way as in the anime, making it the perfect time for photos.
Hidden Sacred Spots in the Surrounding Area
Around Tokei Yosui Plaza, there are hidden sacred sites that appear only briefly in the anime. Numerous detailed spots, such as buildings used in the background and alleys, are not to be missed by dedicated fans. Many places are not listed on the official sacred site pilgrimage map, so exploring while rewatching the anime is part of the fun.
Efficient Sacred Site Pilgrimage Model Courses
Recommended model courses for visiting the main sacred sites in limited time.
Half-Day Course (Approximately 4 Hours)
Starting in the morning:
- JR Tajimi Station (30 minutes): View interior displays, obtain pilgrimage map
- Toto Creative Hall and Tajimi City PR Center (45 minutes): Purchase merchandise, view Mino pottery displays
- Tajimi City Hall Kita Ward Office (15 minutes): Exterior photography
- Nagase Shopping Street (30 minutes): Explore shopping street, have lunch
- Honmachi Oribe Street (60 minutes): Visit pottery shops, relax at cafes
- Tokei Yosui Plaza (45 minutes): Photography, explore surroundings
This course allows you to efficiently visit the main sacred sites. Since walking is the primary mode of transportation, it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes.
Full-Day Course (Approximately 8 Hours)
If you have more time, a full-day course that includes pottery experiences and visits to Mino pottery museums is recommended.
Additional spots for the full-day course:
- Mino Pottery Museum: A facility attached to the Tajimi City Ceramic Design Research Institute, where you can deeply learn about the history of Mino pottery
- Pottery Experience Workshop: Create mugs or dishes (advance reservation required, 2-3 hours)
- Tokei Yama Eihoji Temple: A Zen temple with national treasure buildings, where you can touch the history of Tajimi
- Mosaic Tile Museum: An art museum in neighboring Kasahara Town, designed by architect Terunobu Fujimori
With a full-day course, you can gain a deeper understanding not only of the work’s settings but also the culture and history of Tajimi City.
Recommended Visit Times by Season
Tajimi City is known as “Japan’s Hottest City,” with summer temperatures sometimes reaching nearly 40 degrees Celsius. The optimal times to visit for a sacred site pilgrimage are as follows:
- Spring (March-May): Comfortable weather ideal for walking pilgrimages. Cherry blossoms make Tokei Yama Eihoji Temple especially beautiful
- Autumn (September-November): Beautiful scenery during fall foliage season, with many events including pottery festivals
- Winter (December-February): Cold but fewer tourists, allowing for leisurely pilgrimages
- Summer (June-August): Heat precautions essential. Use early morning or evening hours for sightseeing
Enjoying Tajimi Cuisine and Pottery Experiences During Your Sacred Site Pilgrimage
The joy of a sacred site pilgrimage extends beyond visiting the work’s settings. Enjoy cuisine and experiences unique to Tajimi.
Savoring Local Cuisine in Mino Pottery Dishes
Most restaurants in Tajimi City serve their dishes in locally-made Mino pottery. At model stores of cafes featured in the work, you can enjoy coffee in Mino pottery mugs. By experiencing the different feel and taste of the pottery, you can gain a deeper understanding of the charm of pottery as depicted in the work.
Recommended Gourmet Spots:
- Cafes around Oribe Street: Lunch and desserts served in Mino pottery dishes
- Long-established eateries in Nagase Shopping Street: Set meals and noodles beloved by locals
- Restaurants near Tajimi Station: Local sake served in Mino pottery cups
Pottery Experience to Create Your Own Mug
Just like the protagonists of “Yakumo,” actually experiencing pottery is the highlight of a sacred site pilgrimage. Multiple pottery experience facilities in Tajimi City welcome beginners.
Types of Pottery Experiences:
- Hand-forming experience: Traditional method of shaping clay by hand. Allows high freedom and creates highly original works
- Electric pottery wheel experience: Forming vessels on a rotating disk. Experience the feeling of a professional potter
- Painting experience: Painting designs on pre-made unglazed pottery. Completed quickly and can be taken home the same day
Most experiences require advance reservations, and completed pieces are shipped later (except for painting experiences). The experience takes 1.5 to 3 hours, with fees typically ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 yen.
The Joy of Mino Pottery Shopping
It is also recommended to purchase Mino pottery dishes as a memento of your sacred site pilgrimage. Around Honmachi Oribe Street, you’ll find numerous stores carrying diverse Mino pottery, from traditional Oribe ware to modern designs.
Tips for Shopping:
- Daily-use mugs and bowls can be purchased for 2,000 yen and up
- Artist pieces and one-of-a-kind works can cost tens of thousands of yen
- “Yakumo” collaboration goods can be obtained at the Toto Creative Hall and PR Center
- The “Mino Pottery Festival” held twice yearly offers discounts compared to usual prices
“Yakumo” Related Events and Collaboration Information
Throughout the year, Tajimi City hosts various “Yakumo” related events and collaboration projects.
Regularly Held Events
Mino Pottery Festival (Spring and Fall):
The largest pottery fair in Tajimi City, held twice yearly during the Golden Week in spring and around October in fall. During the event period, “Yakumo” collaboration booths are set up with limited edition merchandise sales and character panel displays.
Yakumo Stamp Rally:
A stamping rally for sacred site pilgrimages held irregularly. Collecting stamps at major sacred sites throughout the city earns original merchandise. Event information can be confirmed on the official website of the “Yakunarau Magcup mo Utilization Promotion Council.”
Collaboration Merchandise Information
The following “Yakumo” collaboration goods are sold at the Toto Creative Hall and Tajimi City PR Center:
- Character-designed mugs (made of Mino pottery)
- Acrylic stands, keychains
- Clear files, postcards
- Pilgrimage maps with guidebooks
- Limited-time collaboration items
As many items are limited quantity, it is recommended to check stock availability on the official website before your visit.
Voice Actor Events and Fan Interaction
In the past, talk events and autograph sessions by voice actors have been held in Tajimi City. The latest event information is regularly posted on the anime official website and Tajimi City Tourism Association’s social media accounts.
Access Methods and Surrounding Tourist Information
Methods to access Tajimi City and nearby spots worth visiting alongside your sacred site pilgrimage.
Access to Tajimi City
By Train:
- From Nagoya Station: About 40 minutes on JR Chuo Main Line Express (fare: 680 yen)
- From Tokyo: Via Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya Station
- From Osaka: Via Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya Station
- From Gifu Station: About 50 minutes via JR Takayama Line and Taita Line
By Car:
- About 10 minutes from Chuo Expressway “Tajimi IC” to downtown
- About 15 minutes from Tokai Ring Expressway “Tajimi Shirakawa IC”
- Parking: Multiple coin parking lots near Tajimi Station (200 yen per hour~)
Accommodation Information
For those wanting to thoroughly enjoy the sacred site pilgrimage, staying in or near Tajimi City is recommended.
Accommodation in Tajimi City:
- Business hotels: Multiple options near Tajimi Station (5,000-8,000 yen per night)
- Traditional inns: Japanese-style accommodations serving meals in Mino pottery dishes
- Guest houses: Budget-friendly with opportunities for interaction with locals
Nearby Accommodation Areas:
- Nagoya City: Abundant hotel options, about 40 minutes by train to Tajimi
- Toki City: Home to an outlet mall, allowing combined shopping and sightseeing itineraries
Nearby Tourist Spots
Tourist attractions near Tajimi City and beyond worth visiting alongside your sacred site pilgrimage.
In Tajimi City:
- Tokei Yama Eihoji Temple: A Rinzai Zen temple with national treasure Kannon Hall and founder’s hall. Also famous as a fall foliage viewing spot
- Tajimi City Mosaic Tile Museum: A tile-focused art museum in Kasahara Town. The building itself, designed by architect Terunobu Fujimori, is a sight to behold
- Monastery: The Tajimi Monastery is a quiet space for prayer with beautiful gardens
Nearby Areas:
- Toki Premium Outlet: About 15 minutes by car. Enjoy shopping
- Ena Gorge: About 30 minutes by car. A scenic area with sightseeing boats and cable cars
- Magome and Tsumago Stations: About 1 hour by car. Well-preserved Edo-period post towns
Notes and Etiquette for Sacred Site Pilgrimages
Consideration for local residents and other tourists is important when enjoying a sacred site pilgrimage.
Photography Etiquette
- Always obtain permission before photographing on private property or inside shops
- Be mindful of noise in residential areas; avoid photographing early morning or late night
- Photograph in locations that don’t obstruct traffic
- Be considerate when using tripods to avoid blocking pedestrians
Consideration for the Community
- Take all trash with you or dispose in designated bins
- Support the local economy by purchasing local products in shopping streets and shops
- Respect the daily lives of community members and conduct yourself with restraint
- Avoid trespassing in locations not listed on the official sacred site pilgrimage map
Heat Precautions (Summer)
Tajimi City experiences extremely high temperatures during summer.
- Make a conscious effort to hydrate frequently (vending machines are located throughout the city)
- Bring heat protection items like hats, parasols, and sunscreen
- Avoid extended outdoor activities; take breaks in cafes and indoor facilities as needed
- If you experience heat exhaustion symptoms (dizziness, headache, nausea), rest immediately in a cool location
Notes on Social Media Posts
- Keep location information to a general area; avoid posting specific addresses
- Check if local residents or other tourists are visible in photos before posting
- Use spoiler-prevention hashtags
Conclusion: Discover the Charm of Tajimi Through “Yakumo” Sacred Site Pilgrimage
The “Yakunarau Magcup mo” sacred site pilgrimage transcends a simple anime location visit, becoming a valuable opportunity to experience Mino pottery—a traditional craft—and touch upon the history and culture of Tajimi City. With major sacred sites clustered within walking distance from Tajimi Station to Tokei Yosui Plaza and Honmachi Oribe Street, you can enjoy a fulfilling pilgrimage in half a day to one day.
By actually experiencing the charm of pottery depicted through the work, enjoying gourmet cuisine with Mino pottery dishes, and touching the warmth of the community, you can gain a deeper understanding of “Yakumo’s” world. The sacred sites of Tajimi City, full of discoveries on each visit, are a destination worth returning to again and again.
Experience the world of the anime “Yakunarau Magcup mo” and the beauty of traditional crafts to the fullest in Gifu Prefecture’s Tajimi City. Gazing at the same scenery as Himeno and her friends and feeling the same air will deepen your appreciation of the work.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: How much time is ideal for a sacred site pilgrimage?
A1: About half a day (approximately 4 hours) is sufficient to efficiently visit the main sacred sites. If you include pottery experiences and nearby attractions, allocating a full day (about 8 hours) is recommended. Pottery experiences in particular take 2-3 hours, so build in extra time if you plan to participate.
Q2: Where can I obtain a sacred site pilgrimage map?
A2: Free maps are distributed at the tourist information office inside JR Tajimi Station and at the Tajimi City PR Center in the Toto Creative Hall. PDF versions can also be downloaded from the official website of the “Yakunarau Magcup mo Utilization Promotion Council.” The map includes the locations and photographs of major sacred sites, so first-time visitors won’t get lost.
Q3: Is advance reservation required for pottery experiences?
A3: Most pottery experience facilities require advance reservation. Especially during weekends and holidays, book at least one week in advance to avoid disappointment. Some facilities accept same-day reservations, but you may be unable to participate if fully booked. Reservations can be made through each facility’s website or by phone.
Q4: Where can I purchase “Yakumo” collaboration merchandise?
A4: Main purchase locations include the Tajimi City PR Center in the Toto Creative Hall and shops at Tajimi Station. Character mugs made of Mino pottery, acrylic stands, clear files, and other items are sold. Popular items can sell out, so check inventory before your visit. Special collaboration products may also be sold during the Mino Pottery Festival period.
Q5: Is it possible to move around Tajimi City on foot alone?
A5: Yes, all main sacred sites (Tajimi Station, Toto Creative Hall, Nagase Shopping Street, Honmachi Oribe Street, and Tokei Yosui Plaza) are within walking distance, with Tokei Yama Eihoji Temple being about a 20-minute walk from the station. However, if you wish to visit nearby attractions like Tokei Yama Eihoji Temple or the Mosaic Tile Museum, using buses, taxis, or rental bicycles is convenient. The community bus “Kikyou Bus,” which circulates throughout Tajimi, is also available.
Q6: Is Tajimi really that hot in summer? Are precautions necessary?
A6: Yes, Tajimi City is known as “Japan’s Hottest City,” and summer temperatures (particularly July-August) frequently exceed 38 degrees Celsius. If you plan to spend extended periods outdoors for your sacred site pilgrimage, heat protection items like hats, parasols, water, and electrolyte tablets are essential. Early morning or late afternoon hours are recommended for pilgrimages. Take breaks in cafes and indoor facilities, pacing yourself without overexertion.
Q7: Can I enjoy the experience without having watched the work?
A7: Absolutely. Tajimi City is a charming town as a pottery production area, with many attractions including pottery shops, cafes, and historic buildings. However, viewing the work beforehand will help you understand the significance and context of each spot better, enhancing the enjoyment of your pilgrimage. At minimum, viewing several episodes of the first season before your visit is recommended.
Q8: Can families with children also enjoy the experience?
A8: Yes, families can definitely enjoy themselves. Pottery experience programs for children are available, allowing parents and children to enjoy crafting together. Tokei Yosui Plaza is an open space where children can play, and Nagase Shopping Street has many restaurants where families can enjoy lunch. However, be particularly cautious of summer heat; visiting in spring or fall is recommended for families with young children.