Bryce was born in California, but raised from the age of 3 near Seattle, Washington. He’s been living in Tokyo for about 7 years, and graduated from Temple University, Japan with degrees in economics and international business. He loves traveling of course, but also cooking, snowboarding, some video games as well. His biggest interest is songwriting/music production, more specifically electronic music… (think Skrillex, Marshmello, Daft Punk, etc.) He also has terrible humor as you’ll notice, but he hopes you’ll enjoy it!
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Japan has an incredible array of ways to enjoy its internationally popular animated films, series, and video games. Some of these pop culture spectacles, however, are actually based on real-life locations in Japan that you can visit! If you are a fan of the recent film Suzume no Tojimari, you’ll love this list of places to visit. While they are not necessarily decorated with things from the film, the locations in the movie are indeed real and generally have some remarkable qualities!
1. Bungo Mori Roundhouse
If you’re a fan of the film and also a fan of trains, then this is a great opportunity for you! The Bungo Mori Roundhouse in Oita is a great place to check out. Oita is a prefecture in Kyushu, which is the southwesternmost of the four main islands of Japan and a wonderful place to visit on its own. The Roundhouse is somewhat of a salute to the age of steam-powered locomotive trains. There is also a park nearby, along with another location called Bungo Mori no crayon, where you can enjoy a meal while you watch the trains go by!
2. Yunohira Onsen
Curious about why people say Oita is a wonderful place to visit? Well, it’s home to some of the nation’s best Onsens! These public hot springs are a huge part of Japanese culture and are often featured in all sorts of entertainment, like animated films. One that was featured in Suzume no Tojimari is the Yunohira Onsen. This Edo-style village has a long, 800-year history and is packed with historical and traditional vibes! It’s easy to see why this location was featured in the movie since it has so much character. The authentic novelty is only overshadowed by the incredible selection of hot springs and inns and you’ll surely feel an escape from reality here.
3. Yawatahama Port
A few hours away from Beppu (another location near Oita) by ferry is a relaxing port town called Yawatahama. This port town is a great place for those who are fans of the film as well as for watching ships. The relaxed atmosphere here is great for taking a breather from a long day of traveling, perhaps to/from Oita or Kyushu in general!
4. Yawatahama Station
Another location in Yawatahama to visit is the train station! It offers great access via the Yosan line to get around the rest of Ehime which offers some exciting activities like canyoning, visiting the traditional Dogo Onsesn, and even a VR experience. While there are some great activities, riding the train itself is actually a beautiful experience as it follows the coast and has many nice views of the Seto Inland sea. If you also like Spirited Away, there is a train station on the way to Takamatsu called “Shimonada” which is similar to the one in the film.
5. Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland
Another great attraction near the sea is an amusement park called Washuzan Highland. The park’s Brazilian theme is lively and great in contrast to some of the more subdued, traditional locations we’ve seen so far! It’s a bit farther north and on the other side of the sea, but it’s certainly a great stop along the way between Kyushu and Kanto!
6. Rokko Island
Further down on the same coast as Okayama to the east is a manmade island (like Odaiba in Tokyo) called Rokko Island. It’s a great place to check out if you’re also visiting Hyogo Prefecture, and it’s very close to Kobe! The island was built for land expansion purposes in the 70s, but due to adverse impacts, both economic and environmental, the area has become surreally calm. This is probably why it was featured in the film and is an intriguing place to visit!
7. Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
Another point of interest in Hyogo is one of the world’s longest suspension bridges! If bridges are interesting to you, Japan has plenty of them, so be sure to check them out. This nearly 4,000-meter bridge connects Kobe to Awajishima island. There is also an observation area on the bridge, making the bridge that much more versatile between practicality and tourism! If you can drive in Japan, this is a wonderful experience.
8. Kiyosu Castle
Moving even further east on our Suzume no Tojimari adventure, the Kiyosu Castle in Aichi is our next stop! This castle was once home to the infamous warlord Oda Nobunaga. If you don’t know him, be sure to brush up on your Japanese history before going; it will certainly make the visit more interesting! Anyways, to say the least, this castle has a history of dynamic political events and is an exciting spot for any enthusiasts of Japan’s history!
9. Ochanomizu
Ochanomizu is surprisingly a great place for second-hand musical-instrument and snowboard/ski equipment shopping! The name itself actually means “tea water” and was named so because water from the nearby Kanda river was used to make the Shogun’s tea. The area is an interesting place to visit, and there are plenty of things to do and restaurants to visit as well! A popular place to geek out, Akihabara, is only a relatively short walk away as well.
10. Oya Kaigan
Our last stop, which is much farther north in Miyagi Prefecture, is Oya Kaigan. This place used to be a train station, but it was damaged severely along with nearby train tracks by the 2011 earthquake. Since then, it has been repurposed as a bus transit line. Miyagi, in general, boasts diversity in nature, with mountains and lakes while being on the coast. It is as much of a place to consider visiting as it is to consider living, especially if you enjoy nature!
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