Japan is one of the largest animation-producing countries in the world and has created a huge fan base at home and abroad. There are an infinite number of themes, ranging from fiction to non-fiction, action adventure to romance, and appealing to children and adults alike. In today's society, it's not just the cool, charming characters that attract fans from all over the world, but also the storylines and worldviews of each show. While some anime are set in foreign countries or invented locations, many are set in the Tokyo area of Japan. Tokyo serves not just as a backdrop but becomes a character that contributes to the overall atmosphere of the shows. This vibrant city with towering skyscrapers, ancient temples, and bustling markets makes viewers feel as if they've transported to Tokyo.
Where to stay?
For fans wishing to take this experience further, there's an opportunity to stay in the heart of the city, perhaps in some of the hotels in Tokyo at tokyo-hotels-stay.com. This site will guide you towards your temporary home in Tokyo where you can witness the charm of the city just as portrayed in anime. Another option at your disposal is tophotels.com Book Hotels here, this platform offers a wide range of selections catering to varying budgets and preferences. You can choose one that suits your need and experience Tokyo in your very own style. Fans of anime and culture enthusiasts who are looking for a more traditional stay in Tokyo should consider the Hotel Edoya. This hotel offers a unique blend of Japanese tradition and modern comforts. Let's delve into some of our favourite anime set in Tokyo!
10. Live the love (ラブライブ！)
©2013 プロジェクトラブライブ！
Love Live! is an idol anime that has caused a sensation in Japan. Otonokizaka Academy, located between Akihabara, Kanda and Jimbocho, is facing closure, and Honoka Kōsaka, a second-year student, and her group of 9 students are resisting this crisis by becoming idols. Their aim is to put their school on the world map. Many original songs were made for this anime and are now very popular. The show's fan base has grown not only thanks to the release of CDs, but also thanks to their live performances.
9. Captain Tsubasa (キャプテン翼)
Copyright © TV TOKYO Corporation All rights reserved.
Captain Tsubasa is a sports anime that follows the journey of a young footballer. The series showed everyone just how amazing football can be and sparked a football boom across Japan when it was made into an anime in the 1980s. The first stop is the town of Nankatsu (南葛市), a fictional city in Shizuoka Prefecture. It's not a city in Tokyo, however, the town is said to be named after Minami Katsushika High School (南葛飾高校), where Yoichi Takahashi, the creator of Captain Tsubasa, graduated. In the town of Nankatsu, main character Tsubasa Ōzora gradually develops his footballing skills and begins to make a name for himself. His competitive game and breathtaking shots continue to win the hearts of many readers and viewers around the world.
8. City Hunter (シ テ ィ ー ハ ン タ ー)
City Hunter is sort of an older anime set in Tokyo. It's a very popular show that has not only comedic scenes but also more serious scenes that touch the hearts of readers. One of the main characters, Ryo Saeba, is a talented assassin in Shinjuku, but has a big weakness; attractive women. His partner, Kaori Makimura, serves as his partner, and the two work together to eliminate the villains that plague Shinjuku. City Hunter is also very famous abroad, so much so that a live-action film was even made in France.
7. Tokyo Ghoul (東京喰種トーキョーグール)
Copyright © SHUEISHA Inc. all rights reserved.
Tokyo Ghoul is a popular anime set in Tokyo, where the city is infested with ghouls who need to eat human flesh to continue surviving. The protagonist, Ken Kaneki, is an 18-year-old university student. One day, he is suddenly attacked and almost killed by a ghoul named Rize. However, Rize is also seriously injured in a fatal accident at the scene. Miraculously, Ken survives by having some of Rize's internal organs transplanted into his body at a nearby hospital. Following the transplant, he becomes a half ghoul, meaning that he is now part of the ghoul world. This story depicts the pain of unexpectedly becoming something new and abnormal, and the struggle to protect the world.
6. A Punch (ワンパンマン)
©ONE・村田雄介／集英社・ヒーロー協会本部
One-Punch Man is one of the most popular anime series. Saitama is the strongest hero in history and has become so powerful that he can defeat any evil villain with a single punch. Three years before the current plot of the series unfolded, Saitama was struggling to find a job. However, he decided to become a hero when he saved a boy from a mysterious person who was plaguing the town. After three years of strict and rigorous hero training, he gained the power to defeat any villain with a single punch. However, now that he had become too strong, he gradually lost his passion for fighting. Although the series contains many hilarious gags, the elaborate battle scenes are highly entertaining and fun to watch.
5. Death Note (デスノート)
©大場つぐみ・小畑健／集英社・VAP・マッドハウス・NTV・DNドリームパートナーズ
If only writing someone's name in a notebook would lead to that person's death... Death Note is a hugely popular suspense anime where tactics, psychological warfare and brain games are interwoven into a well-thought-out plot and gripping storyline. The main character, Light Yagami, is a high school genius whose father is a police detective. One day he picks up a mysterious black notebook on his school grounds, but it turns out to be a notebook abandoned from another realm by Duke, the Reaper. In this notebook, you can cause another person's death simply by writing their name in the notebook. After understanding the power of the notebook, Light writes the names of criminals into the Death Note to bring what he believes to be justice. However, his "justice" gradually turns to madness.
4. Your name (君の名は。)
©︎2016「君の名は。」製作委員会
"Your Name" is an animated film directed by Makoto Shinkai. The plot is based on a phenomenon in which a high school student living in Tokyo and a high school girl living in rural Nagano suddenly change bodies and lives. The protagonists, Taki Tachibana and Mitsuha Miyamizu, return to normal the next day, but over time they continue to swap bodies again and again. The two begin to use this phenomenon to try to understand and resolve the strange situation. Why are their bodies changing, and what is the truth behind it? This story of the connection between a high school boy and a girl combined with the beautiful scenery of Tokyo and Nagano makes for a beautiful film. The soundtrack to 'Your Name' is also extremely popular as it was produced by the famous Japanese band The Radwimps.
3. Jujutsu Kaisen (呪術廻戦)
©芥見下々／集英社・呪術廻戦製作委員会
Jujutsu Kaisen is an action anime based on the ancient Japanese yōkai. The main character, Yuji Itadori, is a physically gifted high school student who decides to join his school's occult club. After he and his friends accidentally summon strange creatures to the school while playing with a cursed object, Itadori must fight them to save his friends. A sorcerer is drawn to the school because there is a great presence there, and reveals to Itadori that the cursed object brings great power to whoever swallows it. In the midst of being attacked by strange creatures, he has no choice but to swallow the object. In doing so, he becomes possessed by Sukuna, the king of curses, and his life is never the same again. After this incident, the jujutsu sorcerer condemns Itadori to death by exorcism, but before that can happen, he must find and swallow the remaining fingers of the curse if he wants to stay alive.
2. Tokyo Avengers (東京リベンジャーズ)
Ⓒ和久井健・講談社／アニメ「東京リベンジャーズ」製作委員会
Recently, you may have heard of the anime Tokyo Revengers as it has taken off around the world. This unique show mixes the world of delinquent teenagers with time jumping. The protagonist, Takemichi Hanagaki, is a 26-year-old part-time worker. One day, while watching the news, he sees a report about a woman who lost her life in a gang-related accident. The woman turns out to be his ex-girlfriend from college, Hinata Tachibana. On his way home from his part-time job, he is pushed from behind in front of a moving train by someone on the platform. Thinking his life is about to end, Takemichi surprisingly wakes up and finds himself back in his high school years. In this past world, he meets Hinata's younger brother, Naoto, and discovers that he can travel through time by touching his hand. He travels back in time, trying to rewrite history and change the fate of his high school sweetheart. This anime is quite different from most anime and has an incredible storyline as well as strong character building. It's a great watch for people who need a little inspiration!
1. Demon Slayer (鬼滅の刃)
ⓒKoyoharu Gotoge/SHUEISHA, Aniplex, ufotable
Demon Slayer is an extremely popular action-based anime that has exploded in Japan. Demon Slayer : Mugen Train was released in cinemas in 2020 and quickly became the highest-grossing film of the year. It was the first time a non-Hollywood film had topped the annual box office! It also became the highest-grossing film of all time in Japan. And all this happened despite the COVID-19 situation. The plot of Demon Slayer dates back to the Taisho era. Tanjiro Kamado is the eldest son of a coal-mining family and leads a peaceful life with his family. One day, while Tanjiro is out of town selling charcoal, his family is brutally attacked and killed by a demon. Only his younger sister, Nezuko, survives, but she transforms into a demon and suddenly attacks Tanjiro. He vows to avenge his family and the demon, and embarks on a journey to find a way to return her to human form. This is a highly acclaimed anime with a very thoughtful story and beautiful animation that everyone can enjoy and appreciate.
