Anime has the ability to capture our hearts with compelling stories and characters that are further elevated with stunning visuals and beautiful worlds. One of the best aspects of anime is the breathtaking locations it transports us to, each a work of art in its own right.
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These settings are meticulously crafted and can whisk us away into fantastical worlds built around our wildest dreams. The locations on this list are precisely that, ranging from serene rural villages deep inside nature’s embrace to towering metropolises that gleam under neon lights and are a treat for the eyes in terms of beauty.
10Z City – One Punch Man
Z City fromOne Punch Manstands out since it’s not particularly beautiful but a typical urban setting where the protagonist Saitama lives. It’s a peculiar city though, since it’s surprisingly empty because of constant monster attacks.
The attacks scarred the city with iconic feats of destruction here and there that the hero association believes were caused by monsters,but it’s Saitama who causes the devastationas he encounters low-level monsters during his grocery shopping runs. It’s a memorable setting for one of the best superhero anime out there.
9Hinamizawa - Higurashi When They Cry
The mystery horror anime series Higurashi When They Cry is primarily set in the fictional village of Hinamizawa, whose terrain resembles that of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shirakawago in Japan. In the series, Hinamizawa becomes known for carrying an unknown contagious disease called the Hinamizawa Syndrome.
People of the village believed that it was the Oyashiro-sama’s curse upon them. However, it is later revealed that this disease was spread by Miyo Takano to destroy the village and become a God. The anime storyline is engaging, however, the setting of the village, with its picturesque sloping-roofed huts and lush forests, makes the anime a pure visual delight.
8Alubarna – One Piece
Alubarna fromOne Pieceleaves a lasting impression the first time you see the massive fortress-like city. Its walls are marble white, and the architecture is inspired by the Middle East. As the capital of the Alabasta empire, it’s expected to be a marvel to look at.
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It’s a wonderful place to live with many rich but humble civilians and even has an extensive history. It’s a fresh breath of air when One Piece explores this corner of the world and diverts from the adventures of the seas.
7Celadon City – Pokémon
Celadon is a city in theKanto region and is one of the most populatedin thePokémonworld. It’s a great place for shopping in Pokémon with many malls, casinos, and game centers. It’s also a very well-designed ergonomic city that isn’t too urbanized and has parks and beautiful greenery to admire.
It’s also the home of Erika, who specializes in Grass-type Pokémon and with whom you’re able to train your own Pokémon. There’s a lot to do and explore here, and it’s even been nicknamed the city of rainbow colors, doing justice to its beauty and atmosphere.
6Yamagata City – Only Yesterday
Ghibli films are widely celebrated for their environments, having each scene like an art piece inviting the audience to immerse themselves in their worlds. One such film, Only Yesterday, introduces the solemn beauty of life in the countryside.
In the film, Taeko, a young woman from Tokyo City, takes some time off from her mundane routine. She visits her sister’s husband’s farm, located on the rural side of the Yamagata City home to vibrant fields of safflower. Taeko spends her day at the farm, aiding farmers as they harvest the safflower and absorbing all the beauty of an agricultural life.
5Arashiyama Bamboo Forest – The Tale Of Princess Kaguya
Unlike most Ghibli films with a consistent visual style, The Tale of Princess Kaguya projects a unique look due to its animation and the beautiful bamboo forest setting. Based on Japanese Folklore, the film introduces the story where Sanuki no Miyatsuko works as a bamboo cutter in a nearby forest, inspired by the historical settings of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto.
One day Sanuki finds a miniature girl inside a bamboo shoot. He takes the girl home where he decides to raise her like a daughter, even naming her a princess. However, it’s the watercolor-themed towering bamboo that places it among the most beautiful Ghibli films ever.
4Hidden Leaf Village – Naruto
The Hidden Leaf Village is the central backdrop forNaruto, the village fromwhich many legendary ninjas hail. It’s a massive district with many clans and a rich history including a bunch of landmarks. The fact that it has been around for so long makes it even more appealing to visit such a place if it existed in real life.
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The Hokage stone monument is one such example of an architectural wonder, and the entire location of the village is iconic with cliffs surrounding it from all sides. Though it was destroyed by Pain, most of the village was rebuilt after his invasion, and in Boruto we see it in ashes yet again, but there’s no denying it’s a beautiful place.
3Entertainment District – Demon Slayer
The Entertainment District is a rich and lush place in the bleak world ofDemon Slayerand serves as a great location for the protagonists to visit. It also happened to be theperfect place for an Upper-Rank demon to hide in, since the city was awake at night.
The colors and the culture play a huge role in making this location memorable. Though the aftermath of the fight between Tengen and Gyutaro destroyed almost the entire city, it still is one of the best locations in Demon Slayer and earns its place as one of the most vibrant cities in anime.
2Tokyo – Your Name
Though Tokyo is a very real place outside of anime, Your Name portrays the city in a much more beautiful way. The lighting, the quality of the animation, and just the everyday things that the people of Tokyo were doing made it one of the most spectacular cities in anime.
The thought and effort put into each frame of Your Namemade it seem like the love story and plot were the studio’s second priority, and even that turned out amazing. There’s a reason people glamorize this movie so much, because of how it portrays Tokyo in what can only be described as mystical.
1Howl’s Moving Castle – Howl’s Moving Castle
Although not a castle in a conventional way, Howl’s dwelling isn’t a site one can visit at will, as it is bounded by powerful magical spells. Howl’s Moving Castle gives the audience a glimpse of a moving castle that moves through magic portals.
Doing so opens to picturesque landscapes, each one more breathtaking than the other. The film introduces a young girl Sophie, whose fate brings her to a masterful Wizard Howl. She joins him throughout the film events while being a member of his opulent moving castle.
