Sarazanmai has finally begun. The first episode just finished, and it was so fascinating that I decided to take a walk around the setting (a pilgrimage). I imagine it's difficult for people from far away to make the journey, so I hope you'll read this while imagining the places where the story takes place.
Access to the Pilgrimage
The setting is Asakusa, so the nearest station is, of course, Asakusa. Kaminarimon Gate is nearby, and since it was the weekend, there seemed to be a lot of tourists (especially foreigners). The streets are filled with a traditional downtown atmosphere, even for Tokyo, and surrounded by buildings, giving it a slightly different atmosphere from Tokyo or Roppongi. Unfortunately, the cherry blossoms had already fallen, but there were many cherry trees lined up along the Sumida River, making it a nice place for a stroll during cherry blossom viewing season. As you can see the Skytree from the window in the anime, it's quite close to Asakusa. I'm sure many people walk from Asakusa to the Skytree for sightseeing.
Pilgrimage to the Asakusa Station Area
Poster
Street TV
A scene from Asakusa TV broadcasting throughout the city. This is where it's set. It's also directly connected to the subway.
Azumabashi Bridge and Asahi
Azumabashi Bridge is where the main character runs at the beginning of the story. You can see it as soon as you get off at Asakusa Station. It's also the bridge where he fights the Box Zombie. It's right there after you get off at Asakusa Station. The mysterious golden poop-like object that appears on the poster actually exists. It's the headquarters of Asahi Beer. It looks like a work by a famous artist, and from what I've heard, it was created with a foam motif. Art is complicated, isn't it? It's located just across Azumabashi Bridge from Asakusa Station.
Intersection
The intersection where Haruka had her accident is just across Azumabashi Bridge from Asakusa Station. It's the intersection at the foot of the Asahi building where the Golden Poop was placed.
Skytree
It's about a 15-minute walk from Asakusa Station. However, you can see it as soon as you get off the train. It's huge! This is where the story of the spring kappa and the cat takes place in episode 2 of the anime. It may have been a little further downstream. There's a coffee shop nearby, so you can enjoy a cup of coffee while watching the Skytree.
Pier
This is the scene in episode 2 where Tono is talking to his older brother. The pier here is the motif.
Pilgrimage to Kappabashi
I wonder if the kappa in the story came from here? Kappabashi was filled with shops selling hardware, cooking props, plates, and more. It was also famous for its candy toys, and sushi candy toys were often sold.
Kappa Bronze Statue
This is a bronze statue of the kappa in which Keppi was sealed. While the pose is different, it actually exists. Looking at it, it looks just like Kotoge...
Kappa Statue ②
Near the statue is a stone monument that tells the story of Kappabashi Bridge. Approximately 180 years ago, during the Bunka era, Kappagawa Taro, troubled by the poor drainage around the area and the resulting flooding caused by even a small amount of rain, donated his own money to begin construction of a canal. The kappas of the Sumida River, who were watching the slow progress of the construction, were so moved by Kawataro's kindness that they helped out night after night. It's said that those who see a kappa are blessed with good luck and prosperous business.
Kappabashi Shopping Street
A mysterious white kappa-like thing was seen wandering around next to Sarah on Asakusa TV. I found it in a shopping district. It had the name of a store written on it. It's simply adorable.
Otter Police Station
The otter's home base is also around here. I took a photo, and my phone recognized the man's face. As expected of an iPhone. By the way, there was no police box.
Pilgrimage to Kaminarimon
Kaminarimon was also in full view. Since I went on a holiday, it was packed. There were a lot of Asian tourists. Of course, there were also many rickshaw operators. Muscular, dark-skinned men were operating them in broken English. Japanese people are tough, too.
Kaminarimon
When it comes to Asakusa, this is probably the most famous spot. It appears throughout the anime.
Nakamise Street
This is the scene where Keppi always takes the three transformed characters on a rickshaw. This is Nakamise Street, a street that continues from Kaminarimon Gate. The streets are quieter at night, making it a nice spot for a stroll.
Pilgrimage: Conclusion
I still haven't seen everything and I don't have enough photos, so I'm thinking about going back when the anime has progressed a little further. If you have the chance to visit Tokyo, why not check it out?
Anime Episode Review Articles Here
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Recommended Sites for Pilgrimages
I generally avoid tours and instead book hotels and flights myself, using various websites. I occasionally use flight and accommodation packages, but I generally focus on keeping expenses down by checking prices on comparison sites. I'd like to introduce some of the sites I frequently use. I encourage you to try them out when traveling.
trivago
I recommend Trivago when booking hotels. I book all my hotels through it. In Japan, prices are per person, but overseas they're usually per room. It's easy to use, and because it's a comparison site, it's extremely easy to find the lowest prices.
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Skyticket
This site covers all domestic and international flights and hotels, and is very easy to navigate even on a smartphone. You can easily search by price and rating. I often use it to book international flights.
Sakura Travel
This is the site I use when I suddenly decide to go on a trip. I often use it when tickets are available for same-day purchase or when I have sudden plans. Since it specializes in domestic travel, if you mainly only travel domestically, you might want to register as a member here and earn points.
