The Cat Returns! Real Life Locations & Places: Top Pilgrimage Sites and Locations to Visit

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In this article, we will show you how to go on a pilgrimage to the sacred places in the popular animated film “The Cat Returns” produced by Studio Ghibli.

 

The work of “The Cat Returns” is set in Kanagawa and Tokyo prefectures.

Where are the holy places of the popular anime “The Cat Returns” and how can we go there?

 

So, in this article, we will introduce the location of the sacred places of the popular anime “The Cat Returns” and how to get there.

The Cat Returns! Real Life Locations & Places: Top Pilgrimage Sites and Locations to Visit

The anime “The Cat Returns” is sacred to Kanagawa and Tokyo prefectures.

In “The Cat Returns”, real stores and casual scenes are the sacred places.

Below are some of the recommended sacred places in the popular anime “Neko no Ongatsu”.

MYNT, a cake shop where a cat comes out with a box in its mouth, saved by Hal.

MYNT” is a cake shop where a cat rescued by Hal comes out with a box in its mouth.

MYNT” is the cake store where the fish cookies that appeared in the play are sold.

It is a popular store that attracts “The Cat Returns” fans from all over the world.

 

However, it has now moved from the building where it appeared in “The Cat Returns” and is located a short walk away.

 

Access Information
Access: 4 min. walk from Shin-Koenji Station
Business hours: 11:00-19:00
Closed: Tuesday
Reference URL: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1319/A131904/13035148/

 

【MYNT map】

11-12, Umesato 2-chome, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 166-0011, Japan

Motomachi Shopping Street, the model of the cross street where Hal Yoshioka and Muta first meet

The Motomachi shopping district is the model for the cross street where Hal Yoshioka and Muta first meet.

Motomachi Shopping Street” is a traditional shopping street with stores and cafes.

When the meji started, stores such as cafes and bakeries, which were rare in Japan, were lined up to support the opening of civilization.

It is said that those stores became the prototype of today’s Motomachi Shopping Arcade.

 

【Motomachi Shopping Street map】

1-8 Motomachi Naka-ku Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 231-0861

Nakasugi Street, one of the models for the rows of zelkova trees along Hal’s route to school

Nakasugi Dori” is one of the models for the rows of zelkova trees that line the streets along Hull’s commute to school.

Nakasugi Dori is a beautiful row of zelkova trees located between Kannana Dori and Kannpachi Dori.

It is said to be especially beautiful during the season of autumn leaves.

 

【Nakasugi Street map】

2 Asagayakita, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 166-0001

Omotesando, one of the models for the rows of zelkova trees along Hal’s route to school

Omotesando is also one of the models for the zelkova trees that line Hull’s commuter path.

Omotesando” is famous for Keyaki-dori Avenue near JR Harajuku Station.

It is illuminated at Christmas time.

 

【Omotesando map】

9 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001

Top 10 Popular Anime Holy Land Pilgrimage Recommendations in the U.S.

ONE PIECE

The sacred place of “ONE PIECE” is to visit the statue of the Strawberry Clan installed in Kumamoto, the birthplace of the author, Eiichiro Oda.

Statues have been erected throughout Kumamoto under the “ONE PIECE Kumamoto Reconstruction Project” launched in cooperation between “ONE PIECE” and Kumamoto Prefecture in hopes of reconstruction following the Kumamoto earthquake that occurred in April 2016.

 

Therefore, while visiting the statues, visitors can also enjoy sightseeing in Kumamoto, the birthplace of the author, Eiichiro Oda.

 

【MAP】

Pokemon

Pokémon Centers, which are official Pokémon stores located throughout Japan, are recommended as sacred places for Pokémon, especially in Tokyo, where there are four Pokémon Centers.

Pokemon Center MEGA TOKYO and Pokemon Center TOKYO DX in Ikebukuro are recommended as Pokemon Centers in Tokyo.

 

Pokemon Center MEGA TOKYO is the largest Pokemon Center in Tokyo, and offers many Pokemon goods and stuffed animals, as well as a Pokemon Café, so you can enjoy yourself for hours.

 

Pokemon Center TOKYO DX” offers a wide variety of original products including game software, card games, and a café, as well as many services and campaigns to make Pokemon fans happy.

 

Other Pokemon Centers in Tokyo include Pokemon Center Shibuya in Shibuya, Pokemon Center SKYTREE TOWN in Skytree, a tourist attraction, and Pokemon Store Tokyo Station Shop at Tokyo Station.

 

【MAP】

NARUTO

For a taste of the world of “NARUTO,” we recommend visiting the anime park “Nijigen-no-mori.”

Visitors can enjoy the “Fire Shadow Rock,” which beautifully recreates the world of Naruto, “Ramen Ichiraku,” and the opportunity to experience training using a scroll.

 

【MAP】

Sailor Moon

The sacred place for “Sailor Moon” is Azabu Juban, where the story takes place and where the original author, Naoko Takeuchi, lives.

Azabu Juban is filled with settings such as Hikawa Shrine, which is the model for Sailor Mars’ family home, and the “Kaleidoscope Kaleidoscope,” an old-time museum that was the model for the store where Jiba Mamoru bought his kaleidoscopes.

 

【場所】

Jutsu Kaisen

The sacred sites for “Jutsu Kaisen” are mainly located in Tokyo, with some sacred sites in Shibuya and other places.

You can actually enjoy visiting them as I did, so please enjoy the sacred sites together with sightseeing in Tokyo.

https://www.animepilgrimage-travel.com/en/jyujyutukaisen0-seitijyunrei/

https://www.animepilgrimage-travel.com/en/jyujyutukaisen-seitijyunrei/

https://www.animepilgrimage-travel.com/en/jyujyutukaisen2-seitijyunrei/

Attack on Titan

The holy land of “Attack on Titan” is Hita City in Oita Prefecture, which is the birthplace of the author, Hajime Isayama, and is recommended for its various tourist attractions.

The “Attack on Titan in HITA Museum” where visitors can see the works of Mr. Isayama from his childhood to adolescence and powerful objects, “Oyama Dam” where a bronze statue is installed, and “Hita Station South Square” are located.

 

【MAP】

 

⇒For more information on “Hita Spot of Progress,” click here.

Neon Genesis Evangelion

The sacred land of Evangelion is Ube City in Yamaguchi Prefecture, the hometown of director Hideaki Anno, and home to various events and Evangelion-related spots.

The “Spear of Longinus” and the “Standing Statue of the First Model” are among the many local products that are used to create Evangelion-inspired menus in the city.

 

【MAP】

 

⇒For more information on the Evangelion Sanctuary, click here.

Kimetsu no Yaiba

There are many sacred places for “Kimetsu no Yaiba” in Tokyo, and other places in various regions such as Gunma and Yamagata prefectures.

 

You can actually enjoy visiting them as I did, so please enjoy the sacred sites along with sightseeing.

https://www.animepilgrimage-travel.com/en/kimetunoyaiba-seitijyunrei/

https://www.animepilgrimage-travel.com/en/kimetunoyaiba-mugennressya-seitijyunrei/

https://www.animepilgrimage-travel.com/en/kimetu-yukaku-seitijyunrei/

https://www.animepilgrimage-travel.com/en/kimetu-katanakaji-seitijyunrei/

Oshi no Ko

Tokyo is the holy land for “Oshi no Ko,” with sacred sites in Akihabara and elsewhere.

Akihabara includes Akihabara ZEST, where B-Komachi had a live concert in episode 1, and Atre Akihabara, where there was a huge advertisement for Ai.

 

【場所】

DEATH NOTE

There are many sacred places in Tokyo for “Death Note,” including the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, 109, and the Central Government Building No. 2, which is the headquarters for the investigation of the Kira case, as well as Tokyo University, where Moon Yagami took his exams.

 

The “Central Government Building No. 2” is the location of the investigation headquarters for the Kira case, as well as the University of Tokyo, where Moon Yagami took his exams.

https://www.animepilgrimage-travel.com/en/deathnote-seitijyunrei/

What is a The Cat Returns?

The Cat Returns” is a popular animated film released in 2002, directed by Hiroyuki Morita.

Incidentally, “Giveaway episode 2” was also screened at the same time.

 

summary

One day after school, high school student Haru Yoshioka is running late for school and is heading home with her best friend Hiromi, a member of the lacrosse club.

On the way, she sees an unseen black cat with something in its mouth about to be run over by a truck, and quickly uses Hiromi’s lacrosse stick to save it. After being saved, the cat thanks her in Japanese and walks away on two legs. In fact, he was Rune, prince of the land of cats.

That night, he tells his mother that the cat spoke to him, and she tells him the story of how young Hal uttered the words, “I talked to a white cat. In the middle of the night, the Cat King and a group from the Land of Cats show up and give Rune a catalog as a thank-you for saving him.

The next day, a thank-you package from the Land of Cats arrives, but it is full of things that only cats would enjoy: a large amount of sticks for Hiromi, a yard full of catnip, matatavi, and mice.
In addition, a large number of cats follow Haru around.
After school, when he takes over Hiromi’s cleaning duty and goes to take out the trash, he sees Machida, whom he has a crush on, walking with someone he suspects to be his girlfriend.
Shortly thereafter, Natoru, a retainer of the Cat King, visits Hal.

Hal complains, “I’m not a cat, so I don’t appreciate catnip or matatabi,” to which Natoru replies, “In that case, I invite you to the land of cats.

He also informs her that the Cat King is planning to make Hal the queen of the runes.

Hal is flustered by this and tries to stop Natoru, but Natoru says, “I will come for you tonight,” and leaves.
Hal is panicking that he will be married off to a cat, when out of nowhere he hears a voice.

The voice said, “Find the cat’s office. A big white cat on the crossroads will tell you where to find it.

Quote from: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/猫の恩返し

 

There is no specific model for the setting in “The Cat Returns.

However, it is widely known that Naoya Tanaka, who was in charge of art, used Omotesando and Nakasugi Dori as references.

The Cat Returns! Real Life Locations & Places: Top Pilgrimage Sites and Locations to Visit – Summary & Thoughts

The sacred sites of “The Cat Returns” are located in Kanagawa and Tokyo prefectures, and include actual places and shopping streets.

 

In making a pilgrimage to the sacred places, you can use trains, bullet trains, airplanes, cars, cabs, rental bicycles, and buses.

Let’s consider the advantages, disadvantages, fees, and other features and use them.