Eagle-Eyed Photographer Finds Anime Locations in Real Life Japan

Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor

Jul 6, 2024 11:30 AM EDT

I'm sure a lot of us have wished we were in an anime— not even a main character! Just being able to exist in another world that is so fundamentally different from out own is enough to fuel escapist fantasies. Some of us have daydreamed of being born in the world of Naruto, contemplating which village we'd prefer to be from and what type of jutsu we would master. Others imagine that they're in modern-day Japan, but in the universe of Death Note, having to decide what to do when they find themselves in possession of that deadly book. We've gazed out of buses during long commutes, contemplating what our cursed technique would be if we lived in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen. The fantasies are as vast as there are anime and manga, and the yearning can be unbearable on days where real-life is getting a little too, well, real.

But the basis and inspiration for all these fantasy worlds is actually just the seemingly boring and mundane one that we inhabit now. Artists at anime production studios often put a lot of effort into recreating real-life spots around Japan to incorporate into the backgrounds of shows. This may be to drive a bit of tourism, but it's also meant to ground the fantasies that we love so much into reality. Check out these photographs by @eigaxtabi that show how fantasy comes to life— or how life comes to fantasy.