ANIME vs. REAL LIFE: LOCATIONS (Outside of Japan)

15 May 2020

Anime, as we already know, is usually set in their place of origin, Japan. With that said, did it ever cross your mind to visit Japan, the holy land of 2D lovelies? You Are (Not) Alone. In fact, anime and manga settings inspired by real life locations have resulted in a wave of anime tourism. These locations include restaurants, cafes, exhibitions, events, concerts, museums, and too many more to list! But what if going to Japan is too inconvenient?

Rest assured! Because there are also quite a few anime-feature locations outside of Japan. Behold, our list of (mostly Singapore’s) anime/manga referenced locations you can visit after the pandemic!

Gardens By The Bay, Singapore

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/34qac3/anime_vs_real_life_comparisons_plastic_memories/

https://www.klook.com/en-CA/activity/2886-ocbc-skyway-gardens-by-the-bay-singapore/

These majestic alien-looking “trees” are known as “Supertree”. Measuring between 25 and 50 metres tall, Gardens by the Bay's Supertrees are designed with large canopies that provide shade in the day and come alive with an exhilarating display of lights and sounds at night. A place which will remain in your memory forever...

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

https://www.ttgasia.com/2019/06/04/detective-conans-tribute-to-singapore-sparks-tourism-push/http://7-themes.com/6967327-marina-bay-sands-singapore-3515.html

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rvk-photography/38577565084

Marina Bay Sands is a premier entertainment destination with its vibrant diversity of attractions and facilities. It is located along the Marina Bay waterfront which features three cascading hotel towers topped by an extraordinary sky park, 'floating' crystal pavilions, a lotus-inspired Museum, retail stores featuring cutting-edge labels and international luxury brands, trendy Celebrity Chef restaurants, endless entertainment at the theatres, the hottest night clubs and a Las Vegas-style casino.

Director Chika Nagaoka and his team visited Singapore after the story was finalised and some scenes that were not originally in the script managed to make it into the movie. For example, Director Chika Nagaoka was impressed by the Marina Bay Sands light show and hence decided to incorporate it into the movie!

Merlion Park, Singapore

https://sg.style.yahoo.com/review-youll-fall-in-love-with-singapore-all-over-again-in-detective-conan-the-fist-of-blue-sapphire-100728402.html

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Singapore_Merlion_Night.JPG

The Merlion is a mythical creature with a lion's head and the body of a fish that is widely used as a mascot and national personification of Singapore. Spouting water from its mouth, the Merlion statue stands tall at 8.6 metres and weighs 70 tonnes.

This is the first time a film about the genius boy detective Conan set outside Japan!

Changi Airport Control Tower, Singapore

https://akibapress.com/5-times-singapore-appeared-anime/

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/caas-chief-sets-sights-on-faster-airport-clearance

The Changi Control Tower is one of the most recognisable landmarks of Singapore. It is one of the 3 air traffic control facilities in Singapore. This will definitely be the first anime location you will notice when you first arrive in Singapore!

Esplanade, Singapore

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=401870026934967&id=100013359198862

https://www.visitsingapore.com/see-do-singapore/arts/performance-arts/esplanade-theatres-on-t ndmarks-singapore-merlion-maxwell/

Dubbed as "the Durian” by Singaporeans for its resemblance to the popular fruit, Esplanade is a performing arts centre located in Downtown Core near the mouth of the Singapore River. Its performance spaces have hosted a range of high-profile events, such as the return of the quintessential musical Les Misérables.

New York Public Library, US

Source: https://twitter.com/AniTrendz/status/1195385400602320898

The New York Public Library is a public library system in New York City. With nearly 53 million items and 92 locations, the New York Public Library is the second largest public library in the United States and the third largest in the world. It is also Ash’s, the protagonist of the series, favourite place to drop by!

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/BananaFish/comments/a8o529/people_are_leaving_roses_for_ash_in_the_place_he/

Fans of Anime Series ‘Banana Fish’ are even flocking to the NY Public Library. Some are also leaving flowers at where Ash sat. D E D I C A T I O N????

The Bund, Shanghai

https://supchina.com/2018/02/27/japanese-anime-studio-behind-smash-hit-your-name-sets-its-new-film-in-mainland-china/

http://mini.eastday.com/a/180509045252230.html

The Bund is located along the Huangpu River which is located in the Huangpu District, the center of Shanghai. It is the scenery line of Shanghai. On the opposite across the Huangpu River is where landmarks such as the Shanghai Tower, Shanghai World Financial Centre, Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Jinmao Tower sit.

From the studio that brought you the international phenomenon “Your Name”, this film narrates the stories of young people trying to reconcile their childhoods with a country changing before their eyes. It is an anthology drama film made up of 3 short stories, each of which takes place in China, directed by Li Haoling, Jiaoshou Yi Xiaoxing and Yoshitaka Takeuchi and produced by Noritaka Kawaguchi.

How many places have you been to? Are there any places in your country that are featured in anime as well? Let us know in the comment section below!

Stay tuned for more articles on Hakken!

-Hibernating Bear