Saitama Prefecture is an inspiration source for many famous anime series. Among them, we can include Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, Lucky Star, Initial D or even My Neighbor Totoro. In 2015, another great anime named Kamisama Kiss took its inspiration from the city and had great success. Through this article, a list of places which are part of the real-life locations of Kamisama Kiss in Saitama prefecture will be reviewed.
What is Kamisama Kiss all about?
Kamisama Kiss or Kamisama Hajimemashita is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Julietta Suzuki. If you are searching for romantic anime, Kamisama Kiss is one of the best options. The character development, the animations, the character designs, and the story make it a suitable anime to watch.
The story is all about a high schooler, Nanami Momozono who had lost everything in life. Homeless, she runs into a man being harassed by a dog and helps him. The man offers her his home in gratitude. Nanami discovers that the said home is a rundown shrine and tries to leave.
However, she meets two spirits from the shrine and a fox familiar named Tomoe. They mistake her for the man Nanami rescued, Mikage, the land god of the shrine. Tomoe, not happy about that, leaves the shrine, unable to accept Nanami as the new land god. Kamisama Kiss is a Japanese
Nanami accepts an offer to live at the shrine – making her the new local god and immersing herself in her divine duties. But to undergo her divine duties properly, she will need the help of Tomoe. She then seals a contract with him, making him her familiar. Now the two must work together as god and familiar. This will not be easy, for new threats arise and Nanami’s own unexpected feelings for her new familiar as well.
The Real life Places of Kamisama Kiss
Kamisama Kiss’ setting is Kawagoe, a Japanese city northwest of Tokyo. Kawagoe is quite famous for its traditional buildings, commonly nicknamed Koedo. With its many sights, traditional shops, and popular seasonal events, the area truly comes alive on the weekend, making it a great trip for the real-life locations of Kamisama Kiss it hosts.
Four of them can be visited across the city
- Saitama Prefectural Kawagoe High School
- Kita-in Temple
- The Kawagoe Castle Nakanomonhori Ruins
- Kawagoe Kumano Shrine
- Fujimi Yagura Ruins in Ontake Shrine
- Kawagoe First Avenue
- Honkawagoe Station East Exit
1. Saitama Prefectural Kawagoe High School
Let’s introduce the real-life locations of Kamisama Kiss with the Kawagoe High School, a school where our heroes usually go. In the anime, the school’s name is Ujigami High School. It is an important school in the Saitama prefecture as it is the alma mater of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics recipient Takaaki Kajita.
The high school focuses on science education and has the results to show for it: the school was designated an SSH (Super Science High School) by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
The school is currently involved in the World-Leading Science and Technology Human Resources Development Project and is running its own curriculum called Kawagoe High School Science Exploration.
Saitama Prefectural Kawagoe High School in real life – The main entrance
Aerial view of the school in Kamisama kiss
Address: 2488-1 Kasahata, Kawagoe, Saitama 350-1175, Japan
2. Kita-in Temple
The next of the real-life locations of Kamisama Kiss is a Buddhist temple located in the city of Kawagoe, named Kita-In Temple. This temple is known for its main hall. In the past, it was originally part of the Edo Castle, and the statues of 540 Rakan, Buddha’s disciple. The temple is also known informally as the Kawagoe Daishi.
In the anime, you can spot Nanami and Himemiko of the Swamp dressed in kimonos in Kita-in Temple. In real life, there are kimono rental stores all over Kawagoe City and you can rent a kimono for about 3,000 yen per person.
Exterior view of the Kita-in temple
Exterior view from the main entrance of the temple in Kamisama kiss
Address: Japan, 〒350-0036 Saitama, Kawagoe, Kosenbamachi, 1 Chome−２０−1
How to access
The temple is accessible from Kawagoe Station via bus or a 20-minute walk. It is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm but the exact hours may depend on holidays and seasons. You need to pay a fee of ¥400 to visit this museum as well as the Rakan statues.
3. The Kawagoe Castle Nakanomonhori Ruins
This is the closest castle to Tokyo accessible to visitors in Japan’s Saitama Prefecture. In 1870 the castle was dismantled and some of the buildings were relocated in Kawagoe and to nearby cities.
Today only a mound on which a tower and the primary hall still remain on the original site. In 1967 the Saitama Prefectural Government designated it as a Tangible Cultural Property.
Although relocated, the original site is still one of the best real-life locations of Kamisama Kiss. It is full of history and to fully understand it, a visit to Kawagoe Castle is a must.
The castle features a fighting scene that broke out between Tomoe. Somehow, he becomes overprotective of Nanami
The castle’s entrance in real life
Season 2 Episode 1 of Kamisama Kiss – Nanami and Tomoe, waiting for the bus in front of the castle
Address: Japan, 〒350-0053 Saitama, Kawagoe, Kuruwamachi, 2 Chome−１３−1
4. Kawagoe Kumano Shrine
Kawagoe Kumano features Nanami and Himemiko praying to have a healthy life using foot pressure points. This shrine is generally dedicated to the god of love and matchmaking. Having this information, many single people hoping to meet their match made in heaven soon, come to this shrine to pray for their wish to come true.
Eventually, you will also see a large ring made of straw. It is said that if you walk through it 3 times while saying your wishes, they will come true.
If you are instead looking for better health, there is a very practical way to reach that goal. There is a path with embedded stones that you have to walk over barefoot through it. If you are not used to this type of exercise it can be a bit painful at first. But it has its advantages as doing this stimulates blood circulation greatly.
Kumano Shrine is also one of the best real-life locations of Kamisama Kiss; it is blessed with good luck and marriage, so it might be a good idea to make a wish while making a pilgrimage to the holy place.
On the left, the path with embedded stones improves health
Nanami and Himemiko of the Swamp at the shrine
Address: Japan, 〒350-0066 Saitama, Kawagoe, Renjakucho, １７−1
While touring Kawagoe, you can also visit other real-life locations of Kamisama kiss like:
Kashiya Yokocho
Kashiya Yokocho located, in Saitama Prefecture is a shopping street in Kawagoe City. Both sides of the street have confectionery shops including penny candy stores.
Kashiya Yokocho shopping street in Saitama prefecture
Kashiya Yokocho in Kamisama Kiss with the shops on both sides of the street
Address: Japan, 〒350-0062 Saitama, Kawagoe, Motomachi, 2 Chome−１１
Kawagoe First Avenue
The Kawagoe First Avenue appears in the opening movie of Kamisama Kiss Season 2 and eventually appears many times when the protagonists visit the outside world.
The former Saitama Resona Bank, one of the most famous buildings in Kawagoe
The distinctive green roof of the Saitama Resona Bank is reflected behind Tomoe in the opening movie.
Time Bell Tower
Tomoe flying high near the tower in Kamisama Kiss Season 2 Opening
Hayashiya
The next real-life location you can add to your list is the Hayashiya. This restaurant has a traditional look.
In the anime, it is Nanami’s favourite restaurant and in episode 3 of Kamisama Kiss’ first season, she’s seen there for the first time with Tomoe.
Hayashiya in real life
Nanami and Himemiko of the Swamp in front of Hayashiya
Fujimi Yagura Ruins in Ontake Shrine
A good perspective of the entire Kawagoe region may be seen from the Fujimi Yagura Ruins (Remains of the Guard Tower of Kawagoe Castle) in Ontake Shrine, which served as the inspiration for Mikage Shrine.
Sadly, it has been marked as a dangerous area, and a “Danger” sign has been placed in front of the tree-covered stairs.
Kawagoe First Avenue
When traveling to school or exploring the outside world, Kawagoe First Avenue is a location that frequently appears in the series. It blends in flawlessly with the streetscape’s warehouse-inspired design. It also featured in Kamisama Kiss Season 2’s opening film.
Honkawagoe Station East Exit
The holy place of Honkawagoe Station served as the inspiration for the station where Nanami, confused by her love for Tomoe, resided after returning from the gods’ conference.
It also brilliantly replicated the view in front of the Kawagoe station.
The Crea Mall shopping area next to Kawagoe Station served as the inspiration for this scenario.
Even though some of the shops have changed, when you really visit the area, you will notice that many of the locations look familiar. It’s a lot of fun!
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Real-life Image credit: nijimen.net
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