Zombie Land Saga ( Hepburn: Zonbi Rando Saga), produced by MAPPA, is an anime television series that by its production is quite particular. Indeed, in the anime world, originality is rare but still sought after. This is the premise of Zombieland Saga, the comedy-drama breakout hit of the Winter 2018 anime season.
It is an idol anime combined with the supernatural genre. If you find idol anime boring, you will not be disappointed by this one. Amazing songs, cast, animation, and plot; it’s all there and deserves more recognition.
Some important performances in the anime take place in places that exist in the real world like the Drive-In-Tori or the Ekimae real estate stadium. Today, we’ll take a closer look at seven real-life locations from the Zombie Land Saga featured in the anime.
- Saga Castle
- Drive-In Tori
- Ekimae Real Estate Stadium
- Hotel Kasuien
- Furusato Kaikan Arpino
- Yutoku Inari Shrine
- Karatsu Station
- Hasuike Park
- Nikita Shrine
- Boat Race Karatsu
Saga Castle
Saga Castle is a Japanese castle located in Saga City, Saga Prefecture, Japan. The castle was home to the Nabeshima clan, daimyō of Saga Domain. It was also known as “Submerged Castle”.
Episode 2 of the anime introduces Saga Castle, the first of the real-life locations from Zombie Land Saga. Kotaro informs the girls that they will debut at Saga Castle and the venue will hold an annual contest that will feature various performances. Kotaro then gives the girls idol training to prepare them for the event.
It also makes an appearance in Episode 8 of the anime which initiates the character Yuugiri’s backstory.
outer view of the castle in Zombie Land Saga
Anime vs. Real-life: Visiting the Real-life location of One Punch Man
Saga castle in real life
Drive-In Tori
While visiting the real-life locations from Zombie Land Saga, you may want to rest for a while and enjoy something delicious! Drive-In Tori may suit you as it’s a chicken restaurant that could satisfy your desires. Saki Nikaido and her best friend, Reiko Amabuki, love the place just like many fans of the anime as the spot became popular after the release of the 5th episode of the show where it figures in.
In real life, This chicken restaurant is famous for its yakitori menus (grilled chicken and vegetable skewers) and chicken rice. Locally grown vegetables and other ingredients are mainly used so that people can enjoy the taste of local food. It can alleviate travel fatigue and restore energy in the private room.
In the anime, Drive-In Tori is the place Franchouchou visits in Episode 5. The girls advertise there to promote their group.
Drive-In Tori in the anime
Drive-In Tori in real life
Address: 1384-2 Otsubocho, Imari, Saga 848-0021, Japan
Another popular series with real-life inspired locations that might make it to your bucket list is Kimetsu No Yaiba (Demon Slayers).
Ekimae Real Estate Stadium
The Ekimae Real Estate Stadium, often abbreviated as EFS, is one of the real-life locations from Zombie Land Saga. It is a football stadium in Tosu City in Saga Prefecture. The stadium holds 24,130 people and serves as the home ground of J1 League club Sagan Tosu.
In Zombieland Saga: Revenge, in the first episode, the EFS was the place of Franchouchou’s failure because of Kotaro’s impulse to think that he could do a great event without presales.
EFS in Zombie Land Saga
EFS in real life
Address: 812 Kyomachi, Tosu, Saga 841-0034, Japan
Hotel Kasuien
This hotel prides itself on the quality of its hot springs, which are known to be one of the top three skin-rejuvenating waters in Japan. It was at this hotel that Franchouchou stayed after the concert and failed the collaboration with the pharmacist in episode 4. It’s one of the most relaxing of the real-life locations from Zombie Land Saga.
Hotel Kasuien in real life
Hotel Kasuien in Zombie Land Sag
Access:
It is within a 40-minute drive from Nagasaki Huise Ten Bosch theme park
Furusato Kaikan Arpino
The next of the real-life locations from Zombie Land Saga is the stage that serves as the final performance location of Franchouchou and is located near Karatsu Station in Saga. Named Arpino, it is a modern building next to the Karatsu station where it sells Karatsu specialities and serves as an exhibition center for the city.
Arpino was where the Episode 12 concert took place in the anime. The roof collapsed due to snowfall which forced Sakura to resort to her instincts to be able to continue with the concert and recover her memories.
Arpino in the anime
The Furusato Kaikan Arpino in real life perfectly matches the one in the anime
Arpino during the snowfall in the anime
Address: 2881-1 Shinkomachi, Karatsu, Saga 847-0043, Japan
Opening Hours
Local Specialty Shop 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Karatsu Pottery Shop 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Restaurant “Karatsu” 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM / 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Last Order 8:00 PM)
Access
The spot is a one-minute Walk from JR Karatsu Station
Yutoku Inari Shrine
Yutoku Inari Shrine is located in Kashima City, southern Saga Prefecture. It is considered one of Japan’s top three shrines dedicated to Inari alongside Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto and Toyokawa Inari Shrine in Aichi Prefecture. It is thus one of the most important real-life locations from Zombie Land Saga.
Franchouchou visits the shrine in the company of White Ryu as part of a television program to revitalize the group. During the middle of the episode, the group accompanies Ryu to the famous places of the shrine, and then they climb the mountain where a temple is. Although as zombies they do not get tired, White Ryu ends up exhausted at the end of the climb.
Yutoku Inari Shrine in the anime
Outer view of the Yutoku Inari Shrine
Address: 乙１８５５ Furueda, Kashima, Saga 849-1321, Japan
Access
From Saga Station, take the JR Kamome to Hizen-Kashima Station. The trip is around 20 minutes. From Hizen-Kashima Station, you can access a bus that will take you for a 20-minute ride to Yutoku Inari-jinja Stop. From there, the shrine is a six-minute walk.
Karatsu Station
The station appears in episode 3, where Franchouchou held their third concert as a guerrilla group and where they sang the group’s first song, Mezame Returner. Karatsu Station in real life, is a railway station in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Kyushu and is on the Karatsu and Chikuhi lines. IKaratsu Station is the main station of Karatsu City. It is an elevated station with two island platforms and four tracks.
The girls at the Karatsu station
Karatsu station in real life with the same statue as in the anime
Address: Shinkomachi, Karatsu, Saga 847-0043, Japan
Hasuike Park
An attractive park that appears in Episode 8 is located not far from Saga Castle. This setting serves to introduce all of the Saga Incident characters and is replete with cherry blossom trees, stone bridges, and a large pond where Kiichi falls into when he first sees Yuugiri.
A paper origami windmill is encountered by the two characters, and after Kiichi falls, he ends up with a terrible cold. Similar to Drive-In Tori, this is a well-liked park that has witnessed a noticeable rise in visits since the publication of this particular episode!
If you ever have the chance to travel to Japan, check out these famous locations and experience what it’s like to live in the Zombie Land Saga Revenge universe!
Nikita Shrine
The premise is that a real-life Chinese alchemist named Xu Fu who was looking for the elixir of endless life eventually settled down in Saga and discovered what he was looking for there. The mythology of Xu Fu is essential to the culture of Saga and merits an in-depth investigation all on its own.
His legend continues at the Nikita Shrine, where a juniper tree thought to be up to 2200 years old grows adjacent to the shrine. Jofuku, a character from the Zombieland Saga, is revealed to reside at this shrine in episode 8, seemingly proving the fans’ long-held theory that he is the real Xu Fu.
Boat Race Karatsu
The Super Morinaga Karatsu Store and the Kyushu Electric Power Company are two examples of real Saga sites that are featured in Episode 6, which follows Tae as she errand-runs throughout town by herself.
Boat Race Karatsu, one of 24 aquatic arenas in Japan where visitors can wager on fast hydroplane boat races, is the most intriguing (and profitable). Under Japanese legislation, gambling is typically prohibited, although it is permitted in four “public sports”: horse racing, bicycle racing, motorcycle racing, and boat racing.
Fortunately, Tae just so happens to sneeze ink into the betting card, resulting in her winning 20 million yen and paying off Franchouchou’s debt and she also takes home some onions from a dancing competition.
Real life image sources: , japantour.xyz, , Booking.com, zombieland-saga.fandom.com, tripadvisor.com
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