聖地巡礼
Meaning: Visiting real-world locations that appeared in anime, manga, or other media — an otaku pilgrimage.
聖地巡礼 borrows the religious term for pilgrimage and repurposes it for visiting real locations depicted in anime and manga. Fans travel to these spots to take photos matching scenes from their favorite works, often boosting local tourism significantly. Towns like Numazu (Love Live! Sunshine!!), Chichibu (Anohana), and Tokorozawa (Your Name) have embraced this phenomenon with official collaborations.
Examples
- 来週、推しアニメの聖地巡礼で秩父に行ってくる。 下周要去秩父进行推的动画的圣地巡礼。La semana que viene me voy a Chichibu a hacer la peregrinación de mi anime favorito.다음 주에 최애 애니 성지순례하러 치치부에 다녀올 거야.
- 聖地巡礼したらアニメと全く同じ景色で感動した。 去圣地巡礼后发现和动画里完全一样的风景,太感动了。Cuando hice la peregrinación me emocioné al ver el paisaje exactamente igual que en el anime.성지순례했더니 애니랑 완전 똑같은 풍경이라 감동했어.
- この街、聖地巡礼の観光客で町おこし成功したらしいよ。 听说这个城镇因为圣地巡礼的游客成功实现了地方振兴。Parece que esta ciudad ha conseguido revitalizarse gracias al turismo de las peregrinaciones otaku.이 마을은 성지순례 관광객 덕분에 지역 활성화에 성공했대.
Pronunciation
/se.i.tɕi.dʑɯn.ɾe.i/
Usage Guide
Context: anime fans, travel, social media, tourism
Tone: enthusiastic, devoted
✓ Do Say
- 夏休みに聖地巡礼の旅行計画してる (I'm planning a pilgrimage trip during summer vacation)暑假打算安排一趟圣地巡礼的旅行(I'm planning a pilgrimage trip during summer vacation)Estoy planeando un viaje de peregrinación otaku para las vacaciones de verano.여름방학에 성지순례 여행을 계획하고 있어
- 聖地巡礼マップ作ったから共有するね (I made a pilgrimage map so I'll share it)做了一份圣地巡礼地图,分享给你们(I made a pilgrimage map so I'll share it)He hecho un mapa de peregrinación, así que lo comparto.성지순례 지도 만들었으니까 공유할게
✗ Don't Say
- 宗教的な巡礼の話をしてる人に「聖地巡礼」をアニメの意味で使わない (Don't use 'seichi junrei' in the anime sense when someone is discussing actual religious pilgrimage)当别人在讨论真正的宗教朝圣时,不要用动画的含义来使用'圣地巡礼'(Don't use 'seichi junrei' in the anime sense when someone is discussing actual religious pilgrimage)No uses «seichi junrei» en el sentido otaku cuando alguien está hablando de una peregrinación religiosa real.종교적 순례 이야기를 하는 사람에게 '성지순례'를 애니 의미로 쓰지 마세요
Common Mistakes
- Not realizing that 聖地巡礼 can also refer to music, drama, or film locations — not just anime
- Visiting locations without respecting local residents and their privacy
Origin & History
Originally a Buddhist/Shinto term meaning pilgrimage to sacred sites. Otaku culture co-opted the term in the 2000s to describe visiting locations from anime and manga. The practice exploded after the success of films like Your Name (2016).
Cultural Context
Era: 2000s otaku culture, mainstream since 2016
Generation: All ages anime fans
Social background: Otaku culture, now mainstream tourism
Regional notes: Used across Japan. Many local governments actively promote 聖地巡礼 tourism with official collaborations.
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