On the fourth day of our anime pilgrimage tour around Kyushu, we will head to Oita Prefecture, a place filled with mythology and anime nostalgia, to embark on an awe-inspiring Attack on Titan pilgrimage!

Attack on Titan is a phenomenal masterpiece created by Japanese manga artist Hajime Isayama. Serialized from 2009 to 2021 with a total of 34 volumes, and adapted into a 4-season anime since 2013 that captivated the world, the cumulative global circulation of the manga series has exceeded 140 million copies! Hita City in Oita Prefecture is the hometown of the author, Mr. Hajime Isayama. The worldview in the work, where sturdy walls are built to escape the threat of titans, reflects the author's state of mind during his youth when he wanted to escape his hometown "surrounded by mountains like high walls." Mr. Isayama himself has even stated, "Oyama-cho is the setting for the story of Attack on Titan." Hita City is currently running the "Attack on Hita" project, setting up bronze statues and a museum, attracting passionate fans from around the globe to make a pilgrimage!

🗺️ Oita Anime Pilgrimage Route Map

⚔️ Hita Station Square "Captain Levi Statue": Dedicate your heart!

Take the "Yufuin no Mori" sightseeing limited express train from Hakata Station and get off at JR Hita Station. As soon as you exit the station, the super cool "Captain Levi Bronze Statue" comes into view! The inside of Hita Station displays many posters and exhibits made using classic scenes from the original manga, filling the entire station with an "Attack on Titan" atmosphere that will instantly get your blood pumping.

Many tourists from all over the world come here to strike the Survey Corps' classic "Dedicate your hearts! (Shinzou wo Sasageyo!)" pose for photos!

🏛️ "Attack on Titan in HITA Museum": Precious manuscripts and limited-edition treasures

Taking about 20 minutes by bus from Hita Station to the roadside station "Mizube no Sato Oyama," you can visit the attached "Attack on Titan in HITA Museum." The museum exquisitely exhibits works created by Hajime Isayama during his youth in Hita, as well as exclusive exhibits such as precious original manga manuscripts of "Attack on Titan," which will surely make fans drool!

Experience the visual oppression and shock brought by the colossal titan up close at the scene! The museum also offers many highly collectible limited-edition merchandise items.

💥 Oyama Dam: Beyond the Wall… Recreation of the "Starting Point of Wall Maria"

After visiting the museum, head to the Oyama Dam, which is about a 10-minute drive away. Next to the dam, there are bronze statues of Eren, Mikasa, and Armin from their youth, perfectly recreating the thrilling and classic scene from the first episode of the work where the three of them look up at the Colossal Titan breaching Wall Maria!

💡 Correspondent's photography tips: It is recommended to stand behind the bronze statue when taking photos and look up at the towering dam wall! This angle best captures the true despair and awe of being enveloped by the high wall in the original work.

🚪 Makoto Shinkai's "Suzume" pilgrimage site: Former Bungomori Engine Shed

Have you seen Director Makoto Shinkai's classic animated film "Suzume"? The "fan-shaped engine shed" in the film where the protagonist closes the doors of disaster and ruins was actually inspired by Kyushu's only surviving "former Bungo-Mori engine shed"!

The crucial "Door of Disaster" from the film has been specially set up on-site, allowing visitors to experience opening and closing it firsthand and transform into a Closer! In addition, this is also the filming location for the music video of "HAPPY PARTY TRAIN" by Aqours, the group from the famous anime *LoveLive! Sunshine!!*.

🍃 Meet the Totoro World: Kuju Moss Art

About a 20-minute drive from the former Bungo-Mori Roundhouse along National Route 387, Totoro and the Catbus, sculpted from natural moss, suddenly appear on a roadside wall! This is a unique initiative by the Kuju Town Tourism Association to revitalize tourism resources, and this whimsical street art is sure to bring a smile to your face.

♨️ Beppu Luxury Accommodation Recommendation: Ryokan Hanabeppu - Take to Tsubaki no Oyado

After finishing your enriching pilgrimage, head to Beppu Onsen to relax your body and mind! We especially recommend "Hana Beppu," a Japanese-style inn just a 6-minute walk from Beppu Station. The entire building is floored with tatami mats and bamboo, allowing you to experience a warm texture barefoot.

The ryokan offers Japanese yukata rentals, a complimentary matcha experience, exquisite snacks in the lobby, and a high-quality large public bath, all exuding a strong Japanese charm.

The guest rooms are named after camellia varieties (such as the "Otome" Japanese-style twin room), and the refrigerator even includes complimentary chef-special chewy yuzu jelly drinks and yuzu preserves!

Dinner features a Kaiseki meal offering the ultimate visual and culinary feast, while breakfast is semi-buffet style, paired with freshly cooked fragrant rice in an earthenware pot and a rich selection of vegetables.

Station-direct high-altitude views: JR Kyushu Hotel Blossom Oita CITY SPA HIGHWAY

Another highly recommended quality hotel is JR Kyushu Hotel Blossom Oita, which has direct access to JR Oita Station. Its most distinctive feature is the "CITY SPA TENKU" natural hot spring spa area on the top floor, 80 meters above the ground!

Guests can enjoy complimentary access to this top-tier open-air rooftop bath in Japan, soaking in the skin-beautifying amber natural hot spring while taking in distant views of Beppu Bay and the nightscape of Oita City (special bathing wear is provided for female guests).

The hotel's interior design was personally crafted by the renowned Mr. Eiji Mitooka (designer of the luxury train "Seven Stars in Kyushu"), exuding an exquisitely peerless elegance!

⚔️ Conquer the Three Kamado Shrines! Demon Slayer Pilgrimage Site: Hachiman Kamado Shrine

On the final day of the pilgrimage, we set off for Hachiman Kamado Shrine in Beppu. This shrine, along with Mizoguchi Kamado Shrine and Homman Kamado Shrine in Fukuoka, is one of only three "Kamado Shrines" in all of Japan, and has become a popular anime pilgrimage site because it shares the same name as the protagonist, Tanjiro Kamado!

When you come here, don't forget to look up and admire the "Water Dragon" painting on the ceiling of the main hall, which is reminiscent of Tanjiro's Water Breathing technique, "Constant Flux"! The ema (votive tablet) wall is also covered with Demon Slayer fan art drawn by fans from all over the world.

✈️ A perfect conclusion: Beppu Station ➔ Hakata Station ➔ Fukuoka Airport

After concluding a wonderful Oita anime pilgrimage, take the Limited Express "Sonic" from JR Beppu Station back to Hakata Station (about 2 hours), then transfer to the subway for just 2 stops to reach Fukuoka Airport directly. This 5-day, 4-night Kyushu anime pilgrimage is a complete success. Check out the JoyJapan correspondent's complete guide and start your own passionate journey to Kyushu!

Press Release Source:PR TIMES / Oita Prefecture Tourism Association / Compiled by JoyJapan Editorial Department