Is Japan Really the Land of Anime?

Many foreign countries have had the pleasure of being introduced to Japanese culture whether it be through food, art and, of course, anime. Anime is the Japanese word for animation (any kind of animation), but to the world outside of Japan it is distinctly referenced to animation from Japan. With that said, would would think something like anime would be all over the place in Japan. The reality of it is that it can actually be pretty had to come by.

Anime is Japanese animation, created by Japanese people for Japanese people. Many Japanese people have at least seen one anime as it is popular to watch as a child. With anime being what seems like a dominate part of life in Japan you would think Japan would be "the Land of Anime" (I've heard Japan being referred to this on many occasions). I'm going to debunk this speculation to help people understand Japanese culture and life a bit more that way we can get rid of any expectations that will obviously make a person disappointed.

Things to not expect in Japan...

"Anime, Everywhere"

Just because anime was "born" in Japan, doesn't mean it's everywhere. Even in Tokyo, it won't be everywhere. There are only a few wards in Tokyo that will actually have a decent amount of anime things on the streets such as Akihabara, Ikebukuro, Nakano and Odaiba (only because it houses a giant gundam). Other wards in Tokyo will have some anime attractions and things but it will be harder to find. The rest of Tokyo, and Japan, is typical Japanese life. I remember while studying abroad in Kyoto, my friend had to actually search online for an anime store to visit. Anime is just not as common as you think. If you are not in those previously stated wards in Tokyo, everywhere else in Japan you will have to go and search for anime related things. Places like arcades and malls are great for finding anime items when outside of Tokyo.

Pokemon plushies in a, arcade's crane machine in Osaka, Japan.

"Everyone Loves Anime"

This is another speculation people have about Japan and anime. Yes, many Japanese people have at least seen an anime and definitely knows what it is but it doesn't mean that every Japanese person likes it. It's like superhero movies in America, it's known as being really popular and it's from America but that doesn't mean everyone likes it. Some people just grow out of watching anime and reading manga. I have met many Japanese people who actually don't know much about anime, like I know more about anime than they do. It's shocking but very true. This surprised me at first, but then I realized that Japan mostly uses anime for tourism for both locals and foreigners.

"Japan Must Have Anime Conventions All the Time"

You would think there would be more conventions in Japan since anime is from Japan, but there's actually not that many anime conventions to attend. There are about 5 or 6 throughout the year that you could attend. These conventions are only a few hours long and are usually held in one large room for fans to sell their art and for cosplayers to get their pictures taken (no industry people, panels or cosplay contest). If you're a cosplayer, the Japanese cosplay community has a lot of rules to follow that many not be something you agree with since cosplay abroad is a very open thing. To go to these conventions in Japan is not something a person wants advertised, as it can take a toll on their personal life. Convention life in Japan is extremely different than America and other countries, so just be aware of that.

"I Can Cosplay in Japan"

Yes and no. You can't cosplay in public. So if you were expecting to stroll around town in cosplay, you are sadly mistaken. The craziest thing you could do is Harajuku or lolita fashion, but you may still get stares if you're outside the fashion districts of Tokyo. Anywhere else in Tokyo or Japan, these fashions and cosplay is not acceptable to wear out in public. The fashions are more acceptable than the cosplay though. The reason for this has to do with the Japanese cosplay community. As mentioned previously, the cosplay community in Japan has a lot of rules that need to be follow. Foreign cosplayers do exist in Japan, and they also follow the same rules. One of the rules being "not to go out in public in cosplay." Yes, not only is it sociably unacceptable but it is one of the known rules of the community. The standard is to pack everything you would need and get prepared at the venue chosen. Cosplay is done at the few conventions that Japan has and at meetups.

Walking down a street in Kyoto. No random anime stores, no cosplay. Just normal, daily life.

There are more rules, but it would probably be better for you to hear it from a more experienced and reliable source. Here is an interview of two foreign cosplayers in Japan conducted by Cosplay In America: Interview Part 1 and Interview Part 2.


These four points should help you understand more about what anime is like in Japan. Anime was born in Japan, and they still make it today. Japan makes and sells merchandise/items related to anime. Cosplay and anime conventions exist in Japan. So it is all there, but it's not as "hype" as you may think (excluding those wards in Tokyo). It is possible t enjoy anime in Japan, just don't expect something more than you already have in your own country.

I hope this helps those of you who want to travel Japan. I'd really hate for you to go to Japan and be extremely disappointed because your expectations weren't met. If you love Japan and have never been before, it's best to not have expectations. Just enjoy Japan for what it is and give it a fair chance.

For more Japan related content, travel advice or just to chat, follow me on social media: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Also don't forget to check out my YouTube channel!

See you in the next blog post!