by From Lake Biwa to historic Kyoto and Nara, more Summer 2026 anime are taking viewers outside the Kanto region. What makes Kansai such an attractive setting for modern anime?
Summer 2026 is offering anime fans plenty of reasons to look beyond Tokyo and the wider Kanto region.
While the Tokyo metropolitan area has traditionally appeared in countless anime as a familiar backdrop, this season has brought renewed attention to Kansai and western Japan, particularly Kyoto, Shiga and Nara.
Several Summer 2026 titles are using the region in very different ways. Some draw on its natural scenery and quiet streets to create a nostalgic atmosphere, while others draw directly on its history, folklore, traditional arts, and cultural heritage.
For fans, this creates another exciting opportunity: anime pilgrimage.
Instead of visiting only fictional locations inspired by Tokyo or other major metropolitan areas, viewers can now follow characters through historic towns, lakeside landscapes, traditional neighborhoods and locations connected to centuries of Japanese culture.
So, why does the Kansai region work so well as an anime setting?
Shiga, Nara and Kyoto Stand Out in the Summer 2026 Anime Season
Looking across the Summer 2026 lineup, several notable anime are connected to the Kansai region.
One of the clearest examples is “Sayonara Lala,” an original anime from Kinema Citrus.
The series offers a particularly distinctive setting because it places the story around Lake Biwa in modern-day Shiga Prefecture. The premise follows Lala, a mermaid princess who is resurrected in the area 200 years after her original disappearance. The series uses the lake, surrounding scenery, and everyday life in Shiga to create a contrast between fairy-tale fantasy and modern Japan.
That combination gives Sayonara Lala a visual identity that would be difficult to reproduce in a generic fictional city.
The series also has a particularly strong connection to Shiga because director Takashi Koide is from the prefecture. In an interview, Koide explained his desire to create a work connected to his own life and hometown, making the location more than simply a convenient background.
The result is a setting that feels personal as well as fantastical.
Lake Biwa Gives “Sayonara Lala” a Distinctive Identity
One of the most interesting things about Sayonara Lala is how naturally its fantasy premise fits its real-world location.
The Little Mermaid-inspired story could have been placed in an entirely fictional seaside town.
Instead, the anime chooses Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake.
This changes the atmosphere considerably.
The water is not simply a place where fantasy characters appear. It becomes part of the identity of the story.
The lake represents Lala’s connection to her original life as a mermaid while also serving as a bridge to the human world.
The contrast between the ancient fairy-tale character and contemporary Shiga creates one of the show’s most appealing ideas:
A legendary character from the distant past is suddenly confronted with an ordinary modern landscape.
That makes the real location feel almost like another character in the story.
The anime’s production has also emphasized the atmosphere of Shiga. Its second main visual, for example, depicts Lala, Mari and Luca overlooking Lake Biwa, reinforcing the importance of the location.
Nara Also Appears in Summer 2026 Anime
Shiga is not the only Kansai prefecture receiving attention.
Nara is also represented in this season’s anime lineup.
The romantic comedy “The Pure and Lovely Girl at My New School Turns Out to Be My Childhood Friend Whom I Thought Was a Boy” uses a rural Nara landscape as an important visual reference.
The story follows Haruki Nikaido, who transfers to a new high school and unexpectedly reunites with a childhood friend he once believed to be a boy. The character has since grown into a beautiful girl, creating the central romantic-comedy setup.
The connection to Nara is especially interesting because the author, Hibari Yu, previously explained that a rural landscape in Nara inspired the image used for the story’s teaser visual.
This demonstrates another way real locations can influence anime.
The creators do not necessarily need famous landmarks.
Sometimes a quiet road, rice field, mountain view, or rural landscape can provide exactly the atmosphere a story needs.
“Reiwa no Dara-san” Shows Another Side of Nara
Nara also provides an ideal environment for supernatural storytelling.
“Reiwa no Dara-san” combines comedy, horror and folklore, and its setting benefits from the cultural atmosphere associated with ancient Japanese traditions.
Nara is particularly suitable for this kind of story because its landscape contains a mixture of modern neighborhoods, old temples, shrines, forests and historical traditions.
The contrast between ordinary contemporary life and supernatural folklore is one of the reasons the setting feels convincing.
The series has also attracted considerable discussion among anime viewers, with episode discussions highlighting its combination of supernatural elements, comedy and darker storytelling.
For a supernatural anime, the location does not have to be frightening by itself.
What matters is the feeling that something old may still be hiding underneath an ordinary modern environment.
That is exactly the kind of atmosphere Kansai can provide.
Kyoto Goes Back in Time in “Twentieth Century Electrical Catalog”
If Sayonara Lala uses Kansai’s natural beauty and Reiwa no Dara-san uses its folklore, “Twentieth Century Electrical Catalog – Eureka Evrika –” takes another approach.
The Kyoto Animation production is set in Kyoto in the early 20th century, when Western culture and electrical technology were beginning to influence Japanese society.
The anime began airing in July 2026 and is also being distributed internationally through Netflix.
This setting allows the series to explore a fascinating period of transition.
Old traditions exist alongside new inventions.
Traditional beliefs encounter modern technology.
People who have grown up in a familiar cultural environment suddenly find themselves facing an unfamiliar future.
That historical tension gives Kyoto a very different role from the one it usually plays in contemporary anime.
Instead of simply being a beautiful tourist destination, Kyoto becomes a place where old Japan and modern Japan collide.
“The World Is Dancing” Takes Viewers Even Further Into Japanese History
Another major example is “The World Is Dancing.”
The anime is based on Kazuto Mihara’s manga and explores the origins and development of Noh theater through the childhood and youth of Oniyasha, the young man who would later become the celebrated Noh figure Zeami.
The story begins in 1374, during the turbulent Northern and Southern Courts period, and follows Oniyasha as he gradually discovers the meaning and beauty of dance.
This is particularly important because the anime is not simply using a historical setting for visual decoration.
History is the story.
Traditional performing arts are the central subject.
The production has even brought specialized expertise into the project, including Noh choreography and Noh supervision, helping the animated performances feel grounded in the art form they depict.
This creates a different kind of anime pilgrimage.
A fan visiting Kyoto or another historical location after watching the series is not only looking for a specific street or building.
They can also explore the cultural history that inspired the story
Why Is Kansai So Attractive to Anime Creators?
The obvious question is:
Why are so many anime creators looking beyond Tokyo?
There is no single answer.
However, several factors make Kansai particularly attractive.
- Kansai Has an Extraordinary Mix of Urban and Rural Landscapes
One of Kansai’s biggest advantages is its variety.
Within a relatively accessible area, creators can find:
- Major modern cities
- Historic neighborhoods
- Rural villages
- Mountains
- Lakes
- Rivers
- Shrines
- Temples
- Traditional houses
- Commercial districts
- Railway lines
- Cultural landmarks
That gives anime creators an enormous visual palette.
A single region can support completely different genres.
A romantic comedy can use a quiet rural road.
A supernatural anime can use an old shrine.
A historical drama can use traditional architecture.
A fantasy series can use Lake Biwa.
A modern action story can use Osaka or Kyoto’s urban environments.
- The Region Has a Deep Historical Identity
Kansai has been central to Japanese history for centuries.
Kyoto served as Japan’s imperial capital for more than a thousand years.
Nara was also an early center of Japanese government and culture.
The region is therefore filled with stories about emperors, aristocrats, warriors, monks, artists, performers,s and religious traditions.
For creators, this provides something extremely valuable:
A sense of historical depth.
A fictional story can borrow from the atmosphere of real history without needing to explain every detail.
Even a simple temple, stone path,th or traditional building can make a fictional scene feel older and more mysterious.
- Folklore Fits Naturally Into the Landscape
Kansai is also strongly associated with Japanese folklore.
Stories about:
- Yokai
- Spirits
- Curses
- Sacred mountains
- Shrines
- Ancient gods
- Local legends
- Ghost stories
- Supernatural encounters
can be incorporated naturally into the setting.
This is particularly useful for horror, supernatural, and fantasy anime.
A creator can place an apparently ordinary character in an ordinary neighborhood and then introduce a supernatural event.
The environment already gives the story a believable foundation.
- Traditional Culture Creates More Than Just Background Scenery
Another major advantage is the region’s connection to traditional Japanese culture.
Kyoto is associated with tea culture, crafts, temples, festivals and traditional architecture.
Nara has ancient religious sites, deer culture and historical landmarks.
Shiga has Lake Biwa, traditional communities and a landscape shaped by water and mountains.
The result is a setting that can influence the story itself, not merely its visuals.
This is particularly clear in The World Is Dancing, where Noh theater is central to the narrative. The official anime site describes the project as a story about the young Oniyasha and his gradual development toward the art that would become associated with Zeami.
The “Move Away From Kanto” Trend Is Not Completely New
The growing use of Kansai should not necessarily be interpreted as creators suddenly abandoning Tokyo.
Tokyo remains one of the most frequently used anime settings because it provides enormous advantages.
It has:
- Dense urban environments
- Recognizable landmarks
- Numerous transportation options
- Large production infrastructure
- A wide variety of neighborhoods
- Easy access for location research
For many stories, Tokyo simply makes sense.
However, anime has also been increasingly willing to give other regions a stronger identity.
Anime Pilgrimage Has Changed the Equation
One of the biggest changes is the development of anime pilgrimage culture.
In earlier decades, a location appearing in an anime might simply have been scenery.
Today, fans may actively travel to that location.
They take photographs.
They compare real buildings with animation backgrounds.
They visit local businesses.
They buy collaboration merchandise.
They ride the same trains shown in the anime.
They share their experiences online.
This creates an important relationship between anime and tourism.
A regional setting can therefore become part of an anime’s marketing strategy.
Local Governments and Tourism Organizations Also Benefit
The relationship works both ways.
Anime can introduce viewers to places they might never otherwise consider visiting.
A small town may become recognizable because it appears repeatedly in a popular series.
Local businesses can create special menus.
Railways can introduce collaboration trains.
Tourism offices can produce location maps.
Hotels can offer themed rooms.
This type of collaboration has become increasingly common in Japan.
As a result, selecting a regional setting can potentially benefit both the creators and the community.
Why the Kansai Setting Feels Different From a Generic Anime Location
There is another subtle advantage.
When an anime uses a fictional city, creators have complete freedom.
But when they use a real place like Kyoto, Nara, or Shiga, the audience brings their own expectations.
Viewers may recognize:
- A train station
- A mountain
- A bridge
- A temple
- A lake
- A shopping street
That recognition creates a special emotional response.
The viewer is not simply watching a fictional world.
They are watching a familiar real world being transformed into part of the story.
Summer 2026 Shows Three Different Ways to Use Kansai
One of the most interesting things about this season is that these anime do not use the region in the same way.
“Sayonara Lala” — Kansai as a place of natural beauty
Lake Biwa becomes the meeting point between fairy-tale fantasy and modern life.
“Reiwa no Dara-san” — Kansai as a place of folklore
The region’s atmosphere helps bridge ordinary modern life and supernatural storytelling.
“Twentieth Century Electrical Catalog” — Kansai as historical transition
Kyoto becomes a setting where traditional culture encounters electricity and modernity.
“The World Is Dancing” — Kansai and Japanese culture as the story itself
The historical development of Noh becomes the central narrative rather than simply a visual reference.
That diversity may be the most important point.
Kansai is not one aesthetic.
It can represent many different versions of Japan.
Why This Could Matter for Future Anime
If the trend continues, we could see more anime creators deliberately choosing locations outside the Kanto region.
And that could produce more stories rooted in regional identity.
Future anime could explore:
- Local myths
- Regional dialects
- Traditional festivals
- Historic industries
- Local food
- Regional architecture
- Traditional performing arts
- Railway culture
- Rural communities
- Coastal and mountain landscapes
This could make anime settings even more diverse.
Instead of every story taking place in a generic Tokyo-style city, viewers could experience many different versions of Japan.
Anime Pilgrimage Ideas for Summer 2026 Fans
For fans interested in combining anime with travel, this season offers several possibilities.
Lake Biwa and Shiga
Fans of Sayonara Lala can explore the landscapes around Lake Biwa and the wider Shiga region that inspired the series’ atmosphere. The show’s production has emphasized the connection between the story and Shiga, particularly through director Takashi Koide’s personal connection to the prefecture.
Kyoto
Fans interested in Twentieth Century Electrical Catalog can explore Kyoto’s historic neighborhoods while thinking about how the city changed during Japan’s modernization.
Nara
Fans of the rural romantic-comedy setting and supernatural stories can explore Nara’s quieter landscapes and historic atmosphere.
Historical Kyoto and Japanese Performing Arts
Fans of The World Is Dancing may be especially interested in learning about Noh theater and the historical period surrounding Zeami and Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. The series begins in 1374 and follows Oniyasha during a crucial period in the development of Noh.
The Most Exciting Part: The Screen and the Real World Start to Connect
Perhaps this is why regional anime settings are becoming so attractive.
Anime has always allowed viewers to escape reality.
But location-based anime offers another experience:
It allows viewers to return to reality and see it differently.
A train station becomes the station where a character waited.
A lake becomes the place where a fictional character began a new life.
A historic street becomes part of a character’s journey.
A traditional theater becomes the birthplace of an artistic dream.
The real world gains another layer of meaning.
Will Kansai Become the Next Major Anime Setting Hub?
It is too early to say that Kansai has replaced Tokyo.
It has not.
Tokyo and the wider Kanto region will undoubtedly remain important settings for anime.
However, Summer 2026 demonstrates that there is a growing appetite for stories that use regional identity as part of their creative appeal.
The combination of natural scenery, history, folklore, traditional culture and modern transportation makes Kansai unusually flexible.
And perhaps more importantly, modern anime audiences are no longer satisfied with simply knowing where a story takes place.
They want to experience the place.
That is where anime pilgrimage culture becomes important.
Final Thoughts: Kansai Is Becoming More Than a Background
The Summer 2026 anime season provides an interesting snapshot of how Japanese locations can influence modern storytelling.
From the waters of Lake Biwa in Sayonara Lala to the historical world of The World Is Dancing, this season’s Kansai-connected anime demonstrate that a location can contribute much more than beautiful scenery.
Kyoto can represent the meeting of tradition and technology.
Nara can evoke history, folklore and quiet rural life.
Shiga can provide a bridge between fantasy and contemporary Japan.
And the broader Kansai region can offer creators something that is increasingly valuable in a crowded anime market:
A strong sense of identity.
As anime becomes more global and fans increasingly travel to locations featured in their favorite series, regional settings could become even more important.
The future may not be about moving completely away from Tokyo.
Instead, it may be about showing audiences more of Japan.
And if Summer 2026 is any indication, the next anime pilgrimage may lead viewers not only to famous Tokyo landmarks, but also to the lakes, mountains, historic streets, shrines, railway lines and traditional communities of Kansai.
For anime fans planning a summer trip, that makes the region worth watching—not only on screen, but in real life.
