From screen to street: Asia’s top anime destinations

SINGAPORE — Anime has officially outgrown the screen, with fans across Asia packing their bags to visit the real-world streets, shrines and shops that inspired their favorite series.

Digital travel platform Agoda has mawpped out the region’s top pop-culture pilgrimage sites. The destinations range from quiet Japanese train towns to bustling convention floors:

Hokuei, Japan: The quiet birthplace of Gosho Aoyama, creator of the manga “Detective Conan,” features a 1.4-kilometer Conan Street dotted with bronze statues leading to the Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory.

Jiufen, Taiwan: With its steep, lantern-lit stairs and the atmospheric Amei Teahouse, this hillside village bears a striking resemblance to the bathhouse town in the classic film “Spirited Away.”

Nagakute, Japan: Located just outside Nagoya, Ghibli Park offers full-scale, walk-through sets of beloved classics, including Satsuki and Mei’s house from “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Howl’s moving castle.”

Busan, South Korea: The coastal city anchors a thriving local comics scene with its Global Webtoon Center and the Webtoon Ibagu-gil, a traditional market reborn with murals from homegrown artists.

Manila, Philippines: A powerhouse of regional fandom, Manila hosts massive events like Cosplay Mania at the SMX Convention Center, solidifying the city as a major otaku capital in its own right.

Hong Kong: The city’s massive Comic Con draws fans from across Southeast Asia, while dense collectible shops and arcades keep the pop-culture energy alive year-round.

“What’s interesting about this trend is how local it’s become,” Jay Lee, Agoda’s regional director for North Asia, said. “Our role is making sure travelers can find a room near the town or the convention hall, not just the destinations already on every list.”