5 Must-Watch Series & Deep Anime Pilgrimage Experiences
In 2026, anime isn’t just entertainment in Japan — it’s daily life.
This guide explores the five anime shaping Japan right now, where fans actually go, how much to budget, and how travelers can experience anime culture on the ground.
Japan in 2026: When Anime Becomes Everyday Life
In 2026, the first thing many visitors notice in Japan is this:
anime is no longer a subculture.
Walk through major stations and you’ll hear departure melodies replaced with anime theme songs. AR photo spots let you pose with characters in real streets. Collaboration posters appear not just in Akihabara, but in ordinary neighborhoods.
So what are Japanese fans watching right now — and where are they actually going?
Below are the five anime you cannot miss in 2026, along with the deep, local experiences that turn watching into something you physically feel while traveling Japan.
1. Jujutsu Kaisen: Culling Game Arc (Season 3)
2026 Status
To be honest, since the Culling Game arc began airing in January, Japanese social media has been completely dominated by weekly theories and reactions. Yuta Okkotsu’s role, in particular, has reignited nationwide excitement.
https://youtu.be/a0S6-pODw-s
Story Snapshot
After the devastating Shibuya Incident and the sealing of Gojo Satoru, Yuji Itadori and his allies are forced into the deadly ritual known as the Culling Game — a battle royale where survival itself becomes a curse.
Japanese Cultural Context
What resonates deeply with Japanese fans is the realism. Familiar cityscapes become battlegrounds. Even as Shibuya undergoes rapid redevelopment in 2026, fans intentionally seek out locations that resemble the older version depicted in the anime.
Deep Experience
Sacred Spot:
The underground levels of Shibuya Station (around the Fukutoshin Line platforms). The maze-like structure mirrors the confusion and scale of the Shibuya Incident — getting lost here is part of the experience.
Why it matters:
This is where fiction and real urban complexity overlap in a way only Tokyo can deliver.
Shopping:
Shibuya PARCO 6F, JUMP SHOP. High-end cursed tool–inspired rings and necklaces are popular among adult fans willing to invest in subtle, wearable fandom.
2. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (Season 2)
2026 Status
Season 2 began airing in January. In an era dominated by action-heavy anime, Frieren stands apart as a quiet phenomenon — widely described in Japan as “an anime everyone cries to, regardless of age.”
https://frieren-anime.jp/
Story Snapshot
Rather than focusing on defeating the Demon King, the series explores what happens after. Frieren, an elf with an incredibly long lifespan, retraces her journey to understand the fleeting hearts of humans.
Japanese Cultural Context
The series embodies mujo — the traditional Japanese sense that all things are impermanent. Many Japanese viewers describe watching Frieren as a form of emotional detox in an overstimulated society.
Deep Experience
Sacred Spot:
Kamikochi, Nagano Prefecture. From Kappa Bridge, the scenery feels uncannily like Frieren’s world — quiet, vast, and contemplative.
Why it matters:
This landscape captures the stillness and passing of time that defines the series.
Eating:
Anime collaboration cafés across Japan recreate Frieren’s favorite sweets and famously oversized hamburgers, turning emotional moments into shared meals.
3. Oshi no Ko (Season 3)
2026 Status
Season 3 continues to expose the light and shadow of Japan’s idol industry. Combined with hit songs that dominate music charts, the series remains a cultural force well beyond anime fandom.
https://ichigoproduction.com/Season3/
Story Snapshot
Reincarnated twins pursue the truth behind their idol mother’s death, drawing closer to the core of the entertainment industry itself.
Japanese Cultural Context
This is the most accurate depiction of oshikatsu — Japan’s fan-support culture. Fans don’t just watch; they actively participate, believing their support directly fuels the work’s success.
Deep Experience
Sacred Spot:
Akihabara around the AKB48 Theater, and Harajuku. Experiencing real idol performances dramatically deepens understanding of the anime’s themes.
Why it matters:
The line between fiction and real idol culture disappears here.
Shopping:
Animate Ikebukuro flagship store, 4F. The oshikatsu section offers thousands of display cases and customization tools — essential for travelers discovering their “oshi” for the first time.
4. The Apothecary Diaries: Movie & Season 3
2026 Status
This is the biggest year yet for the series. A brand-new theatrical film is scheduled for late 2026, accompanied by nationwide collaboration events.
https://kusuriyanohitorigoto.jp/
Story Snapshot
Set in a historical imperial court, the series follows Maomao, a sharp-witted girl who solves poisoning cases using pharmaceutical knowledge, while navigating her complicated relationship with Jinshi.
Japanese Cultural Context
Maomao’s unapologetic professionalism — intelligent, independent, and uninterested in flattery — resonates strongly with Japanese women seeking capable female leads.
Deep Experience
Experience:
Yokohama Chinatown. Beyond dining, renting a traditional Chinese dress and exploring the streets as Maomao has become a quiet trend among fans.
Why it matters:
It transforms historical atmosphere into lived experience.
Shopping:
Major Japanese bookstores. Limited-edition 2026 illustrated volumes are widely recommended by bookstore staff as meaningful, high-quality souvenirs.
5. Golden Kamuy: Final Chapter
2026 Status
By 2026, Golden Kamuy has reached its conclusion with the Final Arc fully adapted into anime form.
In Japan, it is now regarded as one of the most culturally important anime of recent years, with renewed interest centered on Hokkaido.
https://kamuy-anime.com/
Story Snapshot
Set after the Russo-Japanese War, the story follows Saichi Sugimoto, a battle-hardened survivor, and Asirpa, a young Ainu girl.
Their search for a stolen gold treasure becomes a harsh journey across Hokkaido, where survival and identity are constantly tested.
Japanese Cultural Context
Golden Kamuy is respected for its serious portrayal of Ainu culture, modern history, and food as memory.
In 2026, it is often cited as an anime that reveals a side of Japan rarely seen by visitors.
Deep Experience
Sacred Spot:
Hokkaido, especially Abashiri and the Sapporo area.
The Abashiri Prison Museum and surrounding historical sites closely reflect the anime’s atmosphere.
Why it matters:
This feels less like anime sightseeing and more like stepping into the history behind the story.
Shopping:
Limited collaboration items are often available only in Hokkaido, making them meaningful souvenirs.
Practical Tips for Anime Travel in Japan (2026)
- Official X (Twitter) Is Essential
In Japan, anime updates appear faster on official X accounts than on websites. Use translation tools and search for words like “collaboration” or “event.” - Use Convenience Stores Strategically
Lawson and 7-Eleven regularly run campaigns offering clear files with snack purchases. They’re lightweight, affordable souvenirs travelers often overlook. - Budget Guide
Acrylic stands: ¥1,500–¥2,200
Collaboration café set: ¥3,000–¥4,500
Local transport (Tokyo area): ¥1,000–¥2,000 per day
Conclusion: Step Inside the Anime World
In 2026, anime in Japan no longer stays on the screen — it surrounds you.
The five series above represent the current peak of Japanese anime culture. Plan your pilgrimage carefully, walk the same streets, hear the same station melodies, and share the same excitement as local fans.
Months later, when you hear these opening themes again, you’ll remember the underground stations, quiet mountain bridges, and late-night convenience stores where anime felt real.
Japanese fans will welcome you — not as a tourist, but as someone who understands why these stories matter.
Image credits:
All images used in this article are sourced from official anime websites, official X (Twitter) accounts, or promotional materials released by the rights holders.
