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[Iwate Prefecture] Make a pilgrimage to the spots featured in the anime "Haikyu!!"

"Haikyu!!" has been made into an anime and still has a huge fan base. If you're a fan, you should definitely make a pilgrimage to the places that inspired it

So in this article, we'll be introducing the sacred places of Haikyu!! along with scenes from the series. A must-read for manga and anime fans!

Many of Haikyu!!'s characters are modeled after Iwate Prefecture!

Many people believe that Miyagi Prefecture is the model for Haikyu!!, as Karasuno High School is set in Miyagi Prefecture and the gymnasium that appears in the Spring High qualifying episode is the "Sendai City Gymnasium." Miyagi Prefecture is also the setting for Haikyu!!, as the author, Haruichi Furudate, spent 8-9 years there after graduating from high school

However, the townscape around Karasuno High School was drawn with the author's hometown of Iwate Prefecture in mind, so the pilgrimage spots that follow the inspiration for the manga are often located in Iwate Prefecture

Let's go on a pilgrimage to the sacred places! 5 recommended spots

We will introduce five locations that were used as the setting for Haikyu!!. It will be twice as fun to compare them with the manga in hand!

Iwate Prefectural Karumai High School

Iwate Prefectural Karumai High School was the model for Karasuno High School, where the main characters attend, and is also the alma mater of the author, Haruichi Furudate

You cannot enter the school, but even just looking at it from the outside will amaze you with the level of synchronization of the school buildings

Information

  • Name: Iwate Prefectural Karumai High School
  • Address: 34-1, Karumai No. 9, Karumai-machi, Kunohe-gun, Iwate Prefecture, 028-6302

Google Maps

Takesawa Store

Shimada Mart is the model for the store. It appears as the family home of Makoto Shimada, an alumnus of the Karasuno boys' volleyball team and a member of the neighborhood association team

If you're a fan, you should visit the parking lot at the back. This is the place where Yamaguchi Tadashi, the only first-year student not in the starting lineup, learned the jump floater serve from Shimada. It brings back the emotional moment when he appeared as a pinch server in the match against Aoba Johsai

Information

  • Name: Takesawa Store
  • Address: 12, Karumai No. 8, Karumai-machi, Kunohe-gun, Iwate Prefecture, 028-6302

Google Maps

Kaneda store

Kaneda Shoten is located a little way up the hill from Shimada Mart. It is the model for Sakanoshita Shoten, the store where Coach Ukai works

This location appears many times in the story, including the street in front of the store, such as in "Volume 5, Chapter 37, when three third-year students appear on the morning of the IH" and "when the volleyball club members make noise in front of the store and get scolded."

Information

  • Name: Kaneda Shoten
  • Address: 34-7, Karumai No. 9, Karumai-machi, Kunohe-gun, Iwate Prefecture, 028-6302

Google Maps

Karumai Civic Gymnasium

Karumai Civic Gymnasium is a gymnasium used by local residents and is used for events such as kendo tournaments. In the story, it was the model for the famous scene where the main characters Hinata and Kageyama meet and everything begins

Information

  • Name: Karumai Town Community Gymnasium
  • Address: 34-1, Karumai No. 6, Karumai-machi, Kunohe-gun, Iwate Prefecture, 028-6302

Google Maps

Yukiya River riverbed

It is said to be the model for the riverbank that appears in the flashback scenes of members of Nekoma High School, which is depicted as Karasuno High School's rival school. The setting in the story is Tokyo, but the scenery is so similar that the author probably chose to use the scenery of Karumai Town, where he was born, as the Tokyo scene

The bridge over the river and the stone steps on the riverbed have been recreated to such a high degree that it brings back memories of the youthful scenes of Nekoma High School's Kitsune and Kuroo desperately practicing volleyball

Information

  • Name: Yukitani Riverbed
  • Address: Kamidate, Karumai-cho, Kunohe-gun, Iwate Prefecture, 028-6301

Google Maps

Pilgrimage etiquette | Avoid trouble and have fun

One thing you need to be careful of when going on a pilgrimage is getting into trouble with local residents and building owners. Once you arrive at a particular spot, you'll likely get excited and take lots of photos, so it's important to understand proper etiquette beforehand

There are four things to note:

  1. Do not obstruct stores or passersby
  2. Photography is allowed outside the building, but not inside
  3. Do not capture private homes or car license plates when taking photos
  4. Do not trespass on school grounds

Enjoy a pilgrimage to the Haikyu!! holy sites!

This time, we've introduced some of the spots in Iwate Prefecture that served as inspiration for the popular anime series "Haikyu!!". These are all irresistible places for fans, so why not visit them for yourself?

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