Kanda Myojin Shrine, Akihabara gourmet food, and "Love Live" sacred place sightseeing

The TV anime "Love Live!" is set at Otonokizaka Academy, a girls' high school near Akihabara and Kanda. With the school facing closure in three years, nine female students form an idol group called μ's (Muse) to spread the school's name and increase the number of applicants. Let's take a stroll around the four locations from Kanda Shrine to Akihabara Station, which are the setting for the story

Kanda Myojin Shrine, the most important holy place for "Love Live!"

Kanda Myojin Shrine appears in "Love Live!" as the family home of μ's (Muse) member Nozomi Tojo. She is often seen dressed as a shrine maiden, cleaning the shrine grounds. It is also the training ground for μ's members to build up their physical strength. It is a historic shrine that was founded in Tenbun 2 (730)

Members of μ's (Muse) often came here to pray for their success

In addition to charms and talismans, the Kanda Myojin shrine office now also sells anime character goods in response to requests from Love Live fans

This is a location overlooking Otokozaka from within the shrine grounds. Otokozaka is one of the approaches to Kanda Myojin Shrine. These are the stone steps that the members of μ's (Muse) used to run as part of their training to build up their basic physical strength. Once at the top of the steps, the members of μ's (Muse) sat down to take a break

This is the view looking up from the bottom of the hill. The stone steps are quite steep. If you see someone running up the steps, they might be a "Love Live!" fan

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μ's (Muse) members' meeting place ~Shoheibashi~

Shoheibashi is a bridge over the Kanda River. During the Edo period, it was a wooden bridge. The current Shoheibashi was rebuilt in April 1923 (Taisho 12), and was the first reinforced concrete arch bridge over the Kanda River. The members of μ's (Muse) always met on this bridge when they had meetings or needed to discuss something. Incidentally, the Chuo Line and Sobu Line run parallel to each other here, across the Kanda River, making it a popular spot for train enthusiasts

Honoka Kosaka's family's Japanese sweets shop "Homura" ~Takemura~

"Takemura" is the shop that served as the model for "Homura," the Japanese confectionery shop owned by the family of Kosaka Honoka, founder of μ's (Muse). Founded in 1930 (Showa 5), ​​it has long been a popular sweet shop. The three-story wooden store is also a designated cultural heritage site, a "Tokyo Metropolitan Historical Building." Popular menu items include "fried manju" and "apricot cream anmitsu." Be sure to try the Akihabara gourmet food of the "Love Live" mecca

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μ's (Muse) members' flyer distribution spot ~ Akihabara Electric Town entrance ~

From the Akihabara Electric Town entrance, girls from maid cafes are handing out flyers on the street lined with major electronics retailers such as LAOX and Onoden. Members of μ's (Muse) also handed out flyers to announce their first live concert. This is a place that has appeared frequently in the "Love Live" series

What did you think? Although this is a "Love Live!" sightseeing tour, the spots we introduced can be enjoyed even if you're not familiar with the anime. All of them are within walking distance of Akihabara Station, so we recommend them for a short stroll

Jun Nambara

Writer, screenwriter, animation producer. He wrote and directed the drama CD ``The Rose of Versailles,'' supervised by Riyoko Ikeda, and has written many books, including ``Onmyoji ``Abe Seimei'' (Futami Shobo). He is also attracting attention as a travel writer who works as a tour conductor on weekends. His hobby is visiting the sacred places of anime, dramas, and movies.