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Nerima: What to Do in “The Birthplace of Japanese Anime”
A great way to enjoy Tokyo beyond the hustle and bustle.
By Ebony Brown
Nerima City in Tokyo is well known for being the setting of several seriously famous anime. Ranma 1/2, Urusei Yatsura, Tokyo Ghoul, Digimon Adventure, and even Doraemon all use this quiet suburb as their location.
While there are plenty of places to recreate scenes from some of your favorite shows, anime tourism isn’t the only thing to do here. Here are some choice places to visit while you’re in the neighborhood.
Toei Animation Museum
For many, Nerima is where Japanese animation was born. Toei Animation Studios, founded in 1948, is located in the Nerima neighborhood of Oizumigakuen. Its film 白蛇伝, Hakujaden, Legend of the White Serpent, was the first full-color Japanese anime film.
The studio produced some of Japan’s most famous and enduring anime series. Sailor Moon, Pretty Cure, Gegege no Kitaro, and ONE PIECE are all Toei creations. Famous animators Matsumoto Leiji, Tezuka Osamu, And Miyazaki Hayao are all alumni of the studio.
