A 2011 series (A-1 Pictures, directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai and written by Mari Okada) about a group of childhood friends who reunite, years later, when the ghost of Menma — the friend who died when they were kids — appears to Jinta asking him to grant her final wish. It is a drama about grief and guilt, set with great fidelity in the mountain city of Chichibu (Saitama), whose bridges, shrines and parks have become one of Japan's most beloved emotional-pilgrimage routes.
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Old Chichibu Bridgethe series' bridge
An arched concrete bridge over the Arakawa River, now pedestrian-only, with its unmistakable cable-stay tower. It is the series' most famous location: it appears in the opening credits and as the group's recurring meeting place. The piers of the original truss bridge survive beside it, giving the spot a strong sense of history.
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The secret base (Arakawa riverside)the secret base
The secret-base hut where Jinta, Menma and their friends played as children, and where the group gathers again as teenagers, sits beside the Arakawa River near the Old Chichibu Bridge. The hut is fictional, but the riverside setting that inspired it is recognizable. (Approximate location of the area.)
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Chichibu Shrinethe town shrine
The great shrine in central Chichibu, over two thousand years old and famous for the polychrome carvings on its eaves, appears in the series as one of the places the characters move through in the town.
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Seibu-Chichibu Stationgateway to the city
The terminus of the Seibu-Chichibu Line and the main gateway to the city for visitors from Tokyo. The tourist office by the station hands out Anohana pilgrimage maps and rents bicycles for touring the locations.
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Hitsujiyama Parkthe opening overlook
A hillside park south of the city, famous for its 'shibazakura hill' (moss phlox). Its overlook of Chichibu and the mountains appears in the series' opening credits and is one of the panoramic spots most associated with Anohana.
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Jōrin-ji TempleMenma's ema plaques
A small temple on the 34-site Chichibu pilgrimage (no. 17), closely tied to the series and to Menma's memory; fans leave ema (wish plaques) illustrated with the characters here. It is one of the most emotional stops on the pilgrimage. (Coordinate approximate, by address.)
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Muku Shrine (Ryūsei)the final rocket
A shrine in Shimoyoshida, northwest of Chichibu, home to the Ryūsei festival, in which hand-made rockets are launched skyward from a wooden scaffold. In the series' climax, the group launches a rocket carrying a message for Menma, inspired by this real festival. (Coordinate approximate, by area.)