A new anime set in , Tochigi Prefecture, seems set to revitalize the city¡¯s flagging tourist industry. Since the anime ¡±¡°?(above) went on air Oct. 4 the local government and tourist office of Ashikaga have been about visiting the city. But it isn¡¯t the first case of popular anime sparking a boom in local tourism, as Kuki, Hakone and Kyoto have all become popular destinations among hardcore anime fans.
Perhaps the biggest success story is , a beautiful shrine located in Kuki, Saitama Prefecture, that provided the backdrop for ¡±.¡± The surge in tourists has , partly thanks to sales of ?¡°Lucky Star¡± branded souvenirs. Even the mikoshi at a local festival this year was decorated with ¡°Lucky Star¡± characters.
In November the area will host a special matchmaking event called ), providing an opportunity for single shy anime fans to hook up. Interest in the event saw daily visits to the chamber of commerce and industry¡¯s website rise from around 500 to over 10,000, though some men were peeved that women could attend for free whereas men have to shell out ?8,000 to participate.
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