August 11–13, 2025. Today I'm heading to Hitoyoshi City in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, for an anime pilgrimage to the world of Natsume's Book of Friends. This article will introduce the various scenic spots from the Hitoyoshi Natsume's Book of Friends pilgrimage.

August 11–13, 2025. Today I’m heading to Hitoyoshi City in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, for a Natsume's Book of Friends anime pilgrimage. This post will cover Hitoyoshi’s long-running collaboration event—Shadow Art—and the shops I encountered along the way that display Natsume's Book of Friends decorations.

From August 11 to 13, 2025, I set out on an anime pilgrimage to Hitoyoshi City in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, to explore the settings of Maitetsu and Rail Romanesque.

Since getting around Hitoyoshi is a bit unique, I decided to write a separate introductory post as a prelude to the upcoming anime pilgrimage. I'll also document the transportation-related challenges I faced on this trip.