Last time I posted about anime pilgrimages, but this time I would like to take a more specific look at the case of Hita City, Oita Prefecture. The target readers are fans of the world-famous anime “Attack on Titan.”

Five days after seeing the final film of the Attack on Titan series, THE LAST ATTACK, at a movie theater in Tokyo, I visited Hita City, a place closely connected to the original author, Hajime Isayama.

First of all, I will give my conclusion: if possible, you should avoid day trips. Even during this two-day, one-night trip, there were more than ten spots that I was unable to visit.

Hita city is largely divided into an urban area centered around Mameda-machi and a mountainous area including the Oyama district, where Mr. Isayama was born.

In the Oyama area, there are two museums related to Attack on Titan and Oyama Dam, which houses bronze statues of the main character Eren and his childhood friends Mikasa and Armin.

Transportation is very limited, and even just in the Oyama area, it is extremely difficult to visit both museums and Oyama Dam in one day using public transportation.

Following the recommendation of the tourist information center in front of the station, I visited three places by bus and electric bicycle, and arrived at the museum in the Oyama area just before closing time. It was a shame that I could only take photos from the outside, but now I have another reason to return to Hita City.

If you use public transportation, you should purchase a two-day pass to enjoy the two museums, and plan your schedule accordingly. However, if possible, it would be best to rent a car and visit all three places in one day.

I haven’t mentioned it yet, but you should definitely download the “Attack on Hita” app before starting your pilgrimage, as you should enjoy AR at Oyama Dam in particular. AR can be enjoyed at a variety of spots, and the app has many other uses, including stamp rallies, coupons, and games.

The two museums and Oyama Dam are must-sees for any pilgrim.

The museum is located on the grounds of the Sapporo Beer Kyushu Hita Factory, about a 15-minute bus ride from Hita Station. Isayama also apparently visited the factory as a child.

Mr. Isayama has selected scenes from all volumes of the comic and added his comments, there is also a corner with merchandise that can only be purchased in Hita City, and the exhibition is available in multiple languages.

In addition, at the Forest Beer Garden inside the factory, you can drink freshly brewed Black Label and Yebisu beer. You can also enjoy the flavors of Hokkaido, the birthplace of Sapporo Beer.

Near the museum in the Oyama district is a yakisoba restaurant where Mr. Isayama worked part-time as a high school student, and his autographed card is apparently on display inside the store.

The second day of my stay in Hita City was the last day of the trip. I enjoyed renting a bicycle around Hita Station and the downtown area of ​​Mameda-machi.

Bicycles can be rented at the tourist information center in front of Hita Station, but the “Attack on Titan”-decorated bicycles are apparently very popular on weekends, so I recommend renting them on weekdays.

Also, there was a staff member at the tourist information center who was a fan of “Attack on Titan,” and she gave me detailed information on recommended spots.

Hita City flourished as the political and economic center of Kyushu as a direct territory of the Edo Shogunate. In particular, the old town of Mameda-machi has been designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. The charming streetscape remains.

There are other cities where you can experience traditional Japan besides Kyoto, Kamakura, Kanazawa, and Takayama. On the day, I could see foreign tourists renting kimonos in Mameda-machi.

In addition to Mameda-machi, there are many restaurants in the city that offer menus in collaboration with “Attack on Titan” and stores that sell collaboration goods.

At the SLOW café near the high school where Mr. Isayama attended, autographs of Mr. Isayama and photos of him with the cafe owner are on display. The restaurant has participated in the “Attack on Hita” project since its early days, and it has become a gathering spot for “Attack on Titan“ fans from all over the country.

On that day, I ate pizza in collaboration with Sasha, one of my favorite characters, but the restaurant is especially famous for its fluffy and creamy omelet rice, which has been covered by the media. I recommend visiting at lunchtime with an empty stomach.

The last place I visited by renting a bicycle was Motono Hakimono Kogyo, which sells Hita geta, a traditional craft. I had never bought a pair of geta with my own money in my life, but this time I got my hands on a pair of geta from the “Attack on Hita” collaboration.

After returning the rental bicycle to the tourist information center, I left Hita City and headed to Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture by highway bus. On this trip, I realized that the locals were not joking when they said “Hita City, Fukuoka Prefecture.”

While it takes two hours by train from Beppu City in Oita Prefecture to Hita City, the express bus from Hita to central Fukuoka City takes just over 90 minutes on smooth days. There are about 30 bus services, far more than the trains.

If you are heading to Hita City by plane, it is best to use Fukuoka Airport either on the way there or on the way back. This time, I was on a tight schedule, so I only had two hours to stay in Fukuoka City, but I definitely recommend stopping by this largest city in Kyushu, also known as Hakata.

As a fellow fan, I would be very happy if this article can be of help to “Attack on Titan” fans who want to visit places associated with Hajime Isayama.

Shinzo wo sasageyo‼