Interest

Real-Life Inspiration for HanaIro Inn Will Close Its Doors

P.A. Works' Hanasaku Iroha - Blossoms for Tomorrow was the first in its "working" series about people and their jobs, followed later by Shirobako and Sakura Quest. The story, written by Mari Okada, follows Ohana Matsumae as she goes to live with her hard-nosed grandmother Taisho-era (1920s) hot springs inn. The inn is faces competition from other hot spring inns in the same location. One of these is Fukuya, a more modernized competitor where the character Yuina Wakura works.

Fukuya itself is based on a real location, the Shidekaku Inn in Yuwakuaraya, Kanazawa. Since the anime's premiere in 2011, the location has become a pilgrimage spot fans.

It's an understatement to call Shidekaku Inn old. it originally opened in Yōrō 3, which is 719, or about 1,300 years ago. Yet, despite its history and the influx of anime fans making the trek to visit, the inn announced that it will officially close its doors next month. The inn's final day of operations is set for March 17 and will continue to accept reservations until that time via phone.

Anime pilgrimage sites can mean big business for locals.The Anime Tourism Association laid out the 88 places anime fans should visit with top picks including Lucky Star's Washinomiya Shrine in Saitama and Girls und Panzer's town of Ōarai in Ibaraki.

[Via Otakomu]