Fukuoka Prefecture, the birthplace of Demon Slayer creator Koyoharu Gotouge, is a natural starting point for exploring Kyushu’s manga and anime culture. While there are currently no official Demon Slayer attractions here, the city offers a fascinating mix of locations that celebrate Japanese pop culture while showcasing the traditional atmosphere that inspired countless manga creators.
Recommended Attractions
The Real Ichiraku Ramen That Inspired Naruto
One of Fukuoka’s most famous anime connections is the ramen shop widely believed to have inspired Ichiraku Ramen from Naruto. It has become a must visit destination for anime fans traveling through Kyushu.
Read our complete guide: Ichiraku
Kitakyushu Manga Museum
If there is one destination in Kyushu that every manga fan should try to visit, it is the Kitakyushu Manga Museum. Located about an hour from central Fukuoka by Shinkansen, the museum offers a far deeper look into Japanese manga culture than you will find in any shopping district or anime store.
Rather than focusing on merchandise, the museum explores how manga became one of Japan’s defining art forms. Permanent exhibitions trace its history while introducing influential creators connected to Kitakyushu, including Leiji Matsumoto, the legendary creator of Galaxy Express 999 and Space Battleship Yamato, alongside manga artists Tetsuji Sekiya and Hisashi Sekiya.
Visitors can step inside faithfully recreated manga studios filled with original drawing desks, manuscripts, pens, and professional tools, offering a rare glimpse into the daily lives of manga artists. Interactive displays also explain how a manga chapter evolves from rough storyboards to finished publication, making the creative process accessible even to first-time readers.
Perhaps the museum’s biggest attraction is its reading library, home to approximately 70,000 manga volumes. Whether you want to revisit a classic series, discover an overlooked masterpiece, or simply spend a quiet afternoon surrounded by manga, few places in Japan offer a better environment.
For travelers who love manga itself rather than simply collecting merchandise, this is easily one of Kyushu’s most rewarding destinations.
If you only have time for one manga-focused attraction in Kyushu, make it this one.
Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine
Many visitors come to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine for its history, but manga and anime fans often appreciate it for a different reason. Walking beneath its towering camphor trees, crossing its iconic arched bridges, and exploring its centuries-old shrine grounds feels remarkably similar to stepping into the historical settings that appear throughout countless period manga and anime.
Although the shrine has no official connection to Demon Slayer, Rurouni Kenshin, or other historical series, it offers an authentic glimpse into the architectural styles, landscapes, and atmosphere that continue to inspire Japanese visual storytelling today.
The approach to the shrine is equally enjoyable, lined with traditional shops selling regional sweets, handcrafted souvenirs, and freshly baked umegae mochi, one of Fukuoka’s best-known local specialties. It is an ideal place to slow down between sightseeing stops and experience a side of Japan that often serves as the backdrop for historical fiction.
For anime fans interested in the real Japan behind the stories they love, Dazaifu is well worth adding to the itinerary.
Canal City Hakata
After spending the day exploring temples and museums, Canal City Hakata offers a completely different side of modern Japanese pop culture. Canal City Hakata blends shopping, entertainment, and dining into one of Fukuoka’s most popular destinations.
The biggest draw is The Gundam Base Fukuoka, one of Japan’s official Gundam stores, where visitors can browse exclusive Gunpla kits, limited-edition merchandise, and impressive display models that are difficult to find elsewhere. Throughout the year, the complex also hosts rotating anime and game pop-up shops, so every visit can offer something new.
Food is another highlight. Ramen Stadium gathers famous ramen shops from across Japan under one roof, making it an excellent place to compare regional styles without leaving Fukuoka. Downstairs, KUOHKA offers a modern collection of restaurants serving everything from local Hakata specialties to international cuisine.
As evening arrives, the atmosphere changes completely. The complex’s signature Dancing Water fountain show and large-scale projection mapping performances transform the central plaza into one of Fukuoka’s most impressive nighttime attractions.
Whether you are hunting for exclusive merchandise, building a Gunpla shopping list, or simply looking for a great place to end the day with ramen, Canal City Hakata remains one of the city’s most enjoyable stops for anime fans.
If you’re visiting in the evening, try to time your visit with the fountain show before heading to dinner.
Where to Eat Next
After exploring Fukuoka’s manga and anime highlights, end the day by discovering why Hakata is considered one of Japan’s greatest food cities.
