Are you a fan of The Irregular at Magic High School? or are you planning to visit Japan one day?
Keep reading.
You’ll love this article.
Remember that Funimation is streaming:
- The Irregular at Magic High School – season 1 (sub)
- The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc (sub and dub)
If you haven’t seen it yet, head over and give it a watch after reading this article.
Let’s start!
Mahouka’s Real-Life Locations
The Irregular at Magic High School, more commonly known as Mahouka, takes place in the 2090s.
Because it takes place in future Tokyo, you might think there won’t be many real-life locations to check out in present-day Japan.
Well, I am happy to tell you, that’s not the case! There are a lot of scenes in the anime that showcase current-day Japan.
For example, at the beginning of Visitor Arc episode 2, you can see Shibuya crossing almost exactly like it looks today.
Remember that the proper way to refer to the latest sequel of Mahouka is not season 2, is Visitor Arc.
Or, at the beginning of Visitor Arc episode 5, where Mikihiko is running in the streets of Tokyo.
Both manga and anime have a lot of references to real-life spots in Japan so it would be impossible to list them in one article.
Instead, I’ll show you some of the most relevant spots that you can visit in the following locations.
Tokyo
During both seasons, there are several shots of places that exist in modern Tokyo, for a brief instant; like Tokyo Tower. Many of these shots are unimportant to the story and the characters just pass by.
However, there was one spot where the characters spent a decent amount of time. That’s the one that I want to show you now.
Hie Shrine
As a tradition, during the first few days of the new year, Japanese people will visit a shrine to pray for good luck throughout the year.
You may remember towards the beginning of Visitor Arc that Tatsuya and his friends participated in “hatsumode,” or the first temple or shrine visit of the year.
The shrine looks almost exactly like it looks in the anime.
Address: Hie Shrine, 2 Chome-10-5 Nagatachō, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0014
Closest station:
- Akasaka Station, 3 minutes from exit 2.
- Tameike Sanno Station, 3 minutes from exit 7
- Kokkai-gijidomae Station, 5 minutes from exit 5
- Akasaka Mitsuke Station, 8 minutes from exit 11
Note: The shrine is located in central Tokyo, so even though it’s not a big tourist spot it might be worth paying a visit if you’re in Tokyo.
A building similar to Café Einebrise or First High School, unfortunately, doesn’t exist in real life.
However, some blogs in Japanese consider that the inspiration for First High School is the National Institute of Technology Tokyo College.
Personally, I think they look quite different from each other but you can be the judge.
Also, Kokonoe Temple has several appearances in the anime such as season 1 episode 22.
It’s the shrine where Tatsuya practices with his sensei, Kokonoe Yakumo. The real Kokonoe Temple is located in Kawaguchi but looks completely different from the anime.
Yokohama
As you can guess, Yokohama Disturbance Arc (season 1, episodes 19-26) takes place in Yokohama.
Same as Tokyo, there are several quick shots of the streets matching today’s Yokohama.
There are three places however that are the most relevant in the arc that you can visit in real life.
Those three spots are located within the most popular attractions in Yokohama like Minato Mirai or Chinatown. I definitely recommend you to visit if you get the chance.
Pacifico Yokohama National Convention Hall
Let’s start our anime pilgrimage in Yokohama by going to Pacifico Yokohama National Convention Hall. It’s where the Thesis Competition took place.
The inside and outside of the building looks exactly like the anime. If you go you’ll feel like you’re walking inside the anime.
You can see Jumonji-senpai outside the building.
Unfortunately, due to corona, it wasn’t possible to enter the hall and take pictures. But here is where Tatsuya and his friends were fighting with the terrorists.
Address: 1 Chome-1-1 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 220-0012, Japan
Closest Station: 7 minutes far from Minatomirai Station or 17 minutes far from Sakuragicho Station.
Yokohama Sakuragi Post Office
After visiting Pacifico, walk 15 minutes to get to this spot.
This was where Miyuki and friends chased and continued fighting against the terrorists. The place looks exactly like it was portrayed in the anime!
Access: 231-0062 Kanagawa, Yokohama, Naka Ward, Sakuragicho, 1−1
Closest station: Sakuragicho Station, 1 minute from New South Entrance.
Yokohama Chinatown
Finally, walk 25 minutes from the previous spot to get to Chinatown. You can also take the train but I recommend you to walk.
As you can see in the pictures, the entrance looks completely different from how it looks today. It is a tourist spot and a nice area to walk around, so I think that it was worth mentioning in this article.
Address: Yamashitacho, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0023, Japan
Closest station: 8 minutes from Motomachi-Chukagai Station and 7 minutes from Ishikawacho Station.
Okinawa
Minami Tate Shima, the island where the events of the movie took place doesn’t exist in real life.
The Irregular at Magic High School The Movie: The Girl Who Summons the Stars
But Okinawa Outlet Mall Ashibinaa where Tatsuya’s friends were hanging out is a real location in Okinawa.
Photo credit: @ClariS_itinoya on Twitter
Photo credit: @ClariS_itinoya on Twitter
Address: 1ｰ188 Toyosaki, Tomigusuku, Okinawa 901-0225, Japan
Finally, there are other locations that already appeared in the manga.
For example, in “Ancient City Insurrection Arc,” Miyuki and friends visited Hongu Shrine located in Tochigi and Kyoto Tower in Kyoto.
Should I watch Mahouka?
Absolutely yes! The Irregular at Magic High School was one of the most popular Anime in Japan when Visitor Arc aired in Fall 2020.
Mahouka has a great story and superb animation. The way magic is portrayed in the anime is unique and just incredible.
My favorite kind of anime is where the main character is super-smart & an interpersonal genius. In other words, a badass.
If you’re also a fan of Lelouch (Code Geass), Osamu (Bungo Stray Dogs), Kira (Death Note), etc. Then you’ll also love the main character, Tatsuya.
If you’ve been watching anime for a while, you’ll probably already have developed the sixth sense where you can recognize a Japanese voice actor hahaha ?.
Yuichi Nakamura and Saori Hayami voice the two main characters, Tatsuya and Miyuki Shiba.
Nakamura-san is also the voice of other badass characters such as Bucciarati (Jojo), Kuroo (Haikyu!!), Gojo-sensei (Jujutsu Kaisen), Jin (World Trigger), and many others.
On the other hand, Hayami-san also voices Yukino (Oregairu), Shinobu (Demon Slayer:Kimetsu No Yaiba), and Yumeko (Kakegurui) to name a few.
Both of them are top-tier seiyuu (voice actors) and they did an incredible job as always.
For all these reasons and more, that’s why I love Mahouka. It’s one of my favorite anime of all time. If you haven’t watched it yet, I don’t know what you are waiting for.
Where to watch Mahouka?
The Irregular at Magic High School and Visitor Arc are streaming on Funimation.
Both are available in Japanese and Visitor Arc has a bonus English dub.
You can watch it now and see the real-life locations that we mentioned in this article.
Watch Mahouka here.
What’s the correct order to watch it?
- The Irregular at Magic High School (Season 1)
- The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc (Season 2)
- The Irregular at Magic High School The Movie: The Girl Who Summons the Stars (Movie)
Note: The movie was released in 2017, three years before the release date of Visitor Arc (Fall 2020).
But the events portrayed in the movie take place after Visitor Arc.
So, it’s better to watch the movie after you finish Visitor Arc.
Is the movie based on a light novel volume?
No, it’s an original story.
But it was written by the same author, Tsutomu Sato.
So, it’s definitely worth watching and avoids a lot of the problems that similar franchises have with their movies.
Where does Visitor Arc end in the light novels?
The visitor arc covers volumes 9 to 11.
Will there be a third season?
Yesssss!!! Reminiscence Arc has been announced.
The staff did not give a format for the project. But it covers the events from the 8th light novel, which means the events are before the Visitor Arc.
Also, right after the last episode of Visitor Arc aired in Japan, it was announced that the spin-off manga series The Honor Student at Magic High School will be getting a TV anime series in 2021.
In other words, TWO new anime of Mahouka has been announced!!!
The spin-off, also written by the original author, follows the story of the original work but the story is narrated from Miyuki Shiba’s perspective.
Note: There was a gap of 5 years between the production of season 1 and Visitor Arc. I hope that we don’t need to wait that long again for season 3.
Is the story (light novels) already finished?
Yes, it ended in September 2020 with volume 32.
But, one sequel and one new story have been announced (yeah!?).
- Sequel – The Irregular at Magic High School: Magian Company: focuses on the protagonist Tatsuya Shiba and the others after their graduation from First High magic high school. The first volume was released on October 10, 2020.
- New Story– The Irregular at Magic High School: Maidens of Cygnus, which is set at First High magic high school after Tatsuya’s graduation and focuses on two girls named Arisa and Matsurika who have a connection to the Jumonji family. The first volume was released on January 9, 2021.
Meaning there will be more source material for future Mahouka anime seasons or spin-offs!
The Irregular at Magic High School, seasons 1, and Visitor Arc are streaming on Funimation in the US, Canada, UK, and Ireland.
Support the industry by watching on official platforms!
Watch it now so you can confirm all the real-life locations that we mentioned in this article and start planning your future trip.
DISCLAIMER: All the images above were used with the permission of Funimation.
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