Anime That Are Set In Rural Japan

There are a lot of things that make a good anime: good characters, a killer soundtrack, and great settings, to name a few. Most shows are set in a metropolis, with Tokyo being a popular hub. However, there are also some really awesome shows that take it easy and find their settings in more rural environments.

These shows tend to be slower paced and try to highlight a different side of Japan. For fans of such shows, there are some real gems that showcase the simple life and the communities that make up rural Japan.

9 Mushi-Shi

The Relationship Between Humans And The World Around Them

The term ‘Mushi’ is a somewhat obscure one which few except the Mushi-Shi understand. The story of this series focuses a lot on the adventures of Ginko, a traveler who is endlessly interested in the Mushi and what makes them what they are.

Mushi-Shi is a slowburn that takes place in several small villages and shows a more quiet side of Japan. Ginkgo encounters the Mushi in different ways and the episodic style of the show makes it particularly easy to digest.

8 Dororo

The Tragedy Of Hyakkimaru

Dororo was written by none other than Osamu Tezuka, the man frequently cited as the father of manga. The story, a real tragedy, tells of Hyakkimaru, a boy cursed to be without a body due to his family’s sacrifice.

While action and blood are the focus, many viewers might miss the setting which, while taking place in feudal Japan, centers on smaller communities and the reality of life for the people there. There was a Dororo remake in 2019 with updated visuals that is easily accessible to most, so, which is probably the best place to start with this series.

7 Hanasaku Iroha: Blossoms For Tomorrow

A Picture Of Contrast

Blossoms For Tomorrow is all about Ohana Matsumae, a young teenager living in Tokyo who suddenly has to upend her life and move to her grandmother’s inn in the countryside.

The beauty of this show is in the contrast between Ohana’s life in Tokyo and the more serene environment she moves into and the people she gets to meet. They make her life richer and as she comes to understand what it takes to help out at her grandmother’s inn, she can truly realize what it means to fend for herself. On the bright side, this isn’t something she needs to do on her own, as she has an entire community behind her.

6 Silver Spoon

All About Life On The Farm

Following her extraordinary work on Fullmetal Alchemist, Hiromu Arakawa presented the world with an underrated series, Silver Spoon. Following Yuugo Hachiken, who decides to run away from the pressures of his ultra competitive school, he instead enrolls in an agricultural school in Hokkaido.

Silver Spoon is, at heart, a coming-of-age story about personal growth, the dangers of too much pressure, and some of the harsh realities of rural life. It does so with some lighthearted comedy while also showing bravery in its tackling of some more serious issues.

5 Dagashi Kashi

A Sweet Show About Sweets

Dagashi Kashi came out in 2016 and was a niche show about a boy who was living in a small traditional community whose family runs a sweet shop. One day, he encounters the eccentric Hotaru Shidare, who is something of a sweet geek.

The two get to know each other as Hotaru tries to convince Kokonotsu to take over his family’s business. The show might be an acquired taste for some, as it really focuses on sweets, but it is as wholesome as they come.

4 Higurashi: When They Cry

Small Town Horrors Can Be The Scariest

While the countryside can be a great vehicle for slow-paced tales of love and community, it also lends itself well as a medium for horror, as there can also be something terrifying about a small town. In When They Cry, the horror takes its time, but once it shows its face, it gets really dark, really quickly.

The show is told in multiple arcs and is mostly concerned with Keiichi Maebara, whose new friends in a tiny village might be hiding something sinister from him.

3 Natsume’s Book Of Friends

A Story About Friendships Between Humans And Spirits

Natsume’s Book of Friends is about Takashi Natsume, whose grandmother was famous in the world of spirits, generally known as Youkai. When Natsume meets Madara, a powerful spirit, the two form a pact.

Natsume’s Book of Friends is a small story set in a local community and pays special attention to Japanese folklore and some of the local customs. It’s one of those shows that makes for really easy viewing, and is a solid slice-of-life.

2 Non Non Biyori

A True Look Into Rural Life

Non Non Biyori might be the most well-known of the shows featuring rural Japan, as it burst onto the scene in 2013 and has had plenty of time to build up an audience. It’s about Hotaru, who moves to Asahigaoka village, a tiny community, where she joins a school with only four other students.

Non Non Biyori really dives into rural life in a small Japanese village and the joys that the locals can bring into the life of a city dweller, and vice versa. The characters are charming, and the show is a very comforting watch.

1 Barakamon

Maybe Rural Exile Isn’t So Bad

Barakamon is all about village life, but features one of the best punches ever animated in history, all in the very first episode. Seishuu Handa, who threw the punch, is more or less exiled to a small island to think about what he’s done.

Initially cursing his fate, Handa eventually comes to fall in love with rural life, especially after meeting the irrepresible Naru. The show also features a beautiful opening track from Super Beaver. Soon, Handa has formed bonds with the people of the village, and becomes a much better person for it.

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