The Love Live! franchise is a machine. Since 2010, it has produced multiple anime series, mobile games, concerts, and merchandise lines — all centered on fictional school idol groups trying to save their schools through song and dance. But what sets Love Live! apart from other idol properties is its deep, specific connection to real places. The franchise hasn't just used locations as backdrops; it has transformed entire neighborhoods.
The Series
The original Love Live! School Idol Project follows μ's (pronounced "muse"), a group of nine students at Otonokizaka Academy in Tokyo who form a school idol group to attract enough applicants to keep their school from closing. The sequel, Love Live! Sunshine!!, shifts to Aqours, a group from Uranohoshi Girls' High School in the coastal town of Uchiura, near Numazu in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Both series follow a similar arc: underdogs form a group, face setbacks, grow together, and compete in the national Love Live! tournament. The formula works because the characters are likable and the music is genuinely catchy.
Two Pilgrimage Destinations
Akihabara & Kanda (μ's / Original Series)
The original series is set in the Kanda-Akihabara area of Tokyo. Kanda Myojin Shrine is the most visited spot — the shrine embraced its Love Live! connection and sells official collaboration goods, ema (prayer plaques), and limited-edition items. The shrine regularly appears decorated with Love Live! banners during special events.
Takemura, a traditional sweet shop near the shrine, also appears in the anime. The narrow streets between Akihabara's electric town and Kanda's quieter shrine district capture the neighborhood's dual identity.
Numazu & Uchiura (Aqours / Sunshine!!)
Love Live! Sunshine!! put Numazu on the international fan tourism map. The town fully embraced the partnership: manhole covers feature Aqours characters, buses run in Sunshine!! wrapping, and local shops display character standees. The Numazu Port boardwalk, Awashima island, and the hillside above Uchiura all appear in the anime.
For international fans, Numazu requires more effort than Akihabara — it's about 90 minutes by Shinkansen from Tokyo to Mishima, then a local train to Numazu. But the town's genuine enthusiasm for the franchise makes the trip worthwhile.
Pilgrimage Tips
In Tokyo, combine Love Live! spots with other Akihabara pilgrimages (Oshi no Ko, Steins;Gate). Kanda Myojin is a 5-minute walk from Ochanomizu Station.
For Numazu, plan a full day. The Aqours spots are spread between Numazu Station, the port area, and Uchiura — you'll need local buses or a rental bicycle. Check whether Awashima Marine Park is open before visiting (access is by boat only).
Love Live! fans tend to be dedicated collectors, so budget time for shopping. Both Akihabara and Numazu have stores with exclusive merchandise that can't be found online.