'Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia', Set in Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Selected for '88 Japanese Anime Pilgrimage Sites You Want to Visit' 2026 Edition!

Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture, the setting for 'Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia' (authored by Makoto Ojiro / published by Shogakukan, hereinafter 'KimiSomu'), has been selected as one of the '88 Japanese Anime Pilgrimage Sites You Want to Visit' for the 2026 edition, organized by the Anime Tourism Association.

The announcement for the 2026 edition pilgrimage sites was made on Friday, February 13th, in Tokyo.

'Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia' is a work depicting the interactions of high school students suffering from insomnia, with the scenery of Noto, including the Nanao High School observatory, depicted as the story's setting. It has also been adapted into a TV anime and a live-action film, maintaining strong popularity both domestically and internationally even after the original manga concluded.

Following this selection, an interview was conducted with Yoshitaka Chatani, Mayor of Nanao City, regarding the connection with the work, the recovery status from the earthquake, and future town planning.

Mayor Yoshitaka Chatani of Nanao City

Regarding Nanao City's selection, Mayor Chatani commented, "I was frankly surprised when I received the news of the selection. I am very happy, especially since regular communication had stopped after the earthquake. I hope this will expand opportunities for 'KimiSomu' fans to visit Noto."

The Holy Land Certification will be displayed on the first floor next to the elevator at Patria, a commercial facility in front of Nanao Station, starting April 30th.

He also recalled theきっかけ (trigger) that connected the work and the region: "It began when Mr. Makoto Ojiro visited Noto for research. When he visited the Nanao High School observatory, its quiet atmosphere resonated with the theme of 'insomnia', leading to its use as a setting. Subsequently, local stores' SNS posts sparked a pilgrimage project, which developed into a collaborative effort involving citizens, the administration, and people involved in the work." Following this, in collaboration with Pony Canyon, which handled the TV anime and live-action film adaptations, continuous collaborations have been developed, such as using characters for Nanao Port Festival posters and operating wrapped trains on the Noto Railway.

The Noto Railway wrapped train is currently in operation, running between Nanao Station and Anamizu Station.

Two years have passed since the Noto Peninsula earthquake, and recovery is steadily progressing in Nanao City. Mayor Chatani positions 2026 as the "first year of full-scale recovery" and states, "What we want to preserve is not urban development, but the scenery, culture, and human connections depicted in 'KimiSomu'. While cherishing these values, we want to regenerate Nanao City into a town that many people will visit again."

The Aobaku Festival (Seihaku-sai)曳山行事 (float procession), designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, will be held again this year from May 3rd to 5th. The sight of three giant floats, 12 meters high and weighing 20 tons, lined up is spectacular. This year, May 3rd (Sun), 4th (Mon/Holiday), and 5th (Tue/Holiday) fall on good days, so why not pay a visit?

Three "Deka-yama" floats lined up along the御祓川 (Miharai River) / Seihaku-sai Festival (photo taken in 2025)

Details of the content introduced in this release and the mayor's deeper thoughts are published in a full-length interview article on Pony Canyon's official owned media, "PONY CANYON NEWS." Please take a look.

Holy Land Certification and Character Standee Exhibition

Location: Patria (Nanao Station Nigiwai-kan) 1st floor, next to the elevator

1 Misogimachi, Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture (2 minutes walk from JR Nanao Line / Noto Railway Nanao Line Nanao Station)

Period: Thursday, April 30, Reiwa 8 (2026) ~ Monday, August 31, Reiwa 8 (2026) *Subject to Patria's business days
Time: 9:00 AM ~ 5:00 PM

'PONY CANYON NEWS'

Interview with Yoshitaka Chatani, Mayor of Nanao City

Thoughts on 'Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia', current situation after the earthquake and future town planning

URL: https://news.ponycanyon.co.jp/2026/04/120272

Information

'Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia' Website

Manga Official Website: https://bigcomics.jp/series/540e00b7bca49

Movie Official Website: https://kimisomu-movie.com/

TV Anime Official Website: https://kimisomu-anime.com/

Related Links

Nanao City Hall: https://www.city.nanao.lg.jp/

Noto Railway Wrapped Vehicle Operation Schedule: http://www.nototetsu.co.jp/html/zikoku.html

©Makoto Ojiro, Shogakukan / Anime 'KimiSomu' Production Committee