The young Chihaya Ayase once rescued her classmate Arata Wataya from his then-bully, Taichi Mashima, which became an inciting incident for her to pick up Arata’s sport, playing competitive Hyakunin Isshu Karuta, a Japanese card finding game based on the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu poetry collection. The three separated in middle school, but in high school, Ayase starts a karuta club with Taichi and other classmates, with her sights set on the national championship held at Omi Shrine.
Omi Shrine is an obvious target destination for Chihayafuru fans, but plenty of the series’ locations are very true-to-life, like Katamachi Culture Center, Karuta Memorial Otsuka Hall, and Toda Sports Center. Wilhelm Donko released a great map and article series, but missed some spots, particularly in Kyoto. Chihayafuru has a popular drama series in addition to the anime adaptation.
The shrine has regularly housed promotional material for the anime and the drama, featuring posters and scale cutouts. Prints of some of the poems from the Hyakunin Isshu can be found on the grounds of the shrine.
Likewise, Fruit Sweets Store Miyabi, the inspiration for Arata’s book shop, proudly displays a blown-up manga panel featuring their storefront.
