Fukuyamanime

Last year more than 100,000 people gathered in front of Fukuyama Station!
More than 1,100 cosplayers participated!

The Chugoku region’s largest anime and subculture event!!!

Fukuyama + Anime = “Fukuyamanime”!

Located along the central coast of the Seto Inland Sea in eastern Hiroshima Prefecture, Fukuyama City has served as an inspiration and model setting for works such as Fafner in the Azure, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, and more recently AMAIM Warrior at the Borderline.

Fukuyamanime is an anime and subculture event that connects Fukuyama and Hiroshima to the world. In collaboration with creators and fans involved in anime and other subcultural fields tied to the region, the event showcases a diverse range of content while promoting the people, creativity, and cultural works of Fukuyama–Hiroshima that shine in the fields of anime, comics, and beyond.

The main venue is a walkable area around JR Fukuyama Station, where visitors can explore shopping streets, commercial facilities, movie theaters, and Fukuyama Castle Park. In addition, there is an amusement park located about 30 minutes by car from the station. Fukuyamanime offers a wide variety of attractions, including cosplay and cosplay performances, stage events featuring voice actors, VTubers, and creators, live anime song concerts, exhibitions and sales of original (doujin) manga and novels, independent animation competitions, plastic model and figure displays, and immersive real-life puzzle-solving games.

One of the event’s biggest highlights is the large number of cosplay participants, with more than 1,000 cosplayers gathering each year. All Fukuyamanime events are open to participation in cosplay. Both the area around JR Fukuyama Station and the amusement park are fully cosplay-friendly, with numerous photo spots and many shops and restaurants where photography inside is permitted.

Visitors can also enjoy cosplay photography at Fukuyama Castle (first lord: Katsunari Mizuno). Before it was destroyed in air raids, the castle was counted among Japan’s eight great castles, and its scale was said to rival even that of the World Heritage Site Himeji Castle. The reconstructed northern exterior of the main keep—featuring a rare design with iron plates covering the entire wall—is a must-see.

Another recommended destination is Tomonoura, a scenic port town that served as a model for Fafner in the Azure and Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea. Located about 30 minutes by car from JR Fukuyama Station, it’s perfect for extending your visit and enjoying the area’s beautiful coastal atmosphere.

Come visit Fukuyama, and experience the excitement of Fukuyamanime for yourself!