A new Trip.com report shows how anime fans are causing a tourism boost across Asia. The 195% spike in searches for anime and comic-related travel experiences is mainly driven by Gen Zs and Millennials.
Global travel service provider Trip.com has pointed out a new travel trend. While anime and comics have long remained a niche interest, their popularity is peaking and is now causing people to go on anime pilgrimages or so-called seichi junrei. The railway crossings near Kamakura-Koko-mae Station, Akihabara, and Ikebukuro are some of the locations benefiting from the trend.
“The influence of anime culture extends beyond event attendance to broader destination travel behaviour. Fans are increasingly visiting real-life locations that appear in anime, manga or related films. Reports have found that 70% of travellers across Asia are inspired to visit destinations based on what they have been watching, while a Japan Tourism Agency survey showed that foreign visitors to places associated with movies and anime increased from 4.6% in 2019 to 7.5% in 2023,” the Trip.com report reads.
According to data gathered by Trip.com, searches for anime and comic-related travel experiences across Asia have grown by 195% year-on-year. Interest seems to be coming mainly from travellers in the Hong Kong and Taiwan regions, as well as Indonesia, the Philippines, and South Korea.
As is the case for many trends, the renewed interest in anime and comics is being driven by social media and online streaming services. Series including One Piece, Demon Slayer, and Naruto have gained fans worldwide. A Crunchyroll report shows that anime is being rated favourably by 54% of Gen Z respondents, proving the genre has become part of mainstream culture.
Conventions lead the way
However, the trend and its fanbase seem to be concentrated in Asia, and conventions are some of the most popular options for those wanting to dive into anime or comics.
For example, during AnimeJapan 2026 in Tokyo, Trip.com’s international ticket sales jumped 697% YoY. Travellers spanned across 82 countries and regions, with a large majority coming from Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, and Singapore. More than half of ticket buyers were aged between 25 and 34 years old, and the majority were men.
WATCH & READ:
— Nikkei Asia (@NikkeiAsia) May 26, 2026
Capsule toys capture overseas visitors in Japan's latest cultural craze
Click here to read the full story: https://t.co/nn5Jye4SkE pic.twitter.com/BtIyrXGXnT
Trip.com’s data for Hong Kong Comic Con 2026 partly confirms the same statistics. Here, most of the visitors came from Mainland China and Southeast Asia, while no less than 80% of those present were Gen Zs or Millennials. However, 80% of the visitors were women, showing how anime and comics are popular among both men and women.
Being part of a shared community seems to be an important element of anime culture for many fans. A report from Crunchyroll shows how for 8 in 10 anime fans, a shared love of the genre has helped them build or deepen friendships. Talking about the subject with friends, especially in person, is an integral part of the community and explains the popularity of global anime conventions and festivals.
