Inspired by the TV anime Natsume's Book of Friends, Hitoyoshi City in Kumamoto Prefecture has been developing attractive tours and building a system for welcoming inbound visitors from overseas, all to help people enjoy the charms of the region.
Now, together with Kyusanko Tourism Co., Ltd., which is engaged in regional contribution projects, the city will operate a wrapped bus tour in collaboration with the anime from December 2026. Over two days, the tour visits the anime's model locations so that visitors can experience the appeal of Hitoyoshi and Kuma even more fully.
Ride the Wrapped Bus to the Yokai Village in Winter
Popular characters from the anime and scenery from the model locations come together on a special wrapped bus that travels through the rich natural surroundings of Hitoyoshi and Kuma in winter, stopping at the model locations along the way.
The design is a collage of Hitoyoshi's beautiful scenery, finished in a refreshing blue inspired by the clear waters of the Kuma River.
The course includes Tengubashi (Tengu Bridge), which was restored last year after suffering major damage in a torrential rain disaster, and a ride on the Kumagawa Railway, which has just reopened its entire line for the first time in six years. The tour also stops at Okadome Kofuku Station (おかどめ幸福駅), the only station in Japan with "happiness" (幸福) in its name.
Many of the model locations lie along atmospheric narrow paths that the bus cannot enter, and the tour also guides participants to hidden spots reachable only by a walk of about 10 minutes. The scenery that appears at the end of the walk is expected to leave a special impression on fans.
The tour is designed as a special winter trip through Hitoyoshi and Kuma.
Tour Dates and Reservations
- Tour period: December 12, 2026 (Sat) to February 28, 2027 (Sun), on set dates within this period (11 days planned in total)
- Reservations: Now open (from October 14)
- Booking page (common to overnight and day-trip tours): Kyusanko Tourism tour page
Tour participants will also receive an original novelty gift. Details will be introduced on the Kyusanko Tourism booking site as they become available.
All images are for illustration purposes. Details are subject to change or cancellation without prior notice. For details on how to make a reservation, please contact the tour operator.
About Natsume's Book of Friends
Natsume's Book of Friends is a fleeting yet beautiful story of humans and yokai. Takashi Natsume, a boy who can see yokai, spends his days returning names to the yokai recorded in the Book of Friends he inherited from his grandmother, together with Nyanko-sensei, who calls himself his bodyguard. The original manga by Yuki Midorikawa is serialized in the monthly magazine LaLa (Hakusensha) and has surpassed 18 million copies in circulation. The TV anime, which began with its first season in 2008, has now run for seven seasons.
