Peter's Japan blog

The second part of my visit to Kyoto was a side trip to Kyoto Animation studios like the main characters did in the Lucky Star anime (which is also from KyoAni). For those who don't know, Kyoto Animation did the (very good) animation work for some quite famous recent animes like Air, Fullmetal Panic Fumoffu, Fullmetal Panic The Second Raid, Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu, Lucky Star, Clannad and most likely also the second season of Suzumiya Haruhi.

I did quite some research to find the location and which train station it was. Using the only pictures that I had found on the internet and Google Earth, I was able to pinpoint with some precision where it was.

So for others who would like to do this "pilgrimage", here's a little guide.
When you arrive in Kyoto by train, you will most likely arrive at JR Kyoto Station, which is good because that's where you need to take you next train. Take the Nara local line to Nara, and get off at Kohata Station.

When I got off at Kohata, my first thing to find was the yellow main building of KyoAni, of which I didn't know the exact location. When I walked outside the station and walked to the right, I realized I was in the right street that I thought it was and turned back and there it was right in front of me!

So when you get out of Kohata Station, look left, and you will see the yellow building right in front of you ^^ You can't miss it. This is the main office of Kyoto Animation, and it has a nice sign on the outside of the building. It says there's a shop inside, but I didn't see it, or I didn't look very good.

Up next, was the second studio which is a few blocks away. Got off in the wrong direction at first, but came back. When you came out of Kohata Station, go right and then go left at the big road. A few blocks further, you come by the other Kohata station (from another railway), cross that and you will find a building on the left side, which has a quite particular winding stairs on the front side of the building. On the third/top floor is where the second studio of Kyoto Animation is.

I will get some more reference pictures (like maps) later.

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