This fall's hit anime Yuri!!! on Ice and Saga Prefecture's Sagaprise! project announced on Monday that they are collaborating to promote Yūri Katsuki's home prefecture. The project will kick off with events in Tokyo, and it aims to establish Yūri's hometown as an anime pilgrimage site. The collaboration will offer regional products and special themed merchandise.

Yūri's anime hometown of Hasetsu is based on the real-life city of Karatsu in Saga Prefecture. Saga Prefecture sits in the northwestern part of the island of Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's main islands. Due to its proximity to Korea and China, Karatsu was an important ancient trading port. The city's most prominent feature is Karatsu Castle, and Karatsu holds the popular Karatsu Kunchi festival every year.

Karatsu's official website offers side-by-side comparison images of Hasetsu in the anime and Karatsu in the real world:

Karatsu Station



Karatsu Castle



Maizuru Bridge



Kyōmachi Shopping Arcade



Check out Karatsu's website for even more comparison images.

The 12th and final episode of Yuri!!! on Ice aired last Thursday and hinted at the possibility of a sequel with the message "See You NEXT LEVEL." If the anime returns, fans will probably get more glimpses of beautiful Hasetsu/Karatsu, and a new wave of anime pilgrims will continue to support the city.

Source: Comic Natalie