Kaichiro Morikawa, Shuto no tanjou: Moeru toshi Akihabara (Learning from Akihabara: The Birth of the Personapolis), Gentosha, 2003
This book offers a thorough analysis of the reasons behind Akihabara’s transformation into an otaku pilgrimage site from the late 90s through the early 2000s from the perspective of otaku cultural theory and urban theory. Classic work that deciphers the processes that give birth to sacred sites and transform urban space through “taste.”
Shundo Kakizaki, Anime seichi junrei (Anime Pilgrimages), Kill Time Communication, 2005
This book anticipated the “anime pilgrimage” trend and pioneered the movement by giving a name to the act of visiting sites used as models for anime and manga. Eye-opening elucidation of the essential commonalities with religious sacred sites.
Toshiyuki Masabuchi, Monogatari wo tabi suru hitobito – Kontentsu tsuurizumu to ha nani ka (People Who Travel Through Stories – What Is Contents Tourism?), Sairyusha, 2010
The first book to attempt a systemization of "contents tourism", including anime pilgrimages. Excellent work that amplified the potential of contents tourism theory by expanding the range of applicable topics from anime to include TV dramas, novels, and Japanese pop music.
Takayoshi Yamamura, Anime/manga de chiiki shinkou – machi no fan wo umu kontentsu tsuurizumu kaihatsuhou (Local Promotion through Anime/Manga – Methods for Developing Contents Tourism to Create Local Fans), Tokyo Horei Shuppan, 2011
Uses specific case studies to overview the issues and possibilities for collaborations between anime and localities, which began increasing from around 2007. Offers tremendous value with detailed records of the thinking of producers, local residents and fans at the time
Saya Shiraishi, Guroobaru ka shita nihon no manga to anime (Globalized Japanese Manga and Anime), Gakujutsu Shuppankai, 2013
Draws on surveys over a 20-year period about the process through which Japanese anime and manga cross borders and are discovered and received around the world. Although the book does not deal with sacred site theory, it offers many pointers for utilizing hit anime for inbound promotion.
Takeshi Okamoto, n ji sousaku kankou anime seichi junrei/kontentsu tuurizumu/kankoushakaigaku no kanousei (n-th Degree Creative Tourism: The Potential of Anime Pilgrimages/Contents Tourism/Sociology of Tourism), NPO Hokkaido Alternative Art and Publishing, 2013
Sociology of tourism book analyzing the role that anime pilgrimages play in communication with other people. This scholarly work is based on the author’s doctoral thesis, but the accessible writing style and structure makes it an ideal introductory text for students.
Ryosuke Okamoto, Seichi junrei sekai isan kara anime no butai made (Pilgrimages: From World Heritage Sites to Anime Settings), Chuko Shinsho, 2015
Pilgrimage theory by an up-and-coming sociology of religion scholar. Excellent work based on religious studies that illuminates the diversity of faith and prayer, the meaning people try to find in sacred sites, and sanctity in contemporary society through systematic arguments that encompass sacred sites for religion as well as anime.
Sue Beeton, Film-Induced Tourism 2nd edition, Channel View Publications, 2016
Offers the most accessible and systematic presentation of tourism motivated by films. This second edition covers the "contents tourism" movement in Japan, which wasn’t included in the first edition. The author presents anime pilgrimages from an international perspective.
Philip Seaton et.al, Contents Tourism in Japan: Pilgrimages to “Sacred Sites” of Popular Culture (Cambria Press, 2017)
Aims to systematize pop culture sacred sites in Japan and the resulting tourism, including historical cases and the latest movements. Proposes an approach and definition for "contents tourism" that can be applied internationally as well as in Japan.
Pilgrimage theory by an anthropology of religion scholar. Proposes numerous perspectives that are applicable to anime pilgrimage research including the theory that sacred sites have common axis mundi and function as memory devices, presented alongside case studies of religions and myths.