Chika Suzugamori, an 18-year-old newcomer manga artist, has just had three of her drafts rejected in a single day. Her editor suggests incorporating her interests into her work, but Chika is an indoor person who only thinks about manga day and night. At a loss, she feels a sudden desire to get away from everything and go on a journey somewhere.
Due to the results of an online poll that she posted on a whim, Chika hops on a train and heads north from Tokyo on an impromptu solo trip. When she ends up at the top of Mount Haguro in Aizu-Wakamatsu, she realizes she feels refreshed and more motivated than before. Even if her projects get turned down again in the future, Chika plans to journey around Japan with friends old and new.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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Comentários
Stark700
Zatsu Tabi That's Journey, a show that chronicles the journey of Chika Suzugamori who was rejected by the manga industry. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise as she ventures on a journey to discover the world around her. They say life can be filled with surprises, and Zatsu Tabi That's Journey tipify exactly just that. Chika is an indoor girl. This is made obvious from the first few episodes but that doesn't stop the show from giving her the chance to explore. By explore, it doesn't just mean discovering new places but also discovering herself. The first episode sparks a new curiousity andgoal in her life: to go on a journey. There's really no set destination because at the heart of this show, it's about the experience. Throughout this journey, Chika explores the culture of places shes visit, finding common interests with people she meets, and experiencing new inspirations for her work. It's not hard to say this anime has near infinite potential. But as a 12-episode series, the anime focuses on Japan than traveling around the world.
From the start, Chika is seen as an ordinary girl who hasn't established a reputation for herself. She has big dreams but those dreams seemed impossible to reach. Initially, she uses her journey as a way to escape the harsh reality of the real world. It begins when Chika takes a trip to Aizuwakamatsu. It's from there that Chika learns the joy of tourism and wonders the world can bring. Among other locations Chika visits include Matsushima, the Shikoku region, Kyoto, Aomori. Every episode offers a new experience for Chika and she learns about the cultural aspects of these locations. She's not always alone either when other characters such as Koyomi, Yui, Fuyune, and Riri. While there's very limited character development among them, there's no doubt that Chika's journey becomes more fun with friends by her side. The enjoyment of sharing a traveling experience brings out the best in this show. And it helps too, that the anime remains authentic to its settings. There's care put into crafting these tourist locations from the serene natural looks to the cultural influences.
With each episode being a standalone, there's no complex plot or deeper meaning from Chika's journey. At the end of each episode, she experiences something new whether it's cultural or something simple as trying a new gourmet. Truly, this anime isn't here for a deeper meaning than expressing itself as a youthful journey. Chika's journey shows that the adventuring can change themselves, whether as a person or their career.
SuperAdventure
YuruCamp, Encouragement of Climb, Houkago Teibou Nishi; some anime about cute girls doing activities for fun and adventure. All involve some amount of travel; buying gear; practicing with beginner levels; then adding friends. Zatsu Tabi is in the same category. These kind of anime broadly fit the description ‘iyashikei’ for healing. I am a big fan of shows like this, so choosing to watch it was a given. Unfortunately it was not nearly as fulfilling or as well made as those other shows. There are only a few characters- Chika, this blue haired girl on the cover with red beanie; and her friend Koyomi whohas purple hair. At one point they give their ages as 19. They’re presented as independent adults- at 19?? Okay, just roll with it. Chika needs inspiration for her manga as she’s hit a wall (understandable for someone so inexperienced) so she decides to take a journey, I think at the suggestion of her publisher. She chooses a place by randomly grabbing a brochure at the train station- that’s kinda cool actually- I’m envious you can go to a train station and just go anywhere in the country in a couple hours in Japan. The rest of the anime has her roping in Koyomi first, then some of her girlfriends to travel with her. This had a very similar vibe and setup to YuruCamp. But something is missing…
Well the problems begin with the places they visit. The first is a temple- which is wonderful; Chika walking up all those steps through woods on a mountainside. But everywhere else is the kind of flat, dull, boxy modern sprawl landscape- you know wide roads, tons of concrete and guardrails; power lines, and the architecture of the convenience store.
Not what I would call inspiring to look at. And they never wander far from the pavement.
The second issue is the biggest I had with the whole show: absolutely NONE OF IT is drawn. Every scene, and almost everything you see, especially if there are cars or houses in view, even most of the temples- are ALL PHOTOGRAPHS. Yes they are- look closely. Some of the scenes are filtered; some have the crowds traced over with still anime characters but some aren’t even filtered at all and it’s very obvious! Some of the scenes didn’t even bother with filters!
This DOESN’T look good- it looks like Who Framed Roger fucking Rabbit at times, with very flat 2D anime girls walking around against photographed backgrounds and they are not integrated at all. The worst part about this is people watch this thinking they’re seeing High Art- oh look how the animators knocked it out of the park! NO!! They haven’t animated anything! They ran some photos through photoshop filters- in every damn scene. It’s CHEAP and LAZY.
And in a way this is me spoiling it for you and I make no apologies: if you can’t tell the difference between a photo and an anime then I’m just going to point it out to you! That brings me back to the first issue because, if you’re just going to animate a couple of characters and nothing else- why not show us something more inspiring? Despite that so many anime take place in cities (Tokyo usually) when they travel, in all the shows I mentioned and this one- they go outside the cities. I know for a fact Japan has lots of beautiful places to visit. But just as in YuruCamp- the creators of this show are content taking us through dull, barren hilly landscapes and never stray far from the pavement. Why not go to Okinawa? Why not go to KYOTO? They actually went to Hiroshima at one point- in one of the early episodes. HIROSHIMA!! And did they visit the memorial? No.
Did they see the city? No. Did they do anything interesting? They sat at a cafe in the train station because the train was delayed.
This didn’t even feel like an anime- it felt more like a bad Japan Tourism Board commercial. It feels like this was made to show segments during NHK regular programming. Nobody outside Japan would even care about any of these locations; everything is so mundane and pedestrian that even most Japanese probably wouldn’t care unless they were planning a low-cost weekend holiday. None of these places are even good for long term stays.
I usually review anime based on the visual, sound and emotional experience. Well, the visuals are N/A because it’s almost all photography; the places they went to were bland, the music did not stand out to me, and it made me feel not much emotion- just a mild smile. It’s a neat idea, but I couldn’t really relate to the characters- all of whom are female (nearly every speaking character everywhere they go); and couldn’t really connect with the surroundings because it looked so uninteresting. Hopefully this studio will put some effort into animating and illustrating on their next project. This felt like a cheaply made promotional video for tourism. It was mildly pleasant but dull and not very entertaining. I can’t recommend it for casual anime audiences.
This got attention because it’s a seasonal, but once the season’s over it will be forgotten. With a subject with as much exciting potential as TRAVEL, this anime turns it into something as boring as grocery shopping. If you go to your local bus station and buy a Greyhound ticket to the next city over- no matter where you're from I guarantee you will have far more interesting experiences than anything shown in this anime.
KANLen09
Zatsu Tabi: That's Journey — When you hit writer's block, why not go out, touch some grass, and let nature sink into every fibre of your being? In all of my years of watching anime, it has more been the fact that we're so constantly bombarded with "the next big thing", be it in the form of Shonen juggernauts in the making or one that has hype built upon it to further extend its reach on the small screen. But what if I told you that you could be doing the same but reel in the Iyashikei setting so that it becomes a healing show thatexudes all of the charm of a slice-of-life adventure? Then I shall invite you to mangaka Kenta Ishizaka's ZatsuTabi -That’s Journey-, the Yuru Camp/mono-esque "half-CGDCT, half-not" version of a pilgrimage, from the POV of a fellow mangaka in the making as a pseudo-"Dummies' Guide to Travelling around Japan."
I need to pose this question to the creatives among us: Do you ever feel like there were times that you were trying to create some content, only for that to spectacularly fail when expectations were not met, or that it didn't generate enough attention to get a borderline passing grade? If you have been on or felt any point of failure before, you'll vibe with the manga illustrator of Chika Suzugamori. The 18-year-old blue-haired young girl, in the dream and hopes of being a mangaka, is hit with the quintessential writer's block when her works are considered too shallow by her editor to get serialized in any shape or form. With the decline of motivation and a life that has quickly met with the Exit button, the stress takes its toll on Chika so much that she decides to escape on a trip to get some fresh air. With the help of social media depicting her every step of the way to destinations across Japan, Chika is set on her "That's Journey" that would show her quite the abstract look and difference in her life, meeting new friends and sinking in with the various cultures that would turn the boggle of the mind into a personal wealth of inspiration for her work.
In a season where the CGDCT theme surprises the heck out of the vast minority (not counting Season 2 of Slime 300), Zatsu Tabi clearly ranks dead last among the likes of Saturday's Aniplex-produced two-fer CGDCT offerings of mono and Hibi wa Sugiredo Meshi Umashi a.k.a Food for the Soul. But if anything, please don't mistake it for a bad series, because it's not, and for the fact that it's so easy to get misconstrued into thinking that Yuru Camp set the standard for similar-themed works to follow, of which Kenta Ishizaka's series is one (that got its start in March 2019) that at least tries to be different and stand out as such. For one, I'm happy that we even got something that's same-same-yet-different, despite it being the "shallow" premise (as many of you will undoubtedly find out, which I'll admit it's lacking) that doesn't offer much in the way of its travelogue-based story of a journey...that I beg to differ.
But back to Zatsu Tabi, and following in the footsteps of the manga illustrator who's clearly on her last legs, Chika desperately needs a breakout hit, even if by the miniscule of a pass from her editor of Yoshimoto, and does so willingly by allowing her Twitter social media followers to poll a place where they want to go, through her very lens. And if you're thinking of why social media plays a huge part in Chika's coming-of-age story, try and search up her Twitter bio, and you'll find pretty much a culmination of the travelogue story she's set up in secret, which, despite not being the first series to do so, is the classic example of integrating different mediums for a touch of added flair to the experience.
With no story to speak of, Zatsu Tabi has to rely on its characters for that, and they're quite the journalists of their own stories, combined with the clear rookie mangaka. If you need a pseudo Rin-Nadeshiko of a close bonds relationship, look to Koyomi "Hassu" Hasunuma, because she can be an absolute joker of a young lady and yet still can cherish the vibes of good friends following each other wherever they go. Adding the friendship counter, however, you'll find the rather shy girl, Yui Unoki, needing to be extended another hand just to bring in the group vibes, being yet another friend of Chika's, and these three put together can be quite the loudspeaker group of fun. When it comes to needing and being advised by inspirations from fellow Senpai, you can find Fuyune Kojiya and her manga illustrator friend Riri Tenkubashi being the most aged of the group of young ladies, though the former is the most ladylike and the latter is just sinking in her drunkenness when alcohol comes to her line of sight. All in all, I'd reckon the reason why Kenta Ishizaka didn't want a story plot — that he'd rather let it be led by the characters he created—is a sobering fact that not many people can ever afford to realize, one that's summed up perfectly by acclaimed author Stephen King: “I think the best stories always end up being about the people rather than the event, which is to say character-driven.”
Studio Makaria may be an old studio that has recently dipped its hands into anime production, and despite foretelling through the 2 new shows of this and Yami Healer of what to expect (even though production cooperation is handled by Luminas), the simplicity of artwork looks best in Zatsu Tabi. No doubt that it looks cheap and decently produced to the point of being serviceable, but it's plenty fine and not a drawback to add to the show's weight. This is about the best that former Re:Zero and Granbelm director Masaharu Watanabe and his staff team could muster, and for that, I'd say it's a good job done.
The music is definitely the strongest aspect of the anime overall, thanks in part to famed composer Yoshiaki Fujisawa (who's also working on the music for Apocalypse Hotel this season as well). And after being in Anisong drought for the last 3 years, VA unit harmoe has brought in an OP song that I feel is not only catchingly great and criminally underrated, but it also represents the series as a whole on a wide scale. Plus, having to end with Sizuk's calm ED that's different from his usual composing style, it wraps up a nice show overall.
I can understand that stories are important when it comes to storytelling, which ZatsuTabi -That’s Journey- crucially needed to get people hooked on it...which is a given for any and all people wanting something to follow its trend. But I'd argue that not all things need "exceptional" stories to do so, because the journeys of humans are stories in and of themselves, which foretell how people want to go and spend their lives on a whim: to escape, to travel and experience, to just BASICALLY live in the moment. That, I feel, is the biggest takeaway with the anime, that dreams are worth reaching out for if we just have the mental capacity and sanity to do so.
ZatsuTabi may not be the greatest when it comes to CGDCT-esque adventures, but it's a journey of the sound mind too.
griddyweeb
An animated travel show, slice of life in its purest form. But it's not for everyone. This anime does one thing and does it perfectly, which is showcasing Japan and traveling across the country. A prerequisite for this anime is to have an interest in Japan, its culture, its landscape, its sights, its food, the list goes on. Otherwise you will probably find this anime boring. It's not like other slice of life/adventure anime out there, it really is just a travel show that's animated, with extras. There are notable side characters that tag along Chika, somtimes there's a tiny bit of drama around them, but honestlyit's unnecessary, the show doesn't rely on drama to spark interest. However Chika's struggles with becoming a mangaka and just in general figuring out her life and relationships and goals is what makes it a bit more than just a general travel show, it is a nice touch.
I personally liked the artstyle with the still frames with Chika and the other walking around, it perfectly fits this kind of anime. But there are a few CGI shots that are unforgivable. It's one thing to use CGI for moving crowds, but there are even STILL FRAMES that use stationary, choppy 3D models, many times with repeating models with different colors and the same exact, weird default pose, sometimes not even facing the correct angle... this is just unacceptable.
It's aimed at a specific audience, but you can easily tell if this anime is for you without even watching an episode.
FlowMAL
Sometimes, an anime doesn’t need action, suspense, or elaborate plot twists to leave a lasting impression. Zatsu Tabi is one of those rare, cozy gems that quietly encourages you to notice the beauty in everyday life. The story follows the protagonist Chika as she takes journeys across lesser-known towns in Japan, and what struck me most was how it made me appreciate the subtle quirks and local charms that we often overlook in our own surroundings. Watching the characters discover new places, try local food, and visit quirky roadside attractions reminded me that you don’t always need a passport and plane ticket to experience something special.As someone living in Australia who has always dreamed of travelling abroad, Zatsu Tabi reminded me that there’s so much to discover just a few hours from home if I simply look for it.
What also stood out to me was how grounded the show feels. You don’t need a big budget or a detailed itinerary to start exploring. All it takes is a day off, a train ticket, and a bit of curiosity. For those calling the show “boring”, you might be missing the point. Zatsu Tabi encourages you to find joy in the small things, whether it’s the unique texture of an old castle wall or a spontaneous visit to a local sake factory.
Its take on solo travel also left a lasting impression. Instead of framing solo travel as lonely or isolating, the show presents it as something freeing and healing. While most slice-of-life anime rely on tight-knit friend groups, Zatsu Tabi embraces both group and solo travel. I think this was an intentional decision to show that you don’t need a group of friends to explore new places and travel, which is especially highlighted in Episode 5.
Interestingly, the journeys in the later episodes also become more ambitious and expansive, showing a clear progression in Chika and her friend’s confidence and curiosity. This subtle escalation keeps the series engaging without ever losing its gentle tone.
If there’s one area where the show falls short, it’s the soundtrack. While serviceable, the music isn’t particularly memorable and rarely enhances the emotional moments in the way great anime often does. Also, there was some slight yuri bait in the final episode which was just unexpected.
Ultimately, Zatsu Tabi is a comfort show. It’s not flashy or loud, but it lingers. It’s the kind of anime you slow down with, something to watch when the world feels too fast. While I could see how this show could get repetitive if it continued with the same formula in a second season, it worked well for 12 episodes.
If you’re in the mood for something calming, thoughtful, and quietly inspiring, Zatsu Tabi is well worth your time. It doesn’t demand your attention; it simply invites you to see the world in a slightly different light. And who knows, it might just be the start of your next journey.
Marinate1016
Zatsutabi’s the first anime I’ve seen to truly accurately capture the complete travel experience and show all the benefits travel can have on your life! As a travel content creator and frequent traveler, I really appreciate how this show showed the complete process from deciding where you want to go, to planning what you’ll do there and showing what trains and busses to take. The best way you can describe this show is as a travel vlog with cute anime girls and it worked for me. I got to see a lot of places in Japan I’ve been already and also learned about places Iwant to go! It was a nice blend of educational and entertaining with a loveable cast and beautiful art that perfectly recreated some of the most iconic spots in Japan.
What makes this really special to me is just how detailed it is. A lot of travel anime, like Mono for example, also from this season, will show the characters going places and they’ll show the sights at the location, but we don’t really see the names of the trains of other transportation they take, nor do we see in detail realistic recreations of the interiors of said transportation method. I like how this show made me feel like I was truly on a journey with the girls and allowed me to see what some of the coolest ways to get around Japan are. I actually wrote several of them down and will be trying them out when I’m back in Japan later this year. I also appreciated the variety of locations Chika goes to in this. She’s not bound by one particular region and goes all over Japan, wherever her readers suggest or just wherever she’s feeling on a given week. She went to a lot of lower key spots too which I enjoyed learning about because anyone who knows Japan knows how packed it is nowadays and over tourism is an issue, so showing love to more rural or out the way spots which are full of just as much charm as more famous locations is awesome. There’s just something special about falling in love with a cast and learning while watching an anime.
Speaking of cast, the girls really take this to another level. I think out of all the cute girls shows airing this season, zatsutabi has my 2nd fave cast. Hibimeshi probably edges it out, but I love both a lot. This series cast is so special to me because of their shared background as Mangaka and how they all use traveling as inspiration for their writing. Travel, when done right, is such a mind opening positive experience that should change the way you see the world and think. Going from a city to a rural area and learning to take things slower and appreciate the smaller details in life, visiting a 2 thousand year old shrine and realizing just how insignificant we really are in life or experiencing the delightful taste of a local dish or beer, there’s something for everyone and this show touches on that. All the girls are into different things and so when Chika is traveling with each of the supporting characters, they’ll prioritize that character’s preferences. This is very realistic because depending on who you’re traveling with, your vacation will look very different and it’s important to travel with people you’re compatible with! Sometimes if you’re like me and love history or cultural stuff, you might need someone along who can keep you on target with times and not staying too long in an area! There’s just a lot of little details that I found very realistic and relatable in this and Chika and her friends are so well written. The girls have amazing chemistry, they’re cute, there’s Yuri undertones.. it’s got it all for me.
I really recommend this show for everyone because, tbh, everyone should get out and see the world. It doesn’t have to be an expensive international trip either, every country has its own unique charm and beauty and your love of traveling can start right at home. Plan a trip to a nearby town or attraction and go from there. Don’t let life pass you by having not taken advantage of all it has to offer. Not only should you come back recharged, but perhaps you’ll have a totally new way of seeing the world. ZatsuTabi shows that better than any other anime.
Zatsutabi gets 9 out of 10.
Kudo_Endo
The cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are currently facing an unusual problem: overtourism. Overtourism describes a phenomenon where some locations attract a greater number of tourists than their support capacity. As a result, tourists strain infrastructure, drive an increase in prices, change the local landscape by shifting demand incentives and often disrespect local etiquette. How does Japan plan to tackle this issue? Well, there are talks of taxing tourists, or imposing additional costs to industries and sectors related to the newcomers, but the Japanese are too intelligent and creative to resort to simple tactics. Nay, there is a sophisticated machination going on before our very eyes:pumping out high culture (anime/manga) depicting all the glory of other Japanese prefectures. As a result, foreigners marvel at alternatives to include in their dream route for the occasion they visit the country.
Yuru Camp successfully increased the interest for the niche camping tourism. Sakura Quest depicts the tribulations of tourism officials in a small town. If you are into hiking, Yama no Susume helps guide you through the mountains. Some series promote specific regions (Shikoku, Okinawa, Hokkaido). Other hobbies, such as astrophotography and fishing, have their worthy representatives.
Now we have “Zatsu Tabi: That's Journey” targeting various profiles of travellers, each represented by a member of the diverse cast. If you like to explore cities outside the big names, not worrying much about taking pictures at “must see” landscapes, this is the perfect Japanese government psyop for you.
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Chika Suzugamori aspires to become a professional manga artist. She has a promising start, winning a prestigious award with her debut. However, her new drafts are lacklustre, throwing her into a slump. In an attempt to get over it, she impulsively decides to go on a trip... somewhere. The method is quite simple: set up a social media poll, accept the result and take a train as soon as possible. Activities and accommodations are arranged when she gets to the destination, impromptu. The less preparation, the better. As she later notes, “I might have gotten myself into an expensive hobby”.
Although the main plot moves quite fast, the pacing gets slow in the right moments. The author wastes little time with backstories, preferring to flesh out the main character in the process of travelling and interacting with the friends she occasionally invites over. Most of the anime’s time is dedicated to The Journey, in which we calmly explore Japan’s inner beauty. Through their quirks and particular interests, her friends provide a refreshing approach on how different profiles of travellers could best enjoy it. A history enthusiast, for example, could gaze in amazement at that huge gate others pass over. A recreational drinker, on the other hand, will certainly take a detour to a local distillery.
Backgrounds are beautiful and thematically appropriate. They lean more on photorealism. The OST is simple, but does its job. While the characters learn about the shown landscapes as a combination from their previous studies and experiences while visiting, we are aided by a narrator providing valid (yet parsimonious) context. Every episode ended with my browser full of new tabs to know more about the places and stories mentioned in the episode. Zatsu Tabi is successful in getting the public interested in the cities presented.
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When we think of propaganda, what comes to mind is usually something blatant and aggressive. Those are easier to identify and to either accept or reject. The best ones, however, have more nuances, using elaborate means to transmit the desired message. The Japanese perfected the art of propaganda through anime, and Zatsu Tabi is a shining example of a great work of art subverting the public into solving a major societal issue. Drink the Kool-Aid; watch the anime; pack your bags.
[This review has no conflicts of interest to disclose; The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism was not involved in its composition]
kola_tv
This anime doesn’t pretend to be some grand masterpiece—it knows exactly what it is from the start. It sticks to its core theme and develops it at its own pace, never straying from what it set out to do. At its heart, it’s a simple journey of a girl exploring Japanese landmarks, with some historical tidbits sprinkled in. The show keeps things from getting dull with casual friend banter and lighthearted jokes. One thing I loved was the background art—many scenes are based on real-life photos, and the result is stunning. Sometimes, you’ll even catch yourself wondering, “Is this just a photograph?” The characters are refreshingly ordinary, whichactually makes them stand out compared to the usual hyperactive anime cast. They have clear goals they work toward throughout the series. Also worth noting: the MC’s eyes are drawn in a sharp, unique way, which you don’t see often in similar anime.
This season, there’s another travel-themed anime called “Mono”, but when it comes to the actual journey aspect, “Mono” falls flat in comparison. (You can read my full thoughts on it in my “Mono” review.)
I’ve seen some complaints about the show being boring, but that really depends on your taste and how many episodes you binge at once. Personally, I found it perfect for unwinding with a couple of episodes in the evening. I’d recommend limiting yourself to no more than four at a time to avoid burnout. As for the voice acting, I can’t comment—I watched it with subs.
If you’re into Japan and just want something relaxing, this anime is a solid pick. 7/10.
BrotherCoa
There are action heavy shows, there are romance shows, there are shows that really makes you think and then there are shows that makes you laugh out loud. But then there are shows like Zatsu Tabi that you watch to relax and enjoy something out of the ordinary. Animation and sound: pretty decent, the locations that are visited were done justice. I did noted occasional cut on animation here and there (there is a scene with 3D car passing by and if you play scene frame by frame you can see it just gliding with wheels not even moving. xD) but not enough to ruin theexperience for me. Music was also serviceable but nothing to really hit it with me to remember a certain soundtrack from the show.
Overall animation and music - it is decent and it gets the job done. You can see that the real effort was on the locations which is the point of the show, so plus for that.
Characters: Our main heroine Chika is not some mastermind or talented chosen one - she is an ordinary manga artist who is struggling with getting the inspiration for her manga. So in order to fix that she goes on a journey around country (hence the name of anime). She and others in this anime (and there is not many characters to that) do not have some sort of extreme growth, more of like they stay the same but seeing so many different locations they get answers to the many life questions they have up until then. For some of them we find out their backstory, but overall this anime is more about a group of friends traveling together here and there. All of them are enjoyable and have their own quirks and for the duration of anime I had fun.
Overall characters while they do stay mostly the same by the end it's the hang out during the journey that is the heart of the show. And those moments are really enjoyable to watch.
Story: Rather basic, Chika is struggling to get inspiration to draw a good manga so she uses the reward money she got in manga competition in order to travel across Japan and get the inspiration she needs. That's it, the rest of the story is bonds between her and her friends and the backstory about all the locations they visit. It's a very wholesome show and giving the theme it hits perfectly within the realms of expectations.
Overall grade: 10 for me, although average anime watcher might give it 7 due to how tame the show is.
Now would I recommend it? It depends on the person, if you are looking for anime to makes you cry tears or feel the satisfaction after hard battle was won or surprise after your best friend stabs you in the back - this is not anime for you and you can go ahead and skip it. For those who enjoy some calm afternoon shows from time to time this is one for you.
But there is one group of people I would recommend this as a watch - people that are planning to go visit Japan. Outside manga and hanging out storyline the rest of anime is about famous locations in Japan, their backstory, what do they offer, how to get there (via bus, train or by foot) and how much certain things may cost. It is my opinion that watching anime like this can actually prepare you better for your visit, especially the part where they explain about transportation aroudn the country.
All in all - good show. I doubt there will be S2 at all but for one shot anime it was an enjoyable watch.
patkarunungan
'Zatsu Tabi: That's Journey' is one relaxing and introspective anime. It's basically Suzugamori Chika's travels all over Japan. It's one of the anime I adore this Spring 2005 season. § Overview Chika's drafts have been rejected consecutively. One day, posting a poll, she got inspired to travel all over Japan, hoping to find inspiration. § Notes1. The anime's story is really basic: A mangaka is stuck in something like writer's block and magnified that Chika herself must draw the manga panels. The anime is about finding inspiration through travel. It's really about the places featured. In short, its purpose is to promote domestic tourism.
2. We can compare this to the Winter 2025 seasonal 'Okitsura: Fell in Love with an Okinawan Girl, but I Just Wish I Know What She's Saying' as both are about tourism, and Okitsura is specifically about Okinawa. If you've been following my reviews, I gave Okitsura a dismal score but I am giving Zatsu Tabi an above-average score. What does Zatsu Tabi do right that Okitsura failed to do?
Okitsura promised a romcom but failed spectacularly in its execution. Zatsu Tabi is about getting inspiration to create manga, a plot point that sounds almost non-existent but it is tightly linked with the places visited.
Okitsura's Okinawa Memo feels distracting, but the corresponding exposition in Zatsu Tabi doesn't feel distracting. The background musick that started before the exposition continues to play as the narrator gives the cultural trivia. As a result, it doesn't break immersion.
I, therefore, conclude that Zatsu Tabi is the superior tourism anime.
3. Let me address a criticism that since this is an anime about promoting certain tourist spots, it is worthless. Such people are speaking hogwash!
The producers may have the idea of promoting domestic tourism in mind when they commissioned this anime, but a creative's sense of burnout is a common experience. Thus, using travel to overcome that burnout is a valid premise for an anime about travel.
4. Zatsu Tabi's art direction as well as its sound design and musick are great for keeping you immersed in the places being featured. Whether you're interested in going to the places featured or not, it cannot be denied that it gives you a strong sense of warmth and satisfaction. Its ED "bookmarks" by Sizuk is great by itself, but the fact that its musick is played before we see the credits, aka 'pre-ending theme insert', adds so much in terms of mood. (This phenomenon can also be seen in Bartender [2006] and Oshi no Ko.)
5. Its energy and vibe mean that it's an anime about introverts for introverts. Even though Chika also interacts with other characters, there are significant moments where Chika is only travelling alone and just experiences the vibe of the environment.
In contrast, I reckon that Bocchi the Rock is an extroverted anime about an introvert. Bocchi is often seen in situations where she is forced to interact with unfamiliar people and the struggles of an introvert in an extrovert world.
6. I am also glad that we see Chika making progress with her manga as a result of her travels. Her breakthrough comes from incorporating the feelings she felt or some character drama she experiences in her manga. If not for such progress, this would have been a source of addiction, and we can read reports of people addicted to travelling.
§ Conclusion
'Zatsu Tabi: That's Journey' is a chill and immersive travel anime. I enjoyed it so much, and it resonates with my introverted nature. If you're an introvert, I believe it will resonate with you as well.
NOTA BENE: A grade of 7 out of 10 means that I find this anime is very good and two notches above average. I enjoyed watching it.
It is a high score despite the fact that SO MANY IDIOTS in this site treat their 7's as an average score.
