Welcome to Cozy Anime Corner , your go-to place for finding the perfect anime to brighten your day! Every month I’ll highlight a comfy series with low stakes, calm vibes and people I wish I knew in real life. ZatsuTabi -That's Journey- takes you on an insiders’ tour of some less-traveled areas of Japan without you having to budge an inch from the couch. Full of good food, relaxing baths, and golden sunsets, ZatsuTabi wraps you up in coziness that will keep you warm wherever you go. RELATED: Food for the Soul Has All the Warmth of Miso Soup and Butter Join Chika and her friends as they travel, explore, and experience new delights they may never have found otherwise! Opening Number “Tabi Shiyo! Don't you?” by harmoe opens with a spirit of adventure. Sparkly music accompanies quick scenes of souvenirs, train station food, and the ubiquitous ticket taking machines. (If you’ve ever had the opportunity to go to Japan, the nostalgia will hit you hard.) Chika’s setting off for another impromptu trip, and the peppy song reflects the tone of her journeys. RELATED: Voice Actor Unit harmoe Shares ZatsuTabi -That's Journey- Anime Opening Song Music Video The opening introduces you to Chika and the smiling faces of her friends Koyomi, Yui, Fuyune, and Riri. They run together toward a bright future filled with days of discovering new places — and their own journeys of self-discovery. Here's the Story Chika Suzugamori is an aspiring manga artist who can’t find the inspiration she needs for her next story. When she sees a talk show do a segment about travel around Japan, she posts a poll on social media for fun asking where she should go to get inspired. Chika sets off on her first crowdsourced destination and quickly discovers the joys of traveling. Soon Chika’s joined by friends old and new, and together they eat the best local cuisine and find the perfect hot springs for rest and relaxation. You’ll feel like you’re soaking in the same warmth as they explore with open minds and open hearts. Coziest Character Fuyune Kojiya is a creative and extremely laid-back manga artist who gives Chika advice and guidance as she begins her career. Fuyune sees the magic in everything, which makes her not just the perfect mentor for Chika, but someone who’s a joy to be around in general. The young artist treasures her advice so much that she calls Fuyune “Master,” like a student in a dojo. RELATED: ZatsuTabi -That's Journey-, Touring After the Apocalypse Anime Release Collab Visuals They travel together for fun, but when she sees Fuyune is immediately inspired by the places they visit, Chika begins to think about her own work as a manga storyteller. As Chika struggles to identify the emotions she wants to evoke in her work, Fuyune gently talks her through her feelings. She encourages Chika every step of the way and lets her discover the story she wants to tell with just a few words of wisdom. Also, the way Fuyune scrunches up her messy long hair when inspiration hits is just the cutest. Ending Notes Every ending animation is different as photos from the episode’s journey play in a slideshow on Chika’s phone. It’s an incredibly creative way to look back over the trip and remember the places that Chika and her friends experienced. “bookmarks” by Sizuk is mellow and sweet, pairing her gentle voice with a lovely string accompaniment. It’s a soothing song that’s also stirring and hopeful. RELATED: Campfire Cooking in Another World with my Absurd Skill Is a Healthy Helping of Comfort Food Choosing to get away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo or other big cities, Chika picks small prefectures and towns that the average anime viewer might never have heard about if not for ZatsuTabi . While the young woman usually travels solo, Chika comes to realize that she’s never truly alone. A solo journey isn’t just about herself, she thinks, but also about the person you want to share it with someday. Don’t be shocked if you come away from ZatsuTabi -That’s Journey- with some serious wanderlust and an impossible to ignore longing to experience a dip in the hot springs yourself. Join me in the Cozy Anime Corner next month for my latest pick!
