Zen and Ghibli map also makes for a beautiful mini poster.
Unlike most other major cities in Japan, Kyoto doesn’t have a dense network of train and subway lines crisscrossing it. Rail options are pretty limited within the city, and with buses often filled to capacity, it’s not unusual to find yourself in a situation where walking to the next spot on your travel itinerary could be the best option, especially since Kyoto has so many historically significant sites that it might not be all that long a trek.
Of course, navigating the streets of Kyoto becomes much easier with a map, and it becomes both easier and awesome if it’s an illustrated map produced by Studio Ghibli.
Produced as a companion to the Zen and Ghibli art/cultural exhibition currently being held at the Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art, the Kyoto Zen Guide Presented by Zen and Ghibli, also known as the just the Zen Map for short, gives anime fans and travelers a bird’s-eye view of Kyoto. You can take that literally, too, as soaring over the city are several of the avian cast members of Ghibli’s most recent theatrical anime, The Boy and the Heron, along with a group of adorable warawara spirits.
▼ Hey guys, I need directions.
The focus of the Ghibli Zen Map, naturally, is temples, with charming hand-drawn versions of, among others, Kiyomizudera, Kinkakuji (a.k.a. the Golden Pavillion), and Tenryuji in the city’s western Arashiyama district. Other points of interest on the map include the Kyocera Museum of Art, Nijo Castle, and Kyoto Station. Another unique aspect of Kyoto’s cityscape is that many of its streets actually have names (a rarity in Japan), and these are labeled on the map as well, either to help you reach your destination or find your way home after indulging in the joy of wandering on a whim across Japan’s cultural capital.
Also conspicuously marked on the map are a number of 7-Eleven branches, and the reason for their inclusion goes beyond just Japanese convenience stores being full of useful items for travelers. Since a Ghibli-illustrated map of Kyoto would be very cool to have even if you’re not planning to travel there right away, the Zen Map is actually available at 7-Eleven Japan stores nationwide.
All you have to do is use the self-service Multi-copy Machine inside 7-Eleven branches (which is also used for various ticketing and payment services) and scan the QR code from the Zen and Ghibli website here, pay the 400-yen (US$2.50) fee, and you’ll receive a freshly printed copy of the map.
It’s not clear how long the maps will be available for, but with the Zen and Ghibli exhibition running through December 6, odds are they’ll be printable at least until then.
Related: Zen and Ghibli official website
Source: Zen and Ghibli
Top image: Studio Ghibli
Insert images: Zen and Ghibli, Studio Ghibli
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