Many of the landscapes seen in the film were inspired by ancient forests of the Aomori region. Sketching sessions were held in the Shirakami Mountains so that animators could visually represent genuine Japanese scenery.

This island, situated at the southern end of the Osumi Peninsula in the Kagoshima prefecture, was also a great inspiration for Miyazaki. As a major setting featured in the film, Yakushima Island is artistically represented throughout many scenes.

Onsen, or Japanese hot springs, are widely featured in Spirited Away. The character Chihiro visits one of the most recognizable onsen in the film, the Dogo Hot Spring, which is located in central Ehime.

The ancient capital city of Japan was largely the setting for these works. A shrine dedicated to Abe no Seimei lies here in Kyoto, where every autumn the Seimei Matsuri festival is held.

Sailor Moon manga artist Nakao Takeuchi resides in this southern area of Tokyo. She also used Azabu Juban as a primary setting for the Sailor Moon series.

This social center of Japan also serves as a popular setting within the Sailor Moon series. It is often referenced as a place where the girls in the series hang out.

Hinamizawa is the primary fictional setting of this series. The artistic rendering of this location is largely based on the city of Shirakawa in Gifu, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.