Natsume's Book of Friends Bus Tour to Run in Hitoyoshi from December 2026
Reservations open October 14, 2026, for a wrapping bus tour of Natsume's Book of Friends model locations in Hitoyoshi and Kuma, operated by Kyushu Sanko Tourism.
A wrapping bus tour visiting the real-life model locations of the TV anime Natsume's Book of Friends in Hitoyoshi and Kuma is set to begin operating in December 2026, according to animeanime.jp. The tour is a collaboration between Hitoyoshi City and the Kyushu Sanko Group, with reservations opening on October 14, 2026.
The tour is scheduled to run from December 12, 2026 to February 28, 2027, for a planned total of 11 days. The bus design is a collage of Hitoyoshi scenery, based on a refreshing blue inspired by the clear waters of the Kuma River.
Course Highlights and Booking
The course includes Tengu Bridge, which was restored last year after major damage from heavy rain disasters, and a ride on the Kuma River Railway, which has just reopened along its entire line for the first time in six years. It also includes Okadome Kofuku Station, the only station in Japan with the word 'Happiness' in its name. Some hidden spots on the tour can only be reached by about a 10-minute walk because buses cannot enter the narrow paths.
Details such as original novelties are available on the Kyushu Sanko Tourism reservation site.
In 2008, the first season of the Natsume's Book of Friends TV anime began airing, and six seasons have aired so far. The series' first feature-length original story anime film was released in September 2018, and two popular short episodes were given a limited theatrical screening in January 2025. The seventh season, Natsume's Book of Friends Season 7, aired from October 7, 2024.
Quick answers
When does the Natsume's Book of Friends bus tour operate?
The tour runs from December 12, 2026 to February 28, 2027, for a planned total of 11 days.
When do reservations open for the bus tour?
Reservations open on October 14, 2026, on the Kyushu Sanko Tourism reservation site.
What spots are included in the tour course?
The course includes Tengu Bridge, the Kuma River Railway, and Okadome Kofuku Station, the only station in Japan with the word 'Happiness' in its name.