聖地
Meanings
sacred place; holy ground; the Holy Land
Refers to a place of religious significance, such as a shrine, temple, or a region like the Holy Land. Can be used literally or metaphorically.
Jerusalem is a sacred place for three religions.
This mountain has been revered as a sacred place since ancient times.
real-life location used as a setting in fiction
Slang used by fans of anime, manga, novels, or films to refer to actual places that appear as settings in those works. Often visited as a form of pilgrimage.
Trips to visit the real-life locations from that anime are popular.
This park is known to fans as a real-life location from the movie.
Usage patterns
- 〈場所〉が聖地となるfor a place to become a sacred site (of worship or pilgrimage)
That shrine became a sacred site for many believers.
- 〈作品〉の聖地the real-world location associated with a particular anime, manga, or film
It's said that the real-life setting for this anime is in Nagano Prefecture.
- 聖地を訪れるto visit a sacred/holy place
Many pilgrims visit that holy site every year.