Urban Fantasy Novels, Anime, Games Set In Modern Japan

Urban fantasy is very common in Japanese pop culture. There are literary novels, light novels, manga, anime, and video games, all featuring modern Japan with a magical or supernatural twist. Sometimes, it is just magical realism or surrealism, which modern Japan lends itself to, given its intense urbanism and 24/7 bustle in the big cities. The workings of high-tech society might seem magical, too - such as how convenience stores keep everything restocked or how trains consistently run on time. 

Japan's mono-cultural mosaic has an greater influence on the genre. The country is a prime breeding ground for urban fantasy, thanks to the blend of old and new in its cities, traditions still practiced, including Shinto and Buddhism (an import), places steeped in history, and the rich tapestry of legends and urban myths that pervade the country. The sheer mass of creative works now builds on its own predecessors and even incorporates foreign ideas to make it deeper and more diverse.

When I visit Tokyo, I'm always a bit wowed by the intense urban landscape and seeing places that I first saw or read about in anime, games, or novels. It's kind of like an adult Disney, with all the things to see, eat, and do. There's always a bit of magic to the place when you come as an anime fan, as it's fun to see the aspects of the imagined world brought to life.

In this article, I'm going to list a number of Japanese urban fantasy creative works to get anyone going on the fantastical, creative side of Japanese pop culture. I'm leaving out vampires (Hellsing, Akiba's Trip, Blood+, etc.), cat girls, gangster maids in Akihabara, time travel (Erased, Stein's Gate, Tokyo Revengers, etc.), and many others, so it is a starter list. 

Please check out Kumotawa Confluence, my urban fantasy novel set in Japan at the end of the article!

Here Are Some Japanese Urban Fantasy Novels

Surrealism, magical realism, and urban fantasy kind of blend together for me. There's also a fair bit of Japanese urban fantasy involving cats! Some of these have been adapted into anime. I quite liked the Travelling Cat Chronicles and Before the Coffee Gets Cold off of this list, and anything by Murakami is going to be a good read.

1. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami. This novel blurs the boundaries between reality and the surreal. Set in contemporary Japan, it includes talking cats, mystical rain, and other supernatural phenomena alongside real-world struggles and philosophical musings.
2. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami. This novel delves into the mysterious and metaphysical, featuring an ordinary man drawn into a complex web of dreams, reality, and mystical events—seamlessly blending urban life with the otherworldly.
3. The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl by Tomihiko Morimi. Set in Kyoto, this whimsical yet magical novel follows a young girl through one surreal night, where reality bends and urban legends come alive through eccentric and fantastical encounters.
4. The Tatami Galaxy by Tomihiko Morimi The story plays with the concept of parallel universes as the protagonist experiences different versions of his college life. The narrative merges urban settings with surreal, fantastical possibilities.
5. Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami. Although it leans more towards magical realism, this novel is set in modern Tokyo and involves elements of the fantastical, such as dreamlike encounters and surreal relationships for the protagonist that blur the line between reality and fantasy. 
6. If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura. This novel features a Faustian bargain, where a dying man makes deals with the devil to extend his life by erasing things from the world—like cats. The story blends a modern setting with an exploration of mortality and relationships, infused with a magical, surreal premise.
7. The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa. A book-loving high school student encounters a talking tabby cat that leads him on whimsical adventures to rescue trapped books. This story intertwines real-world themes of loss and love with fantastical quests.
8. The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa. Told from the perspective of a cat named Nana, this heartwarming story explores human relationships and the concept of mortality. While rooted in reality, the narrative voice of the cat adds a fantastical layer, blurring the lines between the ordinary and extraordinary.
9. Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. This is a heartwarming series of books centered in a small café in modern Tokyo, grounded in a realistic, urban environment. The café has a unique, magical rule—it allows its visitors to travel back in time while sitting in a specific seat. They must return before their coffee gets cold, and whatever they do won't change the present.
10. The Nakano Thrift Shop by Hiromi Kawakami. This story has a light, fantastical undertone as the setting and objects in the shop seem to hold magical or transformative qualities.

Here Are Some Urban Fantasy Anime / Manga

This is actually a vast topic, as all kinds of superhero or action anime can fit into this category.  It ranges from magical girls like Precure (there is so much Precure) all the way to Kamen Rider or even Godzilla at an extreme. I'm just going to present a short list of some of these. The genre of isekai or protagonists who cross over into other worlds borders on urban fantasy in some cases too (e.g. Inuyasha which could be fantasy or even time travel). This list just scratches the surface.

1. Films such as My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away, directed by Hayao Miyazaki. My Neighbor Totoro is a heartwarming tale of childhood wonder and resilience, where two sisters befriend a giant, whimsical forest spirit that becomes a comforting guardian during their family’s challenging times. Spirited Away is a visually enchanting journey set in a mystical hot springs inn in the spirit world, where a young girl must navigate otherworldly rules to rescue her parents and rediscover her own inner strength. I really like these films as they really don't have a villain, something that more stories need to try and do.
2. Films such as Your Name and Suzume by Makoto Shinkai. Your Name is a blockbuster story of love and fate, where two teenagers mysteriously swap bodies across time and space, forging an unbreakable bond despite the odds against them. Suzume is an adventure centered on a girl closing magical doors to prevent disasters, blending themes of loss and healing with imaginative encounters across Japan. Your Name is just a really well done and visually pleasing film that tugs at emotions well, and Suzume is a great adventure and road trip film. Both of these films are big favourites of mine.
3. Midnight Occult Civil Servants. This anime fits perfectly into urban fantasy. It follows Arata Miyako, a civil servant working for a special Tokyo government department, and he can communicate with supernatural beings. The series explores the coexistence of humans and otherworldly creatures in a modern city.
4. Dandadan. A fast-paced and quirky urban fantasy that follows two high schoolers, Momo Ayase and Okarun, as they explore supernatural phenomena involving aliens, ghosts, and bizarre urban legends, blending action, humor, and heartfelt character dynamics in a modern-day setting. They run into urban legends Turbo Granny and Slit-Mouthed Woman (Kuchisake-onna) and plenty of aliens!  This is a fun show and it is fast and furious in the plot events.
5. Jujutsu Kaisen. The story follows Yuji Itadori, a kind-hearted high schooler turned sorcerer, alongside the stoic Megumi, fiery Nobara, and charismatic mentor Gojo. They are sorcerers who deal with cursed spirits who form at haunted locations and places full of negative emotions. A gripping series, but I started losing interest with the Shibuya Incident Arc which jumped the shark - shows like this where magic has a big impact on real life - need to show that. When enough people die - you can't cover it up!
6. Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun. Hanako-san, the ghost of a girl (reimagined as a boy in this series) who haunts school bathrooms. The anime also explores other school-based urban legends, such as the Seven Mysteries of Kamome Academy.
7. Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories. Each episode adapts a different Japanese urban legend or ghost story, such as the Slit-Mouthed Woman (Kuchisake-onna), the Red Cape (Aka Manto), and other eerie tales.
8. Witchcraft Works. Ordinary high schooler Honoka Takamiya discovers he is protected by Ayaka Kagari, a powerful witch, as they battle other witches and uncover his hidden connection to the magical world.
9. Flying Witch. This is a a heartwarming slice-of-life anime about Makoto Kowata, a young witch-in-training, as she embraces the magic in everyday life while living with her cousins in a peaceful rural town. I quite like the manga and the anime for its laid back vibe and neat details about how magic and the normal world co-exist.
10. Otherside Picnic. A suspenseful urban fantasy where two women explore a mysterious parallel dimension inspired by urban legends. Sorawo Kamikoshi, a curious and analytical university student, and Toriko Nishina, a bold and resourceful woman searching for her missing friend face eerie threats and uncovering personal truths along the way. The Otherside is a parallel dimension is inspired by internet creepypasta and legends, where otherworldly rules and dangers create an unsettling yet intriguing landscape. Encounters include Kisaragi Station, The Ninja Cats, The Wiggle-Waggle, Glitches - strange distortions and phenomena, and The Hollow Shadow. I quite like this series and the relationship developing between the protagonists.
11. Boogiepop and Others. This series revolves around mysterious disappearances in a modern city, with the enigmatic Boogiepop at the center.
12. The Monogatari Series. This light novel and anime series follows Koyomi Araragi as he deals with various oddities, supernatural creatures, and curses. The initial series was well known for its art style.
13. Durarara!! Set in Ikebukuro, this anime explores urban legends, supernatural entities like the Headless Rider, and the lives of ordinary people intersecting with the extraordinary. The mix of modern city life, strange abilities, and mystical lore makes it both dark and entertaining. This show is a winner.
14. The Girl in Twilight. Featuring a group of girls discovering parallel worlds connected to urban legends.
15. Paranoia Agent. This psychological thriller delves into urban myths and supernatural happenings in a city setting, offering a dark exploration of how the supernatural influences the ordinary.
16. In/Spectre. The story focuses on Kotoko, an intermediary between humans and yokai (supernatural beings), solving mysteries in modern Japan. It merges folklore with urban life and many mysteries to solve.
17. Shakugan no Shana. The story merges everyday high school life with a magical world. Shana, a Flame Haze, protects humanity from creatures known as Crimson Denizens. She meets Yuji Sakai, an ordinary high school student and a Mystes. The two join up, and their dynamic is central to the series, blending themes of love, growth, and sacrifice.
18. Blue Exorcist. Set in contemporary Japan, this series follows Rin Okumura, who discovers he is the son of Satan. He trains as an exorcist to combat demons and control his magical powers.
19. Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Magical girls (they are actually called this), fight Witches, mysterious and malevolent entities that are born from despair and spread curses, causing harm and tragedy in the world. Over time, the magical girls uncover the dark truth about the nature of Witches and their own tragic connection to them, adding a deeply emotional and suspenseful layer to their battles. This show was a breath of fresh air when it first came out for its dark take on the magical girl genre.
20. Fate/stay Night. The Holy Grail War pits mages and heroic spirits against each other in modern Japan. The story combines historical figures and magic in a present-day urban setting. Fun show for the original, but the show isn't as good with the later series - I pretty much stopped watching.
21. Beyond the Boundary. Mirai Kuriyama is a clumsy yet determined Spirit World Warrior with the rare ability to manipulate her blood into a weapon, while Akihito Kanbara is a half-human, half-youmu boy with regenerative powers, and together they hunt supernatural creatures called youmu in modern Japan.  A good series to sit down and watch.
22. Cardcaptor Sakura. Sakura Kinomoto is a cheerful and courageous elementary school girl who accidentally releases a set of magical Clow Cards and must take on the responsibility of recapturing them using her newfound powers. The core concept revolves around her magical adventures, her growth as a Cardcaptor, and the heartwarming relationships she builds with friends, family, and allies along the way. One of my favourite magical girl series, along with the original Precure, featuring Cure Black and White. 
23. First Precure Series (Futari wa Pretty Cure). Cure Black (Nagisa Misumi) and Cure White (Honoka Yukishiro) form a dynamic duo, characterized by their contrasting personalities—Nagisa is sporty and energetic, while Honoka is intellectual and calm. Their story follows them as they become legendary Pretty Cures, tasked with protecting the Earth from the Dark Zone, an evil dimension, using their newfound magical powers. Together, they navigate both everyday life as high schoolers and their battles against dark forces, emphasizing the power of friendship and teamwork.
24. Haruhi Suzumiya series. It centers around Haruhi Suzumiya, a charismatic yet eccentric high school student who unknowingly wields godlike powers. She forms the "SOS Brigade," a club dedicated to finding supernatural phenomena like aliens, espers, and time travellers. Haruhi drags along her bemused classmate, Kyon, as narrator and reluctant participant in all these activities. I feel that this series and Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl are kind of like distant sibling in their type of storytelling and pseudo-science. If you like one, you'll like the other.
25. The Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai series. This is a mix of romance, drama, and supernatural elements. It follows Sakuta Azusagawa, a high school boy who encounters an unusual phenomenon called "Adolescence Syndrome," which often reflects the emotional struggles of individuals. The story kicks off when he meets Mai Sakurajima, a famous actress who mysteriously becomes invisible to most people while dressed in a bunny girl outfit. Together, they navigate strange occurrences like time loops, doppelgangers, and more.
26. Amagi Brilliant Park. This is great show that follows Seiya Kanie, a high schooler recruited to save a struggling theme park inhabited by magical beings who depend on visitors' happiness for survival. A nice twist on magical creatures and a real-world setting.

A Very Short List of Urban Fantasy Videogames

I'm just going to list a few of the more popular video game series. There is way more than this, but these are a start. Persona is a crazy, popular hit, and I'm totally on board with it as it is just that good.

1. Shin Megami Tensei Series. Known for its urban settings combined with dark, supernatural elements, this series features battles against demons and the exploration of parallel dimensions within a modern cityscape.
2. Persona Series. A spin-off of Shin Megami Tensei, this series mixes high school life with the supernatural. Players explore mystical realms like the Metaverse while dealing with everyday urban life. Persona 4 and 5 are just amazing stories and games combined. Persona 4 centers on a group of high school students investigating a series of murders linked to a mysterious TV world, where they confront their inner selves and awaken powerful Personas to uncover the truth behind the shadowy events. Persona 5 follows a rebellious group known as the Phantom Thieves, who use their Personas to infiltrate the cognitive realms of corrupt individuals, seeking to reform society by exposing hidden injustices and freeing others from oppression.
3. The World Ends with You. Set in Shibuya, this game focuses on urban legends and a mysterious "Reapers' Game," where the characters must survive using supernatural powers in a modern city.
4. Ghostwire: Tokyo. Set in a hauntingly depopulated Tokyo, this game combines Japanese urban legends and folklore with a modern, magic-infused battle system against otherworldly spirits.
5. Yokai Watch series of games. Charming role-playing adventures where players use a magical watch to find and befriend mischievous Yo-kai—spirits inspired by Japanese folklore—that influence the world in unseen ways. The series blends whimsical humor, turn-based battles, and exploration of vibrant, modern settings, as players solve problems caused by Yo-kai and uncover hidden stories.

Kumotawa Confluence, My Urban Fantasy Novel

My novel, Kumotawa Confluence, is an urban fantasy influenced by many of the creative works I discuss in this article. Kumotawa Confluence is an urban fantasy novel set in an alternate, modern Japan, where magic is active near convergence points between different worlds. These weaknesses in space-time are called Confluences, and this novel centers on a particular one at Mount Kumotawa.

Synopsis

Shrouded in mist, Mount Kumotawa stands as a silent sentinel against an ancient evil. Five hundred years ago, Princess Chikako and her samurai warriors clashed with marauding oni, securing a hard-won victory. Yet even today, whispers of yokai haunt the slopes, and the imperial family continues its vigilant watch over the sacred shrine.

Yuriko, once a special forces operative, has traded battlefield tactics for the everyday grind of running a convenience store for the Imperial Management Agency. But her past and present collide when a strange cat leads her deep into the mountain’s mysteries. Partnering with her fellow ex-special forces comrade, Travis, and the steadfast policeman, Goro, she deals with a string of inexplicable occurrences, drawn into a world of myth made real.

The boundaries between realms weaken. A malevolent god stirs, and its followers spread chaos, threatening to tip Japan into darkness. At Odewara High School, a determined group of students—Chiyo, Ayako, Karen, and Sarah, members of the Gun Girls Auxiliary—step into the fray under Yuriko’s guidance, ready to fight for their world. But even their fierce resolve may not be enough.

As the crisis deepens, new allies emerge—including the formidable Sword Princess—to join the battle against the encroaching darkness. Together, warriors and protectors must confront the supernatural tide in a showdown that will decide the fate of Japan itself. Their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering unity will be tested as a forgotten war resurfaces—threatening to consume them all.

The mountain remembers. The battle is far from over.

I will serialize the novel first on Royal Road and then on other platforms. An e-book version and a paperback will be published sometime when the serialization is half or two-thirds done, but I expect to serialize the entire novel online first.

Read for free. https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/108238/kumotawa-confluence
More about my writing. https://tokyoexcess.blogspot.com/p/my-sf-writing.html

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