聖地(せいち)

せいち
noun
sacred place; holy ground; mecca
geography
1. sacred place; holy land; holy ground
A place of religious significance or spiritual importance. Refers to sites considered sacred in any religion.
エルサレムは三(みっ)つの宗教(しゅうきょう)の聖地(せいち)だ。
Jerusalem is a holy city for three religions.
聖地(せいち)を訪(おとず)れる巡礼者(じゅんれいしゃ)が毎年(まいとし)増(ふ)えている。
The number of pilgrims visiting the holy sites is increasing every year.
古(ふる)くから聖地(せいち)として守(まも)られてきた森(もり)に入(はい)ることは禁(きん)じられている。
Entering the forest that has been protected as sacred ground since ancient times is forbidden.
2. mecca; pilgrimage site (figurative)
A place strongly associated with a particular activity, interest, or fandom. In modern Japanese, commonly used for locations connected to anime, manga, or other pop culture.
あのラーメン店(てん)はラーメン好(ず)きの聖地(せいち)だ。
That ramen shop is a mecca for ramen lovers.
アニメの聖地(せいち)巡礼(じゅんれい)で町(まち)おこしに成功(せいこう)した地域(ちいき)もある。
Some areas have succeeded in revitalizing their towns through anime pilgrimage tourism.
秋葉原(あきはばら)はオタク文化(ぶんか)の聖地(せいち)として世界的(せかいてき)に知(し)られている。
Akihabara is known worldwide as the mecca of otaku culture.

Usage

Sense 2 has become very popular in modern Japanese. 聖地(せいち)巡礼(じゅんれい) (sacred pilgrimage) is widely used for visiting real-world locations featured in anime, manga, movies, or games. This phenomenon has become a significant tourism driver in Japan.

Common collocations

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 霊場(れいじょう) (sacred site)
Compare: 名所(めいしょ) (famous place)
Compare: 聖域(せいいき) (sanctuary)
Compare: 霊地(れいち) (sacred place)
Compare: 神域(しんいき) (sacred precinct)
general
Added 2026.3.20 22:50 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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