Most of us know Shinchan—the naughty, funny, mischievous little boy who loves chocolate biscuits, makes weird, silly jokes, and never listens to his mom. But did you know that the city where Shinchan lives is not completely made-up? His hometown, Kasukabe, is actually a place in Japan! The anime ‘Crayon Shinchan’ may look just like a cartoon, but many parts of the anime are based on real streets, schools, and parks in Kasukabe, a small city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. This makes the anime even more special because fans can actually visit the places where Shinchan’s adventures take place.
Where is Kasukabe?
Kasukabe is a small-sized city in Saitama Prefecture, which is not too far from Tokyo, the capital of Japan. It has a population of about 230,000 people. That means it is not too small and not too big—just the perfect size for a family city. Kasukabe has schools, shopping centres, houses, playgrounds, and markets, just like we see in Shinchan’s daily life. The city is really calm and peaceful, but at the same time, it is lively with many places where children can play and families can spend time together.
Because it is close to Tokyo, Kasukabe feels connected to the urban life of the capital, but it also has its own relaxed charm. That balance makes it just the perfect background for Shinchan’s funny and sometimes chaotic adventures.
Shinchan’s House and Neighbourhood
One of the most important places in the anime is Shinchan’s own house. In the anime, it is a simple two-story house with a small garden, a kitchen where his mom, Misae, often yells out loud at him, and rooms where he and his little sister, Himawari, create chaos. This house is actually inspired by real Japanese homes in the city. The streets shown outside the small house, with small shops, bicycles, and really friendly neighbours, also look very similar to the real ones.
When Schichan fans walk around Kasukabe, they often feel like they have entered Shinchan’s small world. The narrow lanes, little gardens, and everyday buildings make it easy to imagine Shinchan running around with Shiro, his white dog, or troubling his four friends.
Futaba Kindergarten
Another important place is Shinchan’s small school—the Futaba Kindergarten. This is where he meets his four weird friends, Kazama, Nene, Bo-chan, and Masao. Together, they cause chaos and drive their teachers crazy. In real life, there is actually a nursery school in Kasukabe that inspired this kindergarten. While you cannot just walk in and see the classrooms, the building and the idea of the school came from there.
Fans love to imagine Shinchan hiding from his teachers, sneaking chocobi, or playing silly tricks on his beloved friend Kazama in the playground. Futaba Kindergarten is not only a place for education in the anime but also the heart of many of Shinchan’s most hilarious stories.
Parks and Playgrounds
Kasukabe has many parks and green spaces where children can enjoy themselves safely. In the anime, Shinchan is often seen riding his green tricycle, chasing after Shiro, making funny faces in the park, or playing football with Masao. These scenes are actually inspired by real-life parks in the city. Parks in Japan are usually clean, safe, and full of families in the evenings.
For Shinchan, these small parks are more than just places to enjoy—they are his little stage to perform pranks on his friends and meet, more like irritate, people. For fans visiting Kasukabe, these parks are a golden chance to imagine Shinchan popping out from behind a tree or trying some new silly dance move.
Shopping Streets and Markets
One of the most lively parts of Kasukabe is its huge shopping streets. In the anime, Shinchan often goes shopping with his mom (where his mom mostly runs towards the sales), causing chaos in stores, knocking things over, or charming shopkeepers with his cheeky smile. These scenes come directly from Kasukabe’s real shopping streets and markets.
The Kasukabe shopping street is really famous. Walking through it feels like stepping into the anime. Fans often imagine Shinchan running ahead of Misae, begging for toys of Action Kamen, or sneaking in some chocobi. This shows how the creator of Shinchan, Yoshito Usui, used real life to add humour and fun to his stories.
Shinchan Statues and Celebrations
Kasukabe is really proud of being Shinchan’s home. Around the city, you can find small statues of Shinchan and his dog Shiro. These statues are popular photo spots for many fans. People make funny poses next to them, just like Shinchan would.
The city also celebrates Shinchan through many events and exhibitions. Sometimes there are special festivals or shows where many fans can learn more about the anime, buy Shinchan toys, or even meet mascots dressed as the people in Shinchan. In this way, Shinchan is more than just a cartoon character—he is like the popular mascot of the whole city.
Family-Friendly City
Even though Shinchan is known for being naughty, Kasukabe itself is a really family-friendly place. There are many safe parks, some community centres, and a lot of schools where children can play and learn. Families enjoy living here because the city is very peaceful but still has everything people need.
This mix of calm and fun makes Kasukabe the right playground for a character like Shinchan. It also explains why the anime feels so real and relatable—because the setting is based on a city where real families live and enjoy their everyday lives.
History and Culture of Kasukabe
Kasukabe is not only about Shinchan. The city has a huge history and thousands of cultural spots too. There are many old temples and shrines where many people go to pray and celebrate festivals. Some buildings are very traditional, while others are modern, giving the city a nice mix of new and old.
For visitors, this means you can enjoy both worlds: the fun of exploring Shinchan’s world and the beauty of Japanese history and culture. Walking through Kasukabe, you might pass a busy shopping street and then suddenly see a quiet old temple nearby. This balance makes the city very charming.
Visiting Kasukabe as a Fan
For Shinchan fans, visiting Kasukabe is like a dream coming true. You can walk on streets that look like the cartoon, visit parks and shopping areas that inspired the anime, and see statues of Shinchan and Shiro. Every corner feels like it might have a new adventure or a funny scene from the comic.
Even if you are not a huge fan of Shinchan, Kasukabe is still a good place to explore. It has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, perfect for families and travellers who seek a trip to Japan outside the big city of Tokyo.
Conclusion
In short, Kasukabe is not just a cartoon setting—it is a real city full of life, history, and fun. For fans of Crayon Shinchan, it offers a chance to see the world of their favourite character come to life. From Shinchan’s own house and kindergarten to Mitsy’s favourite shopping streets, till those playful parks, the city captures the same joy and laughter that the anime brings to people all over the world.
More than that, Kasukabe teaches us the same lesson as Shinchan does through the anime: to enjoy every little moment, laugh every day, and never lose our playful spirit. Visiting this city is not only about Shinchan—it’s about seeing how normal places can feel really magical when we look at them with wonder. Just like Shinchan, Kasukabe reminds us that even in simple things, there is always room for fun, laughter, and mischief.