10 Best Historical Anime Set in Japan, Ranked

There are a lot of anime that deal with history. Some are only set during certain eras of the past, while others — like Gintama — use very loose definitions of historicity, combining the setting with fiction.

However, there are some anime that keep the historical setting mostly intact, despite supernatural elements (if any) — and where the setting and portrayal of the society during the era are very much relevant.

Here are ten of the best such anime that are actually set in Japan — you'd appreciate them if you're a history nerd.

10. Onmyouji (2023)

A recently released series by Netflix, Onmyouji was largely unnoticed by many — due to the release format and lack of promotion. Despite that, the source material is popular enough to have received multiple live-action adaptations already, and the anime is quite interesting as well.

It follows the life of Abe no Seimei, who was actually a real person. Although the anime is obviously fictionalized, dealing with the supernatural, it shows the realities of the time pretty well.

MyAnimeList Score: 6.99

9. Demon Slayer (2019–ongoing)

Yes, Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) can also count as a historical anime. It is set in a very real time — the Taishou period, which spanned years 1912 to 1926 of real history. We don't get to see much of the world, sadly, but one can argue that the anime being set in that time is part of its themes.

The period Demon Slayer is set in is actually very relevant — it's characterized by the conflict between traditions and rapid technological progress. This can also be projected to demon slayers and demons, respectively, with Enmu merging with a literal train during the movie.

MyAnimeList Score: 8.47

8. Millennium Actress (2002)

Millennium Actress (Sennen Joyuu) is one of the most interesting anime movies out there. It's a romance drama, and it's largely told via flashbacks — we get to see the protagonist's past life and how she got to where she is today.

Through the movie, we see how Japan changes throughout the 20th century. Fun fact: it's actually based on the lives of real actresses, although very loosely.

MyAnimeList Score: 8.25

7. Barefoot Gen (1983)

Being one of the movies that attracted even non-otaku audiences back in the day, Barefoot Gen (Hadashi no Gen) has earned its reputation as a classic. The movie itself, though, is not for the faint of heart: it deals with the aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

The scariest part is that the movie is autobiographical — more specifically, the manga it's based on is. Keiji Nakazawa is a bombing survivor, and the gruesome scenes of people dying from the bomb are something he witnessed in real life.

MyAnimeList Score: 7.77

6. Zipang (2004)

Zipang is one of the most unusual anime out there. It deals with World War II, but in a very tasteful way. The premise is that a ship, along with its entire crew, is transported back in time — and the characters have to struggle with the consequences.

They are torn between their morals — many are viewing the war as a mistake — and their duty to serve their country. The anime is actually quite famous among certain circles, and praised for its depiction of naval battles of the time.

MyAnimeList Score: 7.49

5. The Wind Rises (2013)

Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli actually seems to be quite fond of historical settings — and perhaps the culmination of his work is The Wind Rises (Kaze Tachinu). The movie is based on the life of Jirou Horikoshi, a Japanese aircraft engineer, and follows him aiming for his dream — making planes.

The changes in both society and technology are reflected during the movie, and are part of the drama — more specifically, Jirou comes to question his dream during WW2.

MyAnimeList Score: 8.12

4. Hyouge Mono (2011)

It's really hard to describe Hyouge Mono. The series is a fictionalized account of Sasuke Furuta, who was a vassal of Nobunaga himself and a master of the tea ceremony. And yes, he really does like tea — but the anime focuses on more than just that.

The historical setting of the anime is incredibly well-researched, and it's been praised for both its approach to the art of the tea ceremony and its historicity. It's not especially popular — mostly because it requires knowing historical nuances of the period — but it's definitely worth watching if you're into the genre.

MyAnimeList Score: 8.01

3. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Another autobiographical movie, Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no Haka) is often considered the saddest anime of all time. At least, it's very up there — and it's understandable why, since it follows two kids trying to survive in the aftermath of war.

The movie is based on a novel by Akiyuki Nosaka, who is a survivor of the bombing of Kobe in 1945.

MyAnimeList Score: 8.52

2. Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu (2016–2017)

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu is a two season anime that covers the story of Bon — later Yakumo Yuurakutei the 8th — a former dancer turned rakugo artist.

The anime shows the evolution of society over his life, and is widely considered one of the best drama series ever made. It combines a historical setting with musings over the dying art of rakugo, and the result is absolutely amazing.

MyAnimeList Score: 8.56

1. The Heike Story (2022)

Of course, this series being at the top of the list is not surprising. The Heike Story (Heike Monogatari) is a loose adaptation of a classic Japanese novel, recounting the tale of power struggle between the Taira clan and the Minamoto clan.

While the epic itself is fiction (although following the history to some extent), and the anime takes some creative liberties, that doesn't take away from it. It's an absolute must-watch for historical anime fans, and the amazing direction of Naoko Yamada makes it even more worth it.

MyAnimeList Score: 7.78