15 Greatest Iyashikei Anime Of All Time

Highlights

• Tanaka-kun Is Always Listless: A school comedy that stands out with its protagonist’s goal of doing nothing. The art style reflects Tanaka’s relaxed personality.
• Anima Yell!: A sports anime that focuses on spreading good vibes and making friends, rather than competition. A relaxing watch.
• Girls’ Last Tour: Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the anime follows two girls who choose to live and find hope in a grim environment. Uplifting despite the setting.

Like most entertainment mediums, anime can elicit a wide spectrum of emotions and reactions. Aching for a scare? Then watch Shiki or Another. In need of a good laugh? Gintama, Asobi Asobase, and Azumanga Daioh exist. Feel like a cry? Your Lie in April and Clannad Afterstory should be able to help. There is an anime for every circumstance, but what about when someone just wants to feel at peace?

Well, that’s where iyashikei comes in. Known as healing anime, these movies and shows are typically slice-of-life stories with calming content and plenty of depictions of nature. Stripped of any significant tension or outlandish comedy, the best iyashikei anime nourish the heart and mind.

Updated January 20, 2024 by Mark Sammut: Winter 2024 does not have any iyashikei anime, although some shows might be able to scratch a similar itch. Fluffy Paradise has a lot of adorable animals, even if it has a fairly dark underbelly. Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! is cute and highlights its region quite well, while Mr. Villain’s Day Off is basically about a guy who needs his day off to heal following a long week at work. None of these are really iyashikei, but they might get the job done.

15 Tanaka-kun Is Always Listless

Tanaka Moves At His Own Relaxed Pace

Although most school comedies fall within slice of life territory, very few can be truly defined as iyashikei. In many ways, Tanaka-kun is Always Listless has most of the ingredients associated with something like The Daily Lives of High School Boys, particularly when it comes to its secondary characters. However, the anime sets itself apart in one key area: its protagonist. Tanaka-kun’s goal in life is to simply do nothing.

He yearns to sleep in class, prefers to not walk unless necessary, and avoids drama at all costs. More importantly, he pursues this dream with everything he has. Tanaka-kun’s personality echoes throughout the show, to the point that even the art style has a vibrancy reminiscent of nature despite the fact the anime takes place within an urban environment.

14 Anima Yell!

An Uplifting & Tension-Free Sports Anime

Sports anime are not great candidates for iyashikei since there is usually a competitive element to their stories. Anima Yell! is the exception as it centers around a cheerleader club whose main priority is to spread good vibes and make a few friends along the way.

While there is a tournament towards the end of the season, it isn’t treated like the be-all and end-all. For those looking for a relaxing sports anime, Anima Yell! should not be missed.

13 Teasing Master Takagi-san

Cute Teasing & Character Development

Teasing Master Takagi-san is about two middle school students who engage in a seemingly endless (and harmless) war, with one side of the battlefield generally winning most of the conflicts. These challenges are presented as short skits, and while the pranks do drive the story to an extent, the anime is essentially a slow-burning romance featuring two charming and innocent characters.

Even though Takagi knows exactly what to do and say to push Nishikata’s buttons, her teasing is never mean-spirited or aggressive, which makes the series a pleasant watch rather than a potentially uncomfortable one. Teasing Master Takagi-san also gets better with each new cour, although the anime can be frustrating to watch since the three seasons are on different streaming platforms.

12 Aria The Animation

A Scenic Journey Through A Beautiful City

A classic series that is still ongoing, Aria the Animation takes place on a distant planet that also feels somewhat familiar. Clearly inspired by Venice, Aria is set on Mars and follows a group of women who serve as gondoliers.

Slow-paced and splendidly animated, Aria warmly guides viewers through its lovely scenery while touching upon the lives of its strong cast of characters. The music is also fantastic, perfectly complementing the anime’s visuals and carefree mood.

11 Girls’ Last Tour

A Healing Anime Set After The End Of The World

Iyashikei is about tone, not setting. Sure, it makes sense to set this type of story in a small village deep in the mountains; however, there is nothing that forbids the subgenre from going all post-apocalyptic. Girls’ Last Tour presents an utterly devastated world set after the collapse of civilization, and it follows two girls named Yuuri and Chito.

Humanity may lie in ruin but that doesn’t mean Girls’ Last Tour‘s protagonists cannot choose to live. Following the everyday lives of Yuuri and Chito, the anime is oddly uplifting, sweet, and hopeful; it just happens to be set in a really grim climate.

10 Flying Witch

Supernatural Iyashikei Anime

As part of her witch training, Makoto moves to Hirosaki, a city in Aomori, to make it on her own (alongside some family members). Flying Witch perfectly captures the spirit of living in a relatively large but quiet city, a fact enhanced by its lovable and down-to-earth characters.

Makoto’s earnest nature makes her an instantly likable lead, and she is added by her energetic cousin, Chinatsu, and outgoing sister, Akane. Flying Witch‘s backgrounds and scenery are nothing short of gorgeous.

9 Slow Loop

A Fishing Anime That Feeds The Soul

Slow Loop is about fishing and friendship, two things that go surprisingly well together. As their parents have gotten together, Hiyori and Koharu are now step-siblings, and the children form a bond over the former’s love of fly-fishing. Inspired by its central activity, this anime maintains a steady, relaxed pace, albeit one punctuated with refreshing moments of comedy and even drama.

Slow Loop dives deep into the art of fishing, and these sequences are quite interesting since they reflect Hiyori’s passion for the hobby. The series does not neglect its characters and central relationships either, both of which are given ample time to blossom.

8 Bunny Drop

A Beautiful & Moving Anime

At first, Production I.G’s Bunny Drop might seem like a terrible pick for an iyashikei recommendation since the first episode is a whirlwind of emotions, most of which are not positive. However, the anime finds a lovely rhythm after that point, gradually transforming into a wholesome slice of life. An adult with little direction or motivation, Daikichi decides to adopt his grandfather’s illegitimate daughter, Rin, after witnessing the rest of his family’s treatment of her.

Naturally, Daikichi and Rin are initially awkward around each other since they are strangers, and they both have a lot to learn about their new roles (particularly Daikichi). Bunny Drop explores the trials, tribulations, and joys of family. The anime dives into the challenges of adoption, while also just allowing the two leads to gradually grow comfortable with each other.

7 My New Boss Is Goofy

Most iyashikei anime are healing stories for the audience, not so much the characters; however, exceptions exist. One of the better slice of life anime of 2023, My New Boss is Goofy follows Kentarou as he starts a new job at a marketing firm. While capable, his confidence is non-existent due to suffering abuse at the hands of his previous boss, leaving him traumatized and terrified that the same thing might happen under his new supervisor. Thankfully, Kentarou finds himself working with Yuusei, a wholesome guy who shows genuine care for his colleague while regularly affirming his potential.

My New Boss is Goofy crafts a cozy work environment filled with people who just want to do their best, not only for themselves but also for everyone around them. Although slightly repetitive, the humor is endearing and painless.

6 Mushi-shi

Observing Nature & Myth

Mushi are spirits that exist unseen by humans; they are not malevolent or purposefully dangerous, but they can unwittingly cause problems. Ginko’s role is to travel across Japan and provide assistance in situations when Mushi and humans are struggling to co-exist.

This premise could easily describe a shonen or action series, but Mushi-shi opts for something far more meditative. Mainly set in nature, Mushi-shi is often happy to just observe the Mushi, allowing these natural entities to simply be. It makes for a rich experience.

5 Barakamon

Resetting On A Remote But Lively Island

When Seishu Handa reacts poorly to a negative review of his latest calligraphy drawing, the young artist is sent by his father to the isolated Goto Island. Initially, Seishu hates everything about this move, especially since the locals seem utterly incapable of not disrupting his work. However, Seishu loosens up before long.

Barakamon is hilarious, more so than the average iyashikei anime. While the laughs are plentiful, they stem from a place of unbridled positivity and growth, particularly once Seishu’s early angst subsides.

4 My Neighbor Totoro

A Studio Ghibli Iyashikei Anime Masterpiece

In a filmography that consists of almost nothing but masterpieces, Hayao Miyazaki’s My Neighbor Totoro still stands out as being something extra special. The definitive iyashikei movie, Studio Ghibli’s 1988 classic follows a family as they move to the countryside so that a family member can heal.

My Neighbor Totoro is literally about the “healing” power of nature, and the anime’s tone, aesthetic, and pacing reflect this premise. While overflowing with magic, this movie is personal and modest rather than epic and grand.

3 Laid-Back Camp

Japan’s Natural Beauty

Laid-Back Camp follows a group of teenagers as they travel to different campsites in Japan, specifically the Yamanashi Prefecture. Be it Asagiri Plateau, Lake Shibire, or Yanahime Shrine, Laid-Back Camp meticulously and lovingly animates natural attractions from this area of the country.

The anime serves as a fantastic advertisement for these places while offering a means to witness their beauty for those who cannot make the journey. The characters are also very endearing, particularly Nadeshiko and Rin.

Be warned – this anime might induce a sudden urge to go camping.

2 Natsume’s Book of Friends

An Anime About Healing From Past Trauma

Natsume can see spirits and inherits a book from his grandmother containing the names of many different yokai. This grants Natsume power over these spirits; however, the teenager opts to return these names rather than use them for personal gain.

While not entirely devoid of intense or distressing moments, Natsume’s Book of Friends is mostly a slice-of-life anime about a protagonist who is slowly recovering following years of hardship. Natsume’s relationship with the spirit Madara is delightful and changes quite a bit throughout the many seasons. The anime generally sticks to a slow and deliberate pace, with Natsume allowing things to come to him rather than directly pursuing them.

1 Non Non Biyori

The Definitive Iyashikei Anime

When it comes to iyashikei anime series, Non Non Biyori is the standard-bearer. Set in a rural village and primarily following a group of five students, Non Non Biyori is happy to just let its characters exist free of conflict, tension, or drama.

This world is also beautiful, a fact the anime goes out of its way to show. With extended shots of nature, likable characters, and the occasional laugh, Non Non Biyori is soothing from start to end. The show regularly emphasizes its rural location, showing off its natural splendor and slower lifestyle.

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