Anime has risen to great popularity over the years, and with it, a multitude of genres have blossomed to capture the hearts of fans worldwide. One such sub-genre that has garnered a dedicated following is cottagecore anime. Cottagecore celebrates simplicity, serenity, and a return to agricultural roots, often featuring pastoral settings, nature-centric storylines, and an overall aesthetic that invokes a sense of peace and nostalgia for rural life. Here we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best cottagecore anime for those yearning for a tranquil escape into animated bliss.

1. “Mushishi” (2005-2006)

Set in an ethereal world where supernatural beings called Mushi exist, “Mushishi” follows Ginko, a “Mushi Master” as he travels to solve Mushi-related occurrences. The serene background art and gentle storytelling make it a quintessential cottagecore anime.

2. “Natsume’s Book of Friends” (2007-Present)

This series tells the story of Natsume Takashi, who can see spirits like his deceased grandmother. After inheriting her “Book of Friends,” he decides to return all the names written in it to their owners with the aid of his spirit cat protector.

3. “Poco’s Udon World” (2016)

A heartwarming tale set in the Udon prefecture of Kagawa. Souta Tawara discovers a little boy who is actually a tanuki taking shelter in his family’s udon shop after his father’s death.

4. “Laid-Back Camp” (2018-Present)

Also known as “Yuru Camp,” this anime celebrates the joy of outdoor camping and friendship through the adventures of Rin Shima and Nadeshiko Kagamihara as they explore various camping sites.

5. “Silver Spoon” (2013-2014)

Created by Hiromu Arakawa, this anime tells the story of Yugo Hachiken, an urban boy who enrolls in an agricultural school hoping to cruise through high school life but ends up learning myriad farming facts & life lessons.

6. “Barakamon” (2014)

Calligrapher Seishuu Handa is exiled to a small island as punishment for lashing out at an exhibition critic. While initially out of place among the villagers, Handa eventually learns valuable life lessons outside city life.

7. “Wolf Children” (2012)

A touching film about Hana, a young woman who falls in love with a wolf man and raises their two children alone after his demise. The movie showcases their struggles to find their identity between human society and their wild tendencies.

8. “My Neighbor Totoro” (1988)

An iconic film by Studio Ghibli, this magical story follows sisters Satsuki and Mei as they encounter wondrous spirits and creatures upon moving to rural Japan to be closer to their hospitalized mother.

9. “WhisperoftheHeart” (1995)

This Studio Ghibli film revolves around Shizuku Tsukishima, a young girl passionate about literature who aspires to write a book after meeting Seiji Amasawa, an inspiring violin maker.

10. “Non Non Biyori” (2013-Present)

The epitome of countryside tranquility depicted through the daily lives of four girls attending Asahigaoka Branch School—a school so small that all grades share the same classroom—in rural Japan.