Chika Takami is a first-year student at Uranohoshi Girl’s High School. With no skills, no talents, and never having been in a club, she wants to make the most out of her high school days. That’s when she is inspired by seeing μ's, an idol group in Tokyo, and decides to make her own idol group at her sleepy seaside high school. She finds a few people interested, but the student council president is heavily opposed to her plan. Downtrodden, it only takes Chika meeting Riko, a transfer student talented at the piano, that Chika sets her sights on recruiting her and forming their own idol group Aqours. More and more challenges arise and one by one, through the power of music and friendship, these girls rise to the challenge.

Starting off out list is probably one of the anime with the most in common with Sora yori mo Tooi Basho. In both series, you have a group of girls, as boys are completely non-existent, pushing and fighting against rules and change. In Love Live, the school is shutting down for lack of students, while in Sora yori mo Tooi Basho, Kimari and Shirase are fighting against the civilian group at first to try and get on. More than anything else, the two are pure. What do we mean by that? We mean that the girls have pure, genuine friendships. There is not a single moment of forced yuri undertones, but rather just people trying to figure out their own path in life while relying on their friends! If anything else, Chika and Kimari are more or less the same person. They have done nothing, but they want to make a change about it and are trying to find out how to do so!

Chito and Yuuri are two girls inside a vast world. There is nothing remarkable to see, and there is nothing to do, but press on for food and shelter… and maybe the occasional hot bath. Day by day, they forage while looking for food in their motorbike, a Kettenkrad. Oh, and we forgot to mention, the vast world, is of a society and race long gone. What they are exploring is the vast ruins of said society. There is nothing but massive pipes, buildings, and crumbling infrastructure. But somehow, they are able to reminisce about the past as well as push on, having fun adventures while doing so.

Both Sora yori mo Tooi Basho and Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou focus on yet again, solid female characters. While Sora yori does have double the protagonists, the conversations and mood flow just as well between Chito and Yuuri. Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou does focus a bit more on the bleak side of things as the number of humans that they meet across the season can be counted on one hand, but Sora yori is also not without its darker themes of bullying and the SPOILER ALERT mystery around the death of Shirase’s mother. A bit more serious, but the themes of adventure, friendship, and never knowing exactly what is around the corner permeate through these two worlds.

Ohana Matsumae is living alright… well, she was okay living with her mother. However, after amassing a massive debt and then subsequently skipping town with her boyfriend while hoisting it all on her daughter, Ohana’s life takes a turn for the worse. Now, she has to go and live with her grandmother way out in the sticks and work at the hotel that her grandmother runs to pay off his debt. She tries and struggles greatly and living in a brand-new place with a massive amount of sadness in her heart. However, she tries to put her best foot forward and challenge the issues of working as a maid and making new friends in what is a strange, new place for her.

Again, here between Hanasaku Iroha and Sora yori mo Tooi Basho, Kimari and Ohana face brand new challenges. While Ohana was not looking for them necessarily, both girls harness their inner energy and cheerfulness to try and tackle the daunting tasks in front of them. Friendship is more present than ever as Ohana and Kimari absolutely have to not only make and keep these new friends but rely on them heavily. Ohana did not choose this journey like Kimari did, but they do both face it head on. This anime is one from P.A. Works that you cannot miss!

Made in Abyss tells the story of an Abyss–how original, we know–that stretches deep down into the Earth where everything unknown seems to come from including beasts and more. There are those who seek to explore the Abyss and come back with new items and treasures known as Divers. The best are called the White Whistles. Desperate to explore more than the is allowed, Riko is a young girl who searches for a way to explore deep into the abyss much like her mother did. A chance encounter with a robot named Reg gives her the excuse and motivation to go down deeper and try to restore his lost memories while actually just getting to the bottom to see things for herself. More is sure to come and lurk and in the shadows.

Made in Abyss has Riko and Sora yori has Kimari. Again, two female main characters who are searching for more in life risk it all to go exploring. They are both driven by the flames of desire and excitement to see more than what they know. However, both girls heavily underestimate the amount of time and energy it will take to get to their goals as well as what is waiting for them. Made in Abyss is a bit darker than Sora yori mo Tooi Basho, but we can guarantee that you will not be let down by this anime.

Nadeshiko gets the harebrained idea one day to go and see Mt. Fuji the way that it is depicted on the 1000-yen bill for herself. She decides that she needs to get out quickly and sets out. However, bad weather pushes her back and exhausted, Nadeshiko collapses. When she wakes up, Nadeshiko has no idea where she is nor how she got there. That is when she meets Rin, a girl who loves to camp by herself. Now the two of them discover the joys of camping.

In case you missed it, reckless abandon is a popular theme here. Nadeshiko really has no idea what she is getting into and the same goes for Kimari. However, that drive is what pushes them to see more. The art is fantastic between the two series and they both feature new, blossoming friendships as well as famous locations from around Japan and the world. Yuru Camp is a bit more mild on the adventure, but definitely one you should let your eyes and mind enjoy.

When they were kids, Mutta and Hibito see something that they think is a UFO. This sparks a fire in both of them to become astronauts. Mutta wants to go to Mars because he is the elder brother, and Hibito to the moon. However… reality is not so kind. Mutta grows up and is not an astronaut, but rather, he works for a car company. His younger brother though, Hibito, is well on his way to becoming the first Japanese man on the moon! Depressed, Mutta loses his job, but then things take a swing for the better as he suddenly gets a chance to apply to be an astronaut? Mutta, excited about what could be, decides he has nothing to lose and is all in in becoming an astronaut.

Here, between Uchuu kyoudai and Sora yori mo Tooi Basho, both protagonists have a reckless dream that they want to accomplish. Even if that means throwing away everything that they do. Looked down upon and even mocked for wanting to do something different and unconventional, they do not hesitate and are excited. The overall reaching theme is to shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars. Both will also inspire you with their relatable passion and likeable characters.